The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,335 pages of information about The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2.

The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,335 pages of information about The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2.

["The last of the Sung Emperors (1276) ‘Facfur’ (i.e. the Arabic for Tien Tzu) was freed by Kublai from the (ancient Kotan) indignity of surrendering with a rope round his neck, leading a sheep, and he received the title of Duke:  In 1288 he went to Tibet to study Buddhism, and in 1296 he and his mother, Ts’iuen T’ai How, became a bonze and a nun, and were allowed to hold 360 k’ing (say 5000 acres) of land free of taxes under the then existing laws.” (E.  H. Parker, China Review, February, March 1901, p. 195.)—­H.C.]

NOTE 2.—­Nevertheless the history of the conquest shows instances of extraordinary courage and self-devotion on the part of Chinese officers, especially in the defence of fortresses—­virtues often shown in like degree, under like circumstances, by the same class, in the modern history of China.

NOTE 3.—­Bayan (signifying “great” or “noble”) is a name of very old renown among the Nomad nations, for we find it as that of the Khagan of the Avars in the 6th century.  The present BAYAN, Kublai’s most famous lieutenant, was of princely birth, in the Mongol tribe called Barin.  In his youth he served in the West of Asia under Hulaku.  According to Rashiduddin, about 1265 he was sent to Cathay with certain ambassadors of the Kaan’s who were returning thither.  He was received with great distinction by Kublai, who was greatly taken with his prepossessing appearance and ability, and a command was assigned him.  In 1273, after the capture of Siang-Yang (infra, ch. lxx.) the Kaan named him to the chief command in the prosecution of the war against the Sung Dynasty.  Whilst Bayan was in the full tide of success, Kublai, alarmed by the ravages of Kaidu on the Mongolian frontier, recalled him to take the command there, but, on the general’s remonstrance, he gave way, and made him a minister of state (CHINGSIANG).  The essential part of his task was completed by the surrender of the capital King-sze (Lin-ngan, now Hang-chau) to his arms in the beginning of 1276.  He was then recalled to court, and immediately despatched to Mongolia, where he continued in command for seventeen years, his great business being to keep down the restless Kaidu. ["The biography of this valiant captain is found in the Yuen-shi (ch. cxxvii.).  It is quite in accordance with the biographical notices Rashid gives of the same personage.  He calls him Bayan.” (Bretschneider, Med.  Res. I. p. 271, note).]

["The inventory, records, etc., of Kinsai, mentioned by Marco Polo, as also the letter from the old empress, are undoubted facts:  complete stock was taken, and 5,692,656 souls were added to the population (in the two Chen alone).  The Emperor surrendered in person to Bayan a few days after his official surrender, which took place on the 18th day of the 1st moon in 1276.  Bayan took the Emperor to see Kublai.” (E.  H. Parker, China Review, XXIV. p. 105.)—­H.C.]

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The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 2 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.