Research Of Altan Khan

In the circles of historiography,the research on Altan Khan is of considerable significance,for it constitutes an indispensible component of the entire Mongolian historical research.The research on Altan Khan shall not only involve the evaluation on his merits and demerits in his life and the historical role he has played,but also,more importantly,shall help us get a clear picture of the complex period in Mongolian history after Altan Khan.This period involves the formation of different Mongolian clans,their dispersal and changes,the changes in social structure,system and economic condition,Sino-Mongolian relations,as well as the reason why Lamaism has spread in Mongolia and the profound influence it had on many social aspects.The first chapter of this work expounds on the meaning,the scope of the chosen thesis and the current state in the given research field;it introduces and gives a concise commentary on the relative newness of the work and problems extant in this subject.The second chapter explores Altan Khan and the background of the epoch during which Altan Khan lived.The important events in his entire life are listed in a chronological way.Apart from that, the author probes into the social condition,particularly the condition in which the various clans and tribes lived,such as Tatars,Oirat Mongols,Urianhai etc.,the inter-clan relations among these clans and Altan Khan's struggle to unite them.The third chapter discusses the relations between Altan Khan and the Ming court.An emphasis is put upon the relations between the Ming court and the Mongols during the period prior to the Jiajing (明世宗嘉靖年),the rein of the 12^th emperor of Ming Dynasty.It further relates to the government prohibition on trade and the banning of commercial relations among common people,the reasons why Mongols perpetrated harassment along the border region of Ming China,the characteristics of Jiajing policy held for Mongolia,the negotiations made between Altan Khan and the Ming court and how Altan Khan set favorable conditions for resettling new negotiations and closed down the question of tribute practice.The fourth chapter deliberates on the process of Altan Khan's founding and construction of Huhhot,the reason why the site of Huhhot has been chosen,as well as the participation of Chinese in the founding of Huhhot etc.The fifth chapter discusses the outstanding contribution of Altan Khan:the reception of Lamaism, the official banning of the undesirable custom of Shamanism,the stipulation of "Statute and law of Altan Khan",the developing and upgrading of nomadic animal husbandry,the enabling of sedentary life for the old,those enfeebled and the children etc.On the basis of Mongolian custom and tradition he formulated new rules with the aim to establish suitable conditions for promoting education among Mongols.In this chapter,the author concludes through her comprehensive evaluation on Altan Khan, that he has been a promoter of cultural fusion,of the expansion of border trade markets between the two countries and commercial relations,the mediator in the ethnic conflict,as well as the initiator of the dawn of a new era of the Mongolian nation.