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The Secret History of the Mongols: A Mongolian Epic Chronicle of the Thirteenth Century
The Secret History of the Mongols: A Mongolian Epic Chronicle of the Thirteenth Century is a shortened version of the three volumes of Igor de Rachewiltz’s similarly-titled work published by Brill in 2004 and 2013. It includes the full translation with a few notes, but omits the extensive introduction explaining the nature and origin of the text, the detailed commentary concerning linguistic and historical aspects of the text, and the exhaustive bibliography of the original. Included are the genealogical table and two maps from 2004, a shorter version of two indexes, and a very brief list of works cited.
296 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 12, 2020
Moved to gwern.net.
July 23, 2012
Easily the best available translation of the classic Mongolian history. Though there are a few issues I have with de Rachewiltz's choice of words here and there, his interpretation of the genre of the SHM, and his arguments on the composition date, the fact remains that no one has yet to produce a better translation of The Secret History in English. Every Mongolist should own this, and anyone interested in the Mongol Empire or Mongolian history should read this, despite the hefty price tag. It is well worth it.
April 11, 2016
The edition I have is one bought in Mongolia. It does not have the lengthy introduction of the UK hardback, which can in any case be read by browsing the book on the Amazon site.
The Secret History is a Mongol 18Bible 19 in twelve chapters. The first chapter deals with family history, the line of paternal descent of the Mongols of the Steppes, in particular that of the Borjigin, Temuchin 19s own clan. In some respects, it is not unlike parts of the Old Testament of Jews and Christians, wherein the origins of prophets and leaders are given in a long series of 'begats'. It ends with the death of Temuchin 19s father Yesugai from poison.
In Chapter Three, Temuchin, Jamuqa and Toghrul Khan chase the Merkits and rescue Borte. In Chapter Five, Temuchin concludes his revenge on the Tatars by 18wiping out 19 all the adult men, and sparing the women and young children - those whose height was below 18the lynchpin of a cart 19. The middle chapters deal further with Temuchin 19s relations with Jamuqa and Toghrul and his eventual elimination of both as threats. In Chapter Ten, he gives the subject lands to his mother, younger brothers and sons. Chapter Eleven describes campaigns in North China and Kwarazm.
Professor Onon writes that the Secret History was composed, or at least begun, in 1228. Raschewiltz disagrees and dates the work from 1240. Armed with nothing more than the English text, a copy of a Chinese Lunar Calendar and a basic knowledge of other twelfth and thirteenth century history, one can date many of the episodes recorded in the book without notes. The problem with that approach is that much of non-Mongol history is based on The Secret History thus leading to the unanswerable question: whose interpretation is the correct one?
Only in the final chapter does the story move from Genghis to Ogodai and in such a way as to suggest it was written at a different time and possibly by a different hand from the rest. This might account for the debate between historians concerning the date of its composition.
The text itself concludes with a statement that the gives the year of its completion as the Year of the Rat. The cycle of Rat years could date the document as either 1228, 1240 or even later. Parts of Chapter Twelve could not have been written before 1240 and this shows that, whenever it was begun, The Secret History could only have been completed after that date.
Arguments over its dating do not detract from the document 19s fascination or its historical value. For all its confusing collection of Mongol names, its esoteric poetry and the passages of double meaning, The Secret History has some moments of real heroism and even humour.
There is the story of Jelme who, while looking after an injured Genghis Khan, runs into the enemy camp in his underwear in search of some koumis for his master. His ploy if caught, as he later tells Genghis, is to pretend he was a prisoner of the Mongols and that they stripped him to (unsuccessfully) hinder his escape.
Then there is brave Altani. She is maybe one of Genghis 19s daughters, or the daughter of one of his wives by another man. A Tatar who has escaped the purge of his tribe comes to the tent of Hoelun, pretending to be destitute and hungry. While his hosts are getting food, he picks up the infant Tolui and makes off with him, drawing a knife as he does so. Altani leaps up, pursues him, disarms him and holds him long enough for the menfolk to arrive.
The Secret History of the Mongols is worth reading, in any of its versions, for its own sake.
The Secret History is a Mongol 18Bible 19 in twelve chapters. The first chapter deals with family history, the line of paternal descent of the Mongols of the Steppes, in particular that of the Borjigin, Temuchin 19s own clan. In some respects, it is not unlike parts of the Old Testament of Jews and Christians, wherein the origins of prophets and leaders are given in a long series of 'begats'. It ends with the death of Temuchin 19s father Yesugai from poison.
In Chapter Three, Temuchin, Jamuqa and Toghrul Khan chase the Merkits and rescue Borte. In Chapter Five, Temuchin concludes his revenge on the Tatars by 18wiping out 19 all the adult men, and sparing the women and young children - those whose height was below 18the lynchpin of a cart 19. The middle chapters deal further with Temuchin 19s relations with Jamuqa and Toghrul and his eventual elimination of both as threats. In Chapter Ten, he gives the subject lands to his mother, younger brothers and sons. Chapter Eleven describes campaigns in North China and Kwarazm.
Professor Onon writes that the Secret History was composed, or at least begun, in 1228. Raschewiltz disagrees and dates the work from 1240. Armed with nothing more than the English text, a copy of a Chinese Lunar Calendar and a basic knowledge of other twelfth and thirteenth century history, one can date many of the episodes recorded in the book without notes. The problem with that approach is that much of non-Mongol history is based on The Secret History thus leading to the unanswerable question: whose interpretation is the correct one?
Only in the final chapter does the story move from Genghis to Ogodai and in such a way as to suggest it was written at a different time and possibly by a different hand from the rest. This might account for the debate between historians concerning the date of its composition.
