TOMB OF GENGHIZ KHAN

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22941, 10 February 1940, Page 12

TOMB OF GENGHIZ KHAN

Legend of Mongol Conqueror Confirmed

VIGIL OF SEVEN CENTURIES

IBy H. G. W. WOODHEAD. Far Eastern Correspondent of “The Press.’’]

A Chungking telegram of June 15 last year, describing the removal of the remains of the great Mongol conqueror, Genghiz Khan, from Mongolia to “somewhere in north-west China,” aroused considerable interest throughout the civilised world. The Chungking story, briefly, was as follows:

During a visit to Chungking Prince Sha, an elderly Mongol leader had informed the Chinese Government that Prince Teh, who later became .chairman of the Japanese-sponsored Federated Mongolia Autonomous Government, intended to open the historic tomb of Genghiz Khan to remove the valuables stored therein. He urged the Chinese Government to have the remains moved to a safe place. The Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission was instructed to investigate the matter and make plans for the removal. On June 9 special ceremopies took place at Yiking-holor, where the remains had been deposited, and with an escort of the traditional Mongol guards and Chinese troops, the caskets of the Mongol warrior and his wives started on their long journey to°an undisclosed destination. It was stated that the Chinese Government had pledged itself to return the remains to Yiking-holor after the conclusion of the Sino-Japanese hostilities. The cortege reached Yulin, in northern Shensi, on June 15, where it was ceremoniously welcomed. The same day they left Yulin in a southerly direction, and in due course reached Sian.. A Chungking message, of August 17, stated that the caskets had found a temporary resting place in the ancient Dragon Hill temple, 30 miles east of Lanchow. Controversy The publication of the first Chungking gram resulted in the appearance in the “North China Daily News” of a letter from a correspondent warning readers against being hoaxed, and quoting at length from Lamb’s book on “Genghiz Khan” to support the contention that the burial place of the great Khan was unknown. Another reader combated this suggestion by quoting an extract from Dr. George B, Cressey’s monograph on “The Ordos Desert of Inner Mongolia,” stating that it was probable that the Great Khan’s tomb was in the Eastern Ordos, at a place known as Echi Edchin Koro, and that it had been visited by Potanin in 1884, Bonin in* 1897, and de Lesdain in 1904. It was added that the most detailed account had been given by Werner, based upon Chinese and Mongol sources. The correspondence ended with both parties adhering to their opinions, but no one seems to have thought of looking up Werner’s account, which appears to offer conclusive evidence as to the existence and locality of Genghiz Khan’s tomb. Mr E. T. C. Werner’s study of “The Burial Place of Genghiz Khan” will be found in his volume, “A; tumn Leaves,” published in 1928. In an attempt to ascertain the facts about the tomb the author obtained an introduction to the Prince K’a-la-ch’in, whb ranks as one of the' Great Khan’s descendants. The Prince furnished Mr Werner with a sketch map, copied from the family archives, and supplied him with the following information:

The sites of Genghiz Khan’s and the second imperial concubine’s burial places are in the Ordos country, at E-chm-ho-lao (Rache Tchurin) and Pa-ko E-chin-ho-lao (Little Rache) respectively. To reach the district one travels six days on horseback south-west from Suiyuanfu. No nionment marks the site of Khan’s tomb, which is occupied by two large white felt Mongol tents of circular shape. In the first are some tables and chairs, two swords used by Genghiz, and implements of worship which are taken out for use at the annual sacrifices. The latter take place on the twenty-first day of the third moon, and every Mongol banner sends a representative to participate in the ceremonies, which last 15 days. With them they bring sacred relics of the Khan, except the great battle-standard (an enormous black wooden lance with a diamond-shaoed iron point that never rusts), which is planted in the desert some 60 li (20 miles) south of the tomb. The second tent contains a large engraved chest made of red copper, ornamented with gold facings. It contains another of similar workmanship inside, and within it a silver casket, said to enclose two sable coats* one containing the bones of Genghiz and the other of his wife. The silver casket is never.known to have,been opened. , The Khan’s Death ' Genghiz Khan died in 1227 A.D.; and there are conflicting stories of his end. According to one, he'was murdered by his third‘wife near the Ulan Muren (river) and his body was cremated there. A second legend gives Sa-li-chuan as the scene of his death, and states that en route to his final resting place every person encountered was ruthlessly massacred. Another attributes his end to lightning, and Marco Polo states that he died of an arrow wound received in attacking a certain castle called Gaaju. Prince K’a-la-ch’in asserts that there is no authentic record of his death. What evidence is available suggests that he died a natural death, at the age of 66. His body was probably cremated, and if so all that would be found if the silver casket were opened would be ashes or charred bones. There does not, then, appear to be any justification for the allegation that the staging of the removal of his remains was an elaborate hoax. The records of many Mongol (and Chinese and Manchu) families go back for centuries, and the Prince of K’a-la-ch’in must be credited with telling the truth when he furnished his inquirer with the map showing the location of

There does not, then, appear to be any justification for the allegation that the staging of the removal of his remains was an elaborate hoax. The records of many Mongol (and Chinese and Manchu) families go back for centuries, and the Prince of K’a-la-ch’in must be credited with telling the truth when he furnished his inquirer with the map showing the location of the tomb, which corresponds with that given by the Chungking reports. . _ / It seems then that far out in the desert,® for nearly seven centuries, the yurts containing the relics and remains of the great Mongol conqueror have been constantly guarded by hereditary tribesmen. They were only induced to remove the remains when their crude tomb was in danger of violation, and permission was given to accompany the caskets to their temporary refuge. There' are, it is said, chateaux in France in which for centuries on end the descendants of Crusaders have maintained ever-burning lamps over the tombs of ancestors Who gave their lives for the Cross. But this hardly seems so romantic as the keepipg of watch and ward century after century over two felt tents in the midst of a wind-swept plain in the Ordos desert. .