Ongud
Encyclopedia
The Öngüd, or Öngüt, or Ongot were a Mongolic tribe, active in Mongolia
around the time of Genghis Khan
(1162–1227). Many members were Nestorian Christians. They lived in an area lining the Chinese Great Wall, in the northern part of the Ordos
and territories to the northeast of it. They appear to have had two capitals, a northern one at the ruin known as Olon Sume
and another a bit to the south at a place called Koshang or Dongsheng. They acted as wardens of the marches for the Chinese Empire
to the north of the province Shansi.
The ancestors of the Ongud were the Shato Turks of the Western Gokturk Khaganate. In the 7th century they moved to eastern Xinjiang
under the protection of the Tang Dynasty
. By the 9th century the Shato were scattered over North China
and modern Inner Mongolia
. A Shato warlord, Li, mobilized 10,000 Shato cavalrymen and served the Tang as ally. In 923 his son defeated the rebellious dynasty and became emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty
. After the overthrow of the Li family, the Shato commanders established the Later Jin Dynasty, and the Later Han Dynasty
and the Northern Han
.
When the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) conquered North China in the 12th century, the Shato tribe was called "White Tatars". The Jin recruited them as auxiliaries and made them guards of the Jin frontier. The Mongols
called them Onggud (Wall or Western). The Onguds migh be converted by the Uyghurs into Christianity
.
The Öngüt chief Alakush tegin revealed the Naiman plan to attack Genghis in 1205 and allied with the Mongols. When Genghis Khan invaded the Jin Dynasty in 1211, Alakush tegin supported him. Genghis bestowed his daughter Alaqai beki on his son. However, the political opponents killed Alakush. Genghis put down the rebellion and took the family under his protection. Genghis Khan's daughter Alaqai ruled the Ongut people as regent for several underage princes until the reign of Guyuk Khan
(1246–48).
Many famous post-Genghis Mongols are of Öngüd descent, including the well-known monk, traveler, and diplomat, Rabban Sauma (1220–1294). The Ongud proved good allies to Kublai. For example, the Ongud ruler Korgiz (George) married Kublai's two grand-daughters and fought against Kaidu
, whose protege Duwa
captured and killed him later in 1298. A number of Öngüd were said to have been converted to Catholicism by John of Montecorvino
(1246–1328).
After 1221 many Onguds were resettled in Khorazm where they served as governors for the Ulus of Jochi. They formed part of the Kazakhs
and the Moghols
. Onguds in Mongolia became an otog of the Tumed
Mongols in the 15th century.
The University of Hong Kong possesses a collection of around a thousand 13th- and 14th-century bronze Nestorian crosses from the Ongut region, collected during the 1920s by F. A. Nixon, a British postal official working in northern China. Although their designs vary, Maltese crosses with a square central panel displaying a swastika, the Buddhist good luck symbol, predominate.
The Ongud Monument Ensemble was constructed by the Tureg tribes during the 6th-8th centuries for their noblemen. This consists of over 30 man-like figures, a lion and a sheep, and about 550 standing stones in alignments reminiscent of Carnac or Avebury. There is also a large tomb made of 4 sculptured slabs. Each slab has the front face decorated with a trellis-pattern like the walls of a ger, and a simple frieze on top.
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
around the time of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
(1162–1227). Many members were Nestorian Christians. They lived in an area lining the Chinese Great Wall, in the northern part of the Ordos
Ordos
-Places:*Ordos Loop of the Yellow River, a region of China*Ordos Desert, in Inner Mongolia*Ordos City, city and district in Inner Mongolia*Ordos International Circuit, a race track in Ordos City.-People:...
and territories to the northeast of it. They appear to have had two capitals, a northern one at the ruin known as Olon Sume
Olon Sume
Olon Süme is an archaeological site in northern Darhan Muminggan United Banner of Baotou prefecture level city, Nei Mongol, China. Since the 1930s the site has been identified as the northern capital of the medieval Ongut kings. A collection of small artefacts from the site was exhibited and...
and another a bit to the south at a place called Koshang or Dongsheng. They acted as wardens of the marches for the Chinese Empire
Mid-Imperial China
Mid-Imperial China begins with the reunification of China by the short-lived Sui dynasty in 589. The Sui replaced the nine-rank system with the imperial examination and embarked on major public works such as connecting the various canals to form the Grand Canal...
to the north of the province Shansi.
The ancestors of the Ongud were the Shato Turks of the Western Gokturk Khaganate. In the 7th century they moved to eastern Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
under the protection of the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. By the 9th century the Shato were scattered over North China
North China
thumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
and modern Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
. A Shato warlord, Li, mobilized 10,000 Shato cavalrymen and served the Tang as ally. In 923 his son defeated the rebellious dynasty and became emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty
Later Tang Dynasty
The Later Tang Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted from 923 to 937 one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo Turks...
