The Secret History of the Mongols Review in Annotated Books Received
Publication:
Annonated Books Received
Date:
12/01/1999
The original Secret History of the Mongols is perhaps the oldest text written in the Mongolian language. It was composed in the mid-13th century, just decades after the death of Chingis Khan in 1227, and for many generations was the private property of the royal family. This uniquely detailed account of the rise of the great "world conqueror" no doubt partly served as a confirmation of the Mongolian nobility's status, and therefore may be compared to theAeneid of Virgil and The Song of Roland. Since no manuscript of the original Mongolian text has yet been located, the actual source of the present text is a Chinese version known as the Yuan Ch'ao Pi Shih, which was copied out during the Ming Dynasty, after the Mongols had been driven from China. Paul Kahn has adapted the scholarly English translation of Francis Woodman Cleaves into colloquial free verse, making this ancient narrative accessible to all readers. Although it opens in the mythical past, The Secret Historyis also a source of historical facts, not only about the life and career of Chingis Khan, but about the daily life, social structures, and tribal customs of the people of Central Asia.
