Study Of The Material Grants During The Mongol Empire And Yuan Dynasty

In order to inspire the loyalty to the royal family and raise the entire reign group cohesion, the ancient Chinese emperor generally issued material grants to the noble and princes. It was called materal grants, which existed in the each dynasty, and as the first united reign established by the ethnic group in Chinese history. It inherited the grant characteristics of the former dynasties, on the other hand, it had different features by comparison with the dynasties established by Han people from the perspective of grant forms, contents and influence. Moreover, these features could reflect the political, financial and social situation and opened a window to us for studying the material grants of the Mongol Empire and Yuan Dynasty, which could provide a reference for the present social incentive system of grants and punishments.The thoughts of material grants of the Mongol Empire and Yuan Dynasty root in the traditional custom of the Mongol nomadic tribes. After coming to the throne, Khubilai Khan found the entire bureaucratic system from the central to the local, which could standardize and ensure material grants from the system. The grants had varied forms, namely the annual grants, the assembly grants when the new emperors came to the throne, and the irregular grants, especially to the military grants. Besides, the good and capable officals and vassal states were also included, while they were not as much as the former. Campare to the former dynasties, granting Tibetan Buddlism and Mongol tribes was the unique feature of the Mongol and Yuan Dynastys.In addition to the traditional symbol of wealth, that is, gold, silver pearl and jade, the grant items also included paper money, textile, garment dress, agricultural and animal products, households, parks and pools, hotels, and water grind. Some of them were particular in the Yuan Dynasty, which reflected the development of handicraft from the side.Finally, the thesis discusses the influence on the Mongol Empire and Yuan Dynasty. Proper grants could strengthen the loyalty of the nobles and officials to the royal family and improve the morale of army, while improper grants could make the national treasury empty, intensify political struggles, and brought people severe desasters. Although the material grants had its positive influence to a certain extent, it became worse and worse after Khubilai Khan, thus it turm into heavy burden of the Empire.