On the Decree of the Hong Taiji (Abahai) Emperor on the Restoration of Independence of the Mongols after the Fall of the Qing Dynasty

In the early 20th century information appeared in Russian and Western press about the 1636 year decree of the Manchu Emperor Hong Taiji (Abahai), containing the provision that after the fall of the Qing Dynasty Mongols return to their previous laws, which meant their independence. Although this decree since then has been mentioned several times in publications on Mongolian history, no new data appeared. In this paper we provide new data resulting from our research in the archives of Mongolia, Russia and Japan. To date, there are known two Russian translations of this decree into Russian from Mongolian. One of them was made in March 1912 by Ts.-E. Tsydypov, interpreter of the Headquarters of Zaamuskii Border Guard Command. He used Mongolian text shown by the members of the Mongolian delegation from the Zasagt Wang and Jalait banners of Inner Mongolia, travelled via Harbin to Urga in order to implement of the plans for all-Mongolia independence. Shireet Lama Bukhbayan, brother of prince Udai Wang, introduced this document to Russian diplomats and military personnel in Manchuria. Apparently, its Mongolian original was later lost during the destruction and burning of Udai's headquarters when the Chinese crushed the Mongols’ rebellion in Udai’s banner. Second translation seems to represent another version of the 1636 decree, or a similar decree granted to another person. It was made by Russian border officer A. M. Baranov and published in 1919. The differences between the two published texts are insignificant. According to some indirect evidence, such decrees were granted by Hong Taiji to a number of princes of Inner Mongolia. Proclaiming independence, the Mongols used these decrees for their argumentation. We failed to find information about the existence of such decrees in Chinese sources. However, the indirect data suggesting the existence of such decrees is discussed, although their originals have not yet been found

Ancient history · China · Decree · Emperor · Political science · Chinese history and philosophy · Eurasian Exchange Networks · History · Law · Soviet and Russian History

• Международно-правовое положение Внутренней Монголии на рубеже XIX–XX вв. глазами ее правителя (записка хорчинского князя Удая, 1910 г.)

  Open Access•Roman Pochekaev•ORIENTAL STUDIES•2020

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