. After the overthrow of the Li family, the Shato commanders established the Later Jin Dynasty, and the Later Han Dynasty
Later Han Dynasty (Five Dynasties)
The Later Han Dynasty was founded in 947. It was the fourth of the Five Dynasties and the third consecutive Shatuo Turk dynasty...
and the Northern Han
Northern Han
The Northern Han kingdom is a state of the Ten Kingdoms in the Period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. It was founded by Liu Min , formerly known as Liu Chong , and lasted from 951 – 979.-Founding of the Northern Han:...
.
When the Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) conquered North China in the 12th century, the Shato tribe was called "White Tatars". The Jin recruited them as auxiliaries and made them guards of the Jin frontier. The Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
called them Onggud (Wall or Western). The Onguds migh be converted by the Uyghurs into Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
The Öngüt chief Alakush tegin revealed the Naiman plan to attack Genghis in 1205 and allied with the Mongols. When Genghis Khan invaded the Jin Dynasty in 1211, Alakush tegin supported him. Genghis bestowed his daughter Alaqai beki on his son. However, the political opponents killed Alakush. Genghis put down the rebellion and took the family under his protection. Genghis Khan's daughter Alaqai ruled the Ongut people as regent for several underage princes until the reign of Guyuk Khan
Güyük Khan
Güyük was the third Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. As the eldest son of Ögedei Khan and a grandson of Genghis Khan, he reigned from 1246 to 1248...
(1246–48).
Many famous post-Genghis Mongols are of Öngüd descent, including the well-known monk, traveler, and diplomat, Rabban Sauma (1220–1294). The Ongud proved good allies to Kublai. For example, the Ongud ruler Korgiz (George) married Kublai's two grand-daughters and fought against Kaidu
Kaidu
Kaidu was the leader of the House of Ogedei and the de facto khan of the Chagatai Khanate. He ruled part of modern-day Xinjiang and Central Asia during the 13th century, and actively opposed his uncle, Kublai Khan, who established the Yuan Dynasty in China until his death in 1301...
, whose protege Duwa
Duwa
Duwa , also known as Du'a, was khan of the Chagatai Khanate . He was the second son of Baraq. He was the longest reigning monarch of the Chagatayid Khanate and accepted the Great Khan's supremacy...
captured and killed him later in 1298. A number of Öngüd were said to have been converted to Catholicism by John of Montecorvino
John of Montecorvino
John of Montecorvino or Giovanni da Montecorvino in Italian was an Italian Franciscan missionary, traveler and statesman, founder of the earliest Roman Catholic missions in India and China, and archbishop of Peking, and Latin Patriarch of the Orient.-Biography:John was born at Montecorvino...
(1246–1328).
After 1221 many Onguds were resettled in Khorazm where they served as governors for the Ulus of Jochi. They formed part of the Kazakhs
Argyns
Argyn tribe is one of the main constituents of the Kazakh people, of possibly Mongol descent , and a main component in the Middle jüz sub-confederation in Kazakhstan, which historically consisted of three tribal conglomerations of Great jüz, Middle jüz, and Little jüz.Present Argyns in the Kazakh...
and the Moghols
Mughal (tribe)
The term Mughal is simply a Turkic word and many groups in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh use the term Mughal to describe themselves...
. Onguds in Mongolia became an otog of the Tumed
Tümed
The Tümed are a Mongol subgroup. Most engage in sedentary agriculture, living in mixed communities in the suburbs of Huhhot. Part of them live along Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia...
Mongols in the 15th century.
The University of Hong Kong possesses a collection of around a thousand 13th- and 14th-century bronze Nestorian crosses from the Ongut region, collected during the 1920s by F. A. Nixon, a British postal official working in northern China. Although their designs vary, Maltese crosses with a square central panel displaying a swastika, the Buddhist good luck symbol, predominate.
The Ongud Monument Ensemble was constructed by the Tureg tribes during the 6th-8th centuries for their noblemen. This consists of over 30 man-like figures, a lion and a sheep, and about 550 standing stones in alignments reminiscent of Carnac or Avebury. There is also a large tomb made of 4 sculptured slabs. Each slab has the front face decorated with a trellis-pattern like the walls of a ger, and a simple frieze on top.
See also
- List of medieval Mongolian tribes and clans
- History of MongoliaHistory of MongoliaThe area of what is now Mongolia has been ruled by various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, the Nirun, the Gökturks, and others. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206. After the collapse of the Yuan Dynasty in 1368, the Mongols returned to their earlier patterns...
- Christianity among the MongolsChristianity among the MongolsIn modern times the Mongols are primarily Buddhist, but in previous eras, especially during the time of the Mongol "empire" , they were primarily shamanist and had a substantial minority of Christians, many of whom were in positions of considerable power. Overall, Mongols were highly tolerant of...