Overview
The Mongols were animists (people who believed that non-human entities contained souls) and shamanists (spiritual healers). They thought that medicine shamans had the power to communicate with the gods, heal the ill, and predict the future.
Genghis Khan, the founder and Great Khan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, and his followers, were believers of Tengrism. Tengrism included the ideas of animism, shamanism, and ancestor worship. The original Great Khans were thought to have received a mandate to rule the world from Tengri, the ruler of Heaven and the supreme Mongol deity.
Even though Genghis Khan and his followers were believers of Tengrism, they were still highly tolerant of most religions. Genghis Khan wanted to learn philosophical and moral lessons from other religions and therefore, the Mongols did not persecute people because of their beliefs.
Under Genghis Khan, few places of worship were built due to a nomadic lifestyle. However, under his successor Ogedai Khan, houses of worship for Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, and Taoist followers. Eventually, Khubilai Khan provided funds and support for Buddhist monasteries, Confucian scholarship, Islamic mosques, and Christian churches.
As the empire expanded, the Mongols adopted the religions of their subjects. Soon enough, Islam became largely accepted.
Genghis Khan, the founder and Great Khan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, and his followers, were believers of Tengrism. Tengrism included the ideas of animism, shamanism, and ancestor worship. The original Great Khans were thought to have received a mandate to rule the world from Tengri, the ruler of Heaven and the supreme Mongol deity.
Even though Genghis Khan and his followers were believers of Tengrism, they were still highly tolerant of most religions. Genghis Khan wanted to learn philosophical and moral lessons from other religions and therefore, the Mongols did not persecute people because of their beliefs.
Under Genghis Khan, few places of worship were built due to a nomadic lifestyle. However, under his successor Ogedai Khan, houses of worship for Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, and Taoist followers. Eventually, Khubilai Khan provided funds and support for Buddhist monasteries, Confucian scholarship, Islamic mosques, and Christian churches.
As the empire expanded, the Mongols adopted the religions of their subjects. Soon enough, Islam became largely accepted.
Buddhism
- In the 13th century, Genghis Khan conquered Tibet. Thus, Buddhists entered the service of the Mongol Empire.
- All forms of Buddhism (Chinese, Tibetan, Indian) were practiced, but Tibetan Buddhism was particularly favored, especially by Kublai Khan.
- A number of Tibetan monks, including 'Phags-pa-Lama, were chosen by Mongol emperors to help them rule and promote Buddhism.
- Because of this, the number of Buddhist monasteries and the translation of Buddhist texts increased rapidly.
Christianity
- Christianity in western China was revived because of the conquest of Genghis Khan's descendants in the 13th century.
- This religion did not achieve a great position in the Mongol Empire.
- However, many Great Khans and other leaders were raised by Christian mothers and were educated by Christian tutors. For instance, Kublai Khan's mother practiced Christianity, and so Nestorian Christianity was promoted by the Mongols.
- The Mongol khans intermarried with a Christian Kereit clan (allies of Genghis Khan), and so even though Genghis Khan was a shamanist and Kublai Khan was a Buddhist, they were very tolerant of Christianity.
Islam
- Islam was well supported, since Mongol rulers used Islam to strengthen their rule over the Muslim populace. As a result, a number of mosques were built in China.
- The Mongols gathered Muslims from Central Asia and Persia to help in the rule of China, mainly in the financial administration field. Muslims often served as tax collectors and administrators.
- The Mongols were also impressed by Islamic scholars, because they made great leaps in the studies of astronomy and medicine, so many specialists of these fields were invited to China.
Essay on Religion in the Mongol Empire
By Alina Chen