Mongol was an ancient nationality in the
nouth of China. At the end of the 12th century, Temujin united all Mongolian tribes
after 10 years of warfare. In 1206, he was chosen their khan, with the title of
Genghis Khan, which means "tough monarch". Under Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire
land mass was very strong with its military action affectiong Danube River in Europe
and having great influence in the develoing of the world history. After Genghis
Khan's death, Mongols continued to wipe out Western Xia kingdom and Jin Dynasty,
and incorporated northern China into their empire.
In 1260, Kublai (the grandson of Genghis Khan), succeeded to the position of khan,
and in 1264, he decided on Dadu (today's Beijing) as his capital. In 1271, Kublai
Khan formally proclaimed himself emperor Shizu, of the newly established Yuan Dynasty
(1271 - 1368). After consolidating his rule over the north, he moved south to attack
Southern Song Dynasty, which fell in 1279, and China was unified into one nation
once again.
Kublai Khan reformed the system of administration at both the local and central
levels after he became the emperor. First, he established the Zhongshusheng
(Metropolitan Secretariat) in the central government as the highest administrative
institution, and Xingzhongshusheng in local governments officially as the
highest local administrative institutions, called Xingsheng for short. There
were 10 Xingsheng altogether in the whole country. In addition, Tubo (today's
Tibet) officially became one of Chinese administrative regions in Yuan Dynasty,
under the direct administration of Xuanzhengyuan (Commission of Buddhist
and Tibetan Affairs) in the centarl government. In Yuan Dynasty, too, the government
set up Penghu Xunjiansi, which ruled the Island of Taiwan and Panghu. This
was the beginning of the Chinese central government administration over Taiwan.
The setting up of the Xingsheng system strengthened the relations between
the central and local governments, as well as those between different local governments.
It made the central government administration over border areas more effective than
that of any previous dynasty, solidifying the unity of China as a multi-ethnic country.
This was a pioneering work of Kublai, Emperor Shizu. Moreover, it was the basis
of the administrative system of later dynasties, and even of today's China.
Reference data
Dadu in Yuan Dynasty
Dadu was the capital of Yuan Dynasty. Mongol called it "Hanbali", which means
"city of khan". After conquering Jin Dynasty. in 1246, Kublai Khan embarked on laying
out and building a new capital city entered on the provisional Imperial Palace with
a great view in northeast, on the site of Jin capital, Zhongdu. The construction
of Dadu was completed in 1276. The new capital consisted of the Outer City, Imperial
City and Palace City. With grand building and a strictly ordered pattern of streets
and quarters, Dadu was the largest commercial center in Yuan Dynasty and one of
the most greandiose and most prosperous cities of the time in the world. There were
over 30 markets of various types, comprehensive commercial centers and downtown
streets devoted to different trades. The city of Beijing during Ming and Qing dynasties
was rebuilt and extended on the basis of Dadu, and many of Yuan Dynasty buildings
are still preverved.
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