The text itself concludes with a statement that the gives the year of its completion as the Year of the Rat. The cycle of Rat years could date the document as either 1228, 1240 or even later. Parts of Chapter Twelve could not have been written before 1240 and this shows that, whenever it was begun, The Secret History could only have been completed after that date.
Arguments over its dating do not detract from the document 19s fascination or its historical value. For all its confusing collection of Mongol names, its esoteric poetry and the passages of double meaning, The Secret History has some moments of real heroism and even humour.
There is the story of Jelme who, while looking after an injured Genghis Khan, runs into the enemy camp in his underwear in search of some koumis for his master. His ploy if caught, as he later tells Genghis, is to pretend he was a prisoner of the Mongols and that they stripped him to (unsuccessfully) hinder his escape.
Then there is brave Altani. She is maybe one of Genghis 19s daughters, or the daughter of one of his wives by another man. A Tatar who has escaped the purge of his tribe comes to the tent of Hoelun, pretending to be destitute and hungry. While his hosts are getting food, he picks up the infant Tolui and makes off with him, drawing a knife as he does so. Altani leaps up, pursues him, disarms him and holds him long enough for the menfolk to arrive.
The Secret History of the Mongols is worth reading, in any of its versions, for its own sake.
March 25, 2022
相較於Cleaves教授的譯本，這個譯本最大的優點在於給出了大量的註釋，並且參考了包括蒙、中、日、俄、法、德等眾多語文的不同譯本。但是它的價格實在是讓人望之卻步。而且獨特的徵引書目格式和新轉寫系統也不容易讓讀者上手。但仍舊不減其價值。特別是它的英譯要比Cleaves譯本來得易讀許多。購買時推薦2006年的修訂版，因為書末附有勘誤表，修正了許多2003年初版的印刷錯誤。另外De Rachewiltz教授於2013年又出版了增補的第三卷，也應當一併參考。
August 5, 2016
My complaint with this edition of the Secret History -- unarguably the scholarly edition -- is how frequently, in the notes, he'll say 'this issue has been discussed by [insert names] so I won't comment on those lines of the text.' I'm an amateur Mongolist, at home, and for me, that's an intensely frustrating habit. It often means that this book in my hands is least useful on the most important passages - since these have most work done elsewhere (which may be less accessible and/or in other languages) that he simply refers you to.
I prefer the translation of Cleaves, if only perhaps for its greater art. Cleaves is also more literal, but at least, when IdR paraphrases, he gives us the 'lit.' meaning in the notes. As for the notes... I can't call them exhaustive, because of what he leaves out (see above). Detailed, although, I'd venture to say, more at home in language than in culture study. He does do interpretive work in his commentary, but for my part, I'm often in argument with him on interpretation. I can find him reductionist.
I prefer the translation of Cleaves, if only perhaps for its greater art. Cleaves is also more literal, but at least, when IdR paraphrases, he gives us the 'lit.' meaning in the notes. As for the notes... I can't call them exhaustive, because of what he leaves out (see above). Detailed, although, I'd venture to say, more at home in language than in culture study. He does do interpretive work in his commentary, but for my part, I'm often in argument with him on interpretation. I can find him reductionist.
July 27, 2021
Golden dog daddy
has a hard time keeping friends
can't stop stabbing them.
has a hard time keeping friends
can't stop stabbing them.
February 12, 2020
Basically a biography of Gengis Khan, written shortly after his death. I had very little prior knowledge of Mongolian history, but couldn't resist the subject matter, written by the Mongols themselves. It did turn out to be a problem - the book is packed with names of people and places, and when I had hardly heard of any of them before, and they are all in a very foreign language, it is hard to keep track, unfortunately. But in between, there are events and anecdotes that are told in a very lively way, and that kept my attention. A fascinating glimpse into an unknown culture.
I kept waiting for the conquests into the west - when they finally launched their attacks into Russia and Europe, it was only mentioned in passing, and the main focus was on internal conflicts among the attacking Mongols. Somewhat disappointing, but then again refreshing for a Euro-centric European - the events which struck such fear into 13th century Europe hardly even warranted a mention in Gengis Khan's biography.
The translation is excellent. It is written in a modern language that works - no unwarranted archaic English.
An interesting read, but heavy going for someone unfamiliar with the area.
I kept waiting for the conquests into the west - when they finally launched their attacks into Russia and Europe, it was only mentioned in passing, and the main focus was on internal conflicts among the attacking Mongols. Somewhat disappointing, but then again refreshing for a Euro-centric European - the events which struck such fear into 13th century Europe hardly even warranted a mention in Gengis Khan's biography.
The translation is excellent. It is written in a modern language that works - no unwarranted archaic English.
An interesting read, but heavy going for someone unfamiliar with the area.
September 24, 2015
A superb resource for anyone interested in medieval Mongolia, and the life of Genghis [Chinggis] Khan.
There are a number of versions of the 'Secret History' but this is by far the best in the English language, with decades of scholarship behind it.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
There are a number of versions of the 'Secret History' but this is by far the best in the English language, with decades of scholarship behind it.
I thoroughly recommend this book.
July 23, 2009
Fascinating and incredibly detailed annotated edition of the Secret History. The introduction alone is fantastically informative.
November 11, 2011
Beyond epic.
Want to read
March 4, 2013read
July 21, 2014
I am Mongolian and proud of that. Mongolian all people read this book. This book is about Mongolian history in from 12th to 13th century and about Chinggis khan's ancestors.
Read
September 20, 2016Best translation into English.
Read
December 19, 2010Read an earlier edition published 1990 or earlier.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews