American Perspectives: My fascination with the Yuan Dynasty 1271-1368

"The Mongols ran a huge administrative system that they governed by enlisting the help of many other groups including Khitan, Jurchen, Chinese, Uyghur, Korean, and Persian among others.  They operated in multiple languages and adopted an alphabet of their own...But the Yuan was relatively short lived, only lasting until 1368...Succession was often violent and irregular...Women played major roles in imperial politics, especially Sorghaghtani, Khubilai Khan's mother; Targi,, the mother of Emperors Khaishan and Ayurebarwada; and Budashiri, the wife of Tugh Temur. They promoted their sons, determined succession, and distributed power and wealth." -Keith McMahon "Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing."

 

Yuan Dynasty China is a very fascinating time period for me.  It is impressive to me that the 고려 Dynasty was never fully absorbed by the Mongol controlled Yuan, even though it wasn't like they didn't try! 고려 was, after all, a son in law nation to Yuan, and they had to deal with sending tributary women every 3 years, and the 고려 kings having to take a royal Mongol wife. Yet, 고려 always kept its sovereign status, even if it was filled with tension internally among their own subjects, and externally with the Mongols.

What stands out most to me about the Yuan Dynasty was that even though it wasn't during the most progressive time period for Mongol women, relative to their culture, their authoritative role was enough to shock other cultures.  Such as Han Chinese and Europeans finding it horrifying that the Royal or Noble wife could have so much authority (and sometimes more) alongside their husband.  The 고려 dynasty also had some progressive attitudes toward women, which then gradually changed during 조선. Such as children of concubines no longer being considered legitimate, or royal concubines with the "빈" designation no longer being allowed to become Queen.  I can't help but wonder if one of the reasons why gender roles for women changed so dramatically during 조선 was because it was a means for the powers that be to distance themselves from the Mongols, and by extension, 기황후, as much as possible.