Modern depiction of Antong

Antong (Chinese: 安童), alternatively rendered as Hantum (1245[1] or 1248[2]–1293), was a prominent official of the Yuan dynasty of China, serving during the reign of the Yuan founder Kublai Khan. As a great-grandson of Muqali of the Jalayir clan, one of the greatest generals under Genghis Khan, he became an influential administrator in the administration of the Yuan dynasty, one of the chiefs of Kublai's administration.[1][3]

He was born to Ba'atur (d. 1261), a grandson of Muqali, and Temülün, the elder sister of Kublai's wife Chabi.[1]

Antong was well-educated in Confucianism, and had accompanied Kublai since he was still a boy.[4][5] He had a good knowledge of Chinese law, and was one of the Mongolian aristocrats who were most popular with the Han.[6] After the enthronement of Kublai Khan in 1260, he was appointed the commander of the imperial guards, when he was only sixteen.[7] In 1265, he was again appointed as the grand chancellor of the Central Secretariat (Zhongshu Sheng), and actively supported Kublai Khan to adopt and honor Confucianism and Chinese court rituals, and opposed the influence of Ahmad Fanakati.

In 1275, he was dispatched to assist Nomokhan, a son of Kublai Khan, to confront the attacks of Kaidu from Central Asia. Unfortunately, he was captured due to the insurgency of his own underlings, and was given to the Mengu-Timur, khan of the Golden Horde, who, in turn, passed him on to Kaidu. He was not allowed to return to the Yuan Dynasty until 1284. However, he gradually lost the trust of Kublai Khan upon his return, and died in 1293. After the enthronement of Temur (Emperor Chengzong), he was granted the title of the Prince of Dongping Zhongxian (Chinese: 東平忠憲王) in 1303.

References

  1. ^ a b c Sneath, David (2006). Imperial Statecraft Political Forms and Techniques of Governance in Inner Asia, Sixth-twentieth Centuries. Center for East Asian Studies, Western Washington University for Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit, University of Cambridge. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-914584-27-8.
  2. ^ 元史. 中国大百科全书出版社. 1985. p. 4. ISBN 978-0-914584-27-8.
  3. ^ Journal of Sung-Yuan Studies. Department of East Asian Studies, State University of New York at Albany. 1992. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-914584-27-8.[clarification needed]
  4. ^ 萧啓慶 (1984). 元代蒙古人的漢学. 国立政治大学. p. 11.
  5. ^ Federation of Inner Mongolian Philosophy and Social Sciences Societies, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Academy of Social Sciences (1990). Inner Mongolia Social Sciences Issues 1-6. Journal of the Inner Mongolia Academy of Social Sciences. p. 31.
  6. ^ Xiao Qiqing (2012). Kyushu's Four Seas The Formation and Development of the Multi-ethnic Scholar Circle in Yuan Dynasty. Academia Sinica. p. 354. ISBN 978-986-03-2794-6.
  7. ^ Ratchnevsky, Paul (1937). Un code des Yuan Volume 4. E. Leroux. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-914584-27-8.
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