Achievements of the Yuan Dynasty that should not be forgotten

 

Achievements of the Yuan Dynasty that should not be forgotten

 

There is a strange phenomenon in China. People are keen to praise the Qin and Han, Tang and Song, Ming and Qing Dynasties, but are indifferent to the Yuan Dynasty. They even regard the Mongol and Yuan Dynasties as a period of barbaric war and turmoil. In fact, people who know nothing about the Yuan Dynasty are not qualified to talk about what Chinese civilization is.

Agudengba chatted with Azhuo and Chu Sanxing about the Yuan Dynasty. Agudengba said: Chinese culture is the crystallization of the wisdom of the people of all ethnic groups in China. The collision of grassland culture, Yellow River culture and Yangtze River culture has aroused countless brilliant sparks and provided inexhaustible driving force for the continuous development of Chinese culture. As an important dynasty in Chinese history, the Yuan Dynasty not only played a connecting role in the history of Chinese culture, but also made new leaps in many fields, promoted the development of China's pluralistic and integrated culture, and created a comprehensive exchange and integration of the cultures of all ethnic groups in China. The new situation has made an important contribution to the prosperity and development of Chinese culture.

Agudenba said:

China has been a multi-ethnic country since ancient times, and each ethnic group has contributed to the progress and development of Chinese civilization in different historical periods. The Yuan Dynasty refers to the feudal regime established by Mongolian rulers from 1206 to 1368 AD. In the Chinese dynasty sequence, although this regime existed for a short time, its impact on the development of Chinese history was still very important. First of all, the Yuan Dynasty promoted the process of China's pluralistic and integrated cultural pattern.

As early as the beginning of the 13th century, after more than half a century of conquest wars, the Mongolian rulers successively eliminated the Xixia, Jin, Dali, Tubo, Southern Song and other regimes, completed the unprecedented unification of a multi-ethnic country, and formed an environment conducive to cultural exchanges among various ethnic groups. favorable environment for development. The coexistence of multi-ethnic cultures in China has been further affirmed.

Since the Spring and Autumn Period, the theory of "Xia Yi" formed in the Central Plains, emphasizing the Han dominance of "respecting Xia and expelling foreigners" and "using Xia to transform foreigners", has formed an obstacle to equal exchanges between various ethnic groups and has hindered other ethnic groups. National political culture creates exclusion.

Since the Yuan Dynasty was also a minority regime that controlled the Central Plains, the rulers needed to work hard to reverse this traditional Han concept in order to establish the legitimacy of their own status. When compiling the histories of "Liao", "Song" and "Jin", the chief official of the three historical capitals and the right prime minister of Zhongshu stood out against all opinions, ending the "orthodox" debate that had lasted more than 200 years since the fall of the Liao Dynasty, and at the same time also In the history of Chinese history, it was the first time that the legal status of various ethnic regimes was affirmed in the name of the central government.

The ethnic and cultural policies implemented by the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty brought about many new aspects in the integration and development of the cultures of various ethnic groups in ancient China, and accelerated the cultural exchanges among various ethnic groups. Mongolian writing was produced during this period and is still in use today; the first historical work written in their own writing in the history of northern nomads, "The Secret History of Mongolia", was produced; in the history of China's feudal dynasties, the ethnic composition of government officials in the Yuan Dynasty was the most complex ; The Yuan Dynasty was also the first dynasty in the history of China's unified dynasty that used multiple ethnic languages; "History of Liao", "History of Song" and "History of Jin" are the only historical books among the Twenty-Four Histories that were compiled by historians of multiple ethnic groups. It also pioneered the history of one dynasty and three dynasties in the history of Chinese history, preserving precious historical and cultural heritage for future generations; Central Plains culture has been widely spread in border ethnic areas, and Confucian classics have been translated into Mongolian and published in Mobei, Yunnan Schools teaching Confucian culture appeared for the first time in remote areas such as China; for the first time in China, "Mongolian Guozixue" and "Huihui Guozixue", national ethnic minority language education institutions approved by the central government, appeared. A large number of Chinese writers emerged among the Jurchens and Semu people; the cultures of various ethnic groups in the Western Regions further spread to the Central Plains society, Tibetan Buddhism spread in the Central Plains, and the kapok planting and textile technology of the Hainan Li people promoted the development of China's cotton textile industry; In the political and cultural atmosphere, the integration of various ethnic groups has also entered another climax. The Khitan, Jurchen, Dangxiang and other ethnic groups quietly integrated into the Mongolian, Han and other surrounding ethnic groups, and a brand new ethnic group, the Hui Hui, was born on the land of China. The establishment of the Yuan Dynasty broke the artificial cultural shielding phenomenon that had occurred in history. The reality of Chinese cultural diversity was generally recognized. The concepts of "the world is our home" and "the world is one family" were deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The pattern of diversity and unity was established in a unified environment. becomes a fact. The harmonious coexistence of various cultures in the Yuan Dynasty is the greatest miracle in the world.

Agudenba said:

Compared with most Chinese feudal dynasties, the ideological and cultural concepts of the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties have two very significant characteristics: one is compatibility, and the other is "not emphasizing false literature." Under the guidance of this idea, the cultural environment of the Yuan Dynasty showed the characteristics of being compatible and pragmatic. Compatible and pragmatic cultural policies promoted the development of Chinese feudal culture.

The Yuan Dynasty was the only dynasty in ancient Chinese history that did not introduce a "taboo" system from an official perspective; it was one of the dynasties with the least restrictive ideological and cultural restrictions in China's feudal history. There are no instances of people in the Yuan Dynasty suffering misfortune due to their speech. The Yuan Dynasty was also the only dynasty in China's feudal history that explicitly proposed freedom of religious belief. At that time, all major religions in the world had venues and followers in China. This was probably a unique cultural phenomenon in the entire Eurasian continent at that time.

The compatible cultural atmosphere of the Yuan Dynasty provided a good environment for the development of Chinese culture. Yuan Opera (Sanqu and Zaju) were formed in this environment. Modern people regard Yuan opera alongside Tang poetry and Song lyrics as a treasure of Chinese culture. The reason why Yuan opera was born and prospered in the Yuan Dynasty was mainly due to the influence of the ethics and morals of northern ethnic minorities and the loosening of cultural policies in the Yuan Dynasty, which allowed social thoughts to free themselves from the constraints of traditional norms and create freely.

In the Yuan Dynasty, the social status of Confucian culture further improved. In the Yuan Dynasty, Confucius was named the "Dacheng and the Most Holy King Wenxuan", which brought his reputation to an unparalleled level. Mencius and other famous Confucians of the past dynasties also received lofty titles. For the first time in Chinese history, the Yuan Dynasty also established a special class of "Confucian households" to protect intellectuals. Popular education in the Yuan Dynasty also exceeded that of the previous generation, with more than 400 academies and more than 24,400 prefecture and county schools.

The Mongols who founded the Yuan Dynasty were in the rising stage of feudal society and had more urgent development requirements. Therefore, compared with the Song Dynasty, the pragmatic cultural spirit of the Yuan Dynasty is very obvious. Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, advocated that "one who responds to Heaven must be sincere, and one who saves the people must use practical benefits" and emphasized "practical virtues, not empty words." Based on this, he proposed that "the imperial examination system is an illusion and I will not adopt it", abolished the imperial examination system, and emphasized talent in talent selection, rather than simply "winning with literature"; some scientific and cultural issues related to the national economy and people's livelihood have been supported by the government It has also developed rapidly: a series of large-scale astronomical measurement activities organized by the government have made China at the world's advanced level in many fields of astronomy, such as scientific data on the ecliptic angle, the number of stars, calendars, etc.; in geography, "Unification of the Yuan Dynasty" was the first of its kind to be compiled by Chinese officials on geography, and it was also the largest official geography book in ancient Chinese history. The number of local chronicles compiled in the Yuan Dynasty reached 160, exceeding the number in the Song Dynasty. The Yuan government also organized The first field scientific investigation of the source of the Yellow River in Chinese history was carried out; in terms of agricultural technology and popularization of agronomy, there were extensive exchanges of crops and agricultural technology from the north, south, east and west, and they learned from each other's strengths. Cotton planting was fully promoted in the Yuan Dynasty, and many crops were popularized. The government has strengthened the work of summarizing and popularizing agricultural science and technology. The "Agriculture and Mulberry Collection" edited by Si Nongsi is the earliest comprehensive agricultural book compiled by the ancient Chinese government to guide national agricultural production. Lu Mingshan's "Agriculture and Mulberry Clothing and Food Summary" " is the oldest agricultural book in Chinese Yueling style. Wang Zhen's "Agricultural Book" is China's first agricultural book that conducts systematic research on national agriculture. Based on the invention of movable type printing in the Song Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty invented Introduced metal movable type, wheel typesetting and color printing. In addition, the Yuan regime also attached great importance to medicine, shipbuilding, ceramic manufacturing, and water conservancy.

Agudengba also said to Adhuo and Chu Sanxing: The Yuan Dynasty created the most prosperous era of cultural exchanges between China and the West during China's feudal period.

The emergence of regimes such as the Yuan Dynasty and the Four Great Khanates brought major changes to the Eurasian political landscape after the 13th century. Many regimes that had existed in East Asia, Central Asia, and West Asia disappeared instantly, and parts of Europe were also included in the Mongol Khanate. under the rule of There is no doubt that cruel wars and violent social unrest have brought great suffering to the people of Eurasian countries. However, the objective positive impact brought by the war of conquest and the subsequent establishment of the Mongolian regime cannot be ignored. It broke down the barriers to economic and cultural exchanges between Europe and Asia. The Mongolian rulers' open policy to encourage trade and the convenient and safe post transportation have shortened the distance between Europe and Asia, made direct dialogue between various cultures a reality, and shortened the gap between Eurasia and Asia due to lack of development. balance and the gaps in the progress of civilization caused by geographical space and artificial closure. Exchanges have allowed China to get to know the world, and the world has got to know China. The mystery between the East and the West has been lifted, and the history of world civilization has entered a new era.

Agudenba said:

The fact that cannot be ignored is that the Yuan Dynasty promoted China's internationalization and created the most prosperous era of cultural exchanges between China and the West in ancient times.

In ancient Chinese history, the dynasties with the greatest external influence were the Tang Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty. However, if compared from the perspective of the scope of external influence, the number of countries visited, and international status, the Tang Dynasty and the Yuan Dynasty are incomparable. Preferential trade policies, smooth trade routes, a prosperous country, and beautiful legends made the Yuan Dynasty extremely attractive to all walks of life in the West and the Arab world. Shangdu, Dadu, Hangzhou, Quanzhou and Guangzhou have become international cities, and Quanzhou Port has become the largest foreign trade port in the world. Travelers, businessmen, missionaries, government envoys and craftsmen came to China by land and sea. Some of them lived in China for a long time, and some also served as government officials. According to statistics, these people are from Persia, Iraq, Asso, Kangli, Syria, Morocco, Korea, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Poland, Hungary, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and other countries. After returning home, some people recorded their experiences in China. It was these travel notes that enabled Westerners to comprehensively grasp information about China and the East for the first time, and a civilized and prosperous China was truly displayed to the world. This information changed Europeans' understanding and understanding of the world. The works of Marco Polo and others had a crucial impact on the advent of the Age of Discovery.

In the Yuan Dynasty, the number of countries and regions conducting economic and trade exchanges through the maritime "Silk Road" increased from more than 50 in the Song Dynasty to more than 140. The sea route reaches the coast of Africa, and the land route reaches Western Europe. The unified environment has created unprecedented convenience for international and regional exchanges. It has been said in history that "those who travel thousands of miles are as if they are at home; those who travel thousands of miles are as if they are in the next door."

While a large number of Arabs and Europeans are flocking to the East, the Chinese people have broadened their horizons and have a clearer understanding of neighboring countries, Central Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean region, and their footprints even extend to West Asia and Western Europe. People's understanding and introduction to the outside world are no longer limited to hearsay, but mostly through personal experience.

For example, Wang Dayuan's book "Daoyi Zhilue" records the historical facts of the countries along the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, "all of which have been visited by oneself and seen with one's own eyes and ears, but the legends have not been recorded." The book records hundreds of place names, as well as dangerous mountains and rivers, climate and products, people and customs, economic and cultural exchanges with my country, etc. Most of them have not been recorded before. Similar documents include "Journey to the West", "Journey to the West", "Northern Envoys", "Western Envoys", "Zhenla Customs", "Foreign Lands", etc., which reflect the Chinese people's understanding of the outside world in the Yuan Dynasty. New understanding and broadened cultural horizons.

The unprecedented prosperity of economic and cultural exchanges between China and the West has accelerated two-way economic and cultural exchanges between different regions, countries and regions. Chinese gunpowder, compass, and printing technology were introduced to Arabia and Europe, advancing the civilization process in these areas. Arab medicine, astronomy, and agricultural technology, European mathematics, metal crafts, and South Asian sculpture art were introduced to China, promoting the enrichment and development of ancient Chinese culture.

The amount of information exchanged between China and the West during the Yuan Dynasty was unprecedented in human history, as was its wide spread and impact on future history. It can be said that the Yuan Dynasty allowed the achievements of Chinese and Western civilizations to be shared in all directions for the first time.

Agudengba sang an ode to the Yuan Dynasty, "Achievements of the Yuan Dynasty That Should Not Be Forgotten":

 

Some people praise Genghis Khan,

It was he who unified the Mongolian tribes,

The Mongol Empire shocked the world,

External expansion plunders each other.

 

Some people look down on Kublai Khan;

Great Mongolia only knows how to kill,

The essence of nomadic people has not changed;

There is nothing to accomplish except horses, cattle and sheep.

 

In the eyes of some mediocre people,

The Mongolian and Yuan dynasties were like robbers,

The source of income comes from robbery.

Internal tears often occur.

 

But the idea is too simple,

The historical truth is not like this,

Various cultures coexisted in the Yuan Dynasty,

It is the greatest wonder of the world.

 

Encourage open trade policies,

Convenient and safe transportation,

To shorten the distance between Europe and Asia,

Direct dialogue becomes a reality.

 

Reaching the African coast by sea,

Traveling by land directly to Western Europe,

A person who lives thousands of miles away is like living in a household,

Traveling thousands of miles away is like leaving your neighbor's house.

 

The cultural exchanges between China and the West are huge.

Unprecedented in human history,

Let China know the world,

The world also knows China.

 

We should practice our virtues and do not rely on empty words.

Science and culture develop rapidly,

Astronomy, geography, water conservancy and agriculture,

The research results are world-renowned.

 

Support the Chineseization of the world as one family,

Diversity and integration of religious beliefs,

Freedom of speech, respecting customs and following circumstances,

Which dynasty had this civilization?

 

I don’t understand the Mongolian and Yuan science and technology culture,

I don’t know the glorious achievements of the Yuan Dynasty,

It will only distort your own IQ,

The achievements of the Yuan Dynasty should not be forgotten.