元朝的統治 (The Governance of the Yuan Dynasty)

Hey everyone! Welcome to your study notes for the Yuan Dynasty. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if a group of outsiders suddenly became the rulers of a huge country? That's exactly what happened in the Yuan Dynasty! It was a powerful but short-lived dynasty founded by the Mongols.

In this chapter, we're going to learn about:

1. How the Mongols, a group of nomadic warriors, built one of the biggest empires in world history.
2. The special and strict way the Yuan emperors ruled over the Chinese people.

Understanding the Yuan Dynasty is super interesting because it shows us the challenges and conflicts that can happen when different cultures come together under one government. Let's dive in!


蒙古的崛起、拓展及元朝的建立 (Rise and Territorial Expansion of Mongols, and the Founding of the Yuan Dynasty)

Who Were the Mongols?

Before they built a massive empire, the Mongols were nomadic tribes living on the vast grasslands of northern Asia.

Imagine your family living in a tent (they called it a yurt or 蒙古包) and moving from place to place to find fresh grass for your animals. You wouldn't have a fixed address! That was the life of the early Mongols. They were skilled horse riders and archers.

The Great Leader: Genghis Khan (成吉思汗)

The Mongol tribes often fought among themselves. That is, until a brilliant and strong leader named Temüjin (鐵木真) came along.

  • He united all the different Mongol tribes into one powerful force.
  • He was given the title Genghis Khan (成吉思汗), which means "universal ruler."
  • Under his leadership, the Mongols began their incredible military expansion, creating a huge empire.
From Empire to Dynasty: Kublai Khan (忽必烈)

After Genghis Khan, his sons and grandsons continued to expand the empire. One of the most famous was his grandson, Kublai Khan (忽必烈).

Kublai Khan had a huge ambition: to rule all of China. He achieved this by defeating the Southern Song Dynasty. To rule China effectively, he did something very important:

He founded a new dynasty in the Chinese style and called it the Yuan Dynasty (元朝). He became its first emperor, known as Emperor Shizu of Yuan (元世祖). This marked the first time in history that all of China was ruled by a non-Han ethnic group.

Did you know?
The famous European explorer, Marco Polo, is said to have visited China during the reign of Kublai Khan. His book about his travels gave Europeans their first detailed look into the wonders of China!

Key Takeaway

The story is simple: A brilliant leader, Genghis Khan, united the nomadic Mongol tribes. His grandson, Kublai Khan, completed the conquest of China and established the Yuan Dynasty to rule over it.


元朝的統治政策與民族關係 (State Administration in the Yuan Dynasty and Ethnic Relations)

So, the Mongols were now in charge. But they faced a big problem: there were very few Mongols compared to the millions of Han Chinese they had to rule. How could they stay in control?

Think about it: It's like having a small group of 10 students trying to manage an entire school of 1,000 students. You'd need a very strict system to make sure you stay in charge!

The Yuan government's solution was to create a strict social hierarchy. This is the most important policy to remember for the Yuan Dynasty!

The Four-Class System (四等階級制)

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first. We'll break it down step-by-step. The Yuan government divided the population into four classes, or ranks. Your rank was based on your ethnicity and decided your rights, job opportunities, and legal status.

1. First Class: The Mongols (蒙古人)

  • Who: The ruling ethnic group.
  • Status: The highest and most privileged class. They were the "VIPs" of the dynasty.
  • Role: Held all the top positions in the central government and the military.

2. Second Class: The Semu People (色目人)

  • Who: People from Central and West Asia who were the Mongols' allies (e.g., Persians, Turks). The name Semu literally means "coloured eyes," referring to their non-East Asian features.
  • Status: A trusted class, ranked just below the Mongols.
  • Role: They often served as merchants, translators, and financial officials. The Mongols trusted them more than the Han Chinese to help manage the empire. They were like the "trusted managers."

3. Third Class: The Han People (漢人)

  • Who: This group included the Han Chinese, Khitans, and Jurchens living in northern China, who were ruled by the Jin Dynasty before the Mongol conquest.
  • Status: A lower, less trusted class.
  • Role: They could be low-level officials but were barred from holding important positions.

4. Fourth Class: The Southerners (南人)

  • Who: The Han Chinese and other ethnic groups from the former Southern Song Dynasty.
  • Status: The lowest and most discriminated-against class. They were the last group to be conquered and were therefore the least trusted.
  • Role: They faced the harshest laws, heaviest taxes, and had almost no chance to enter the government.
Quick Review: The Four Classes

Rank 1: Mongols (The Bosses)
Rank 2: Semu People (The Managers)
Rank 3: Han People (Northern Chinese - The General Staff)
Rank 4: Southerners (Southern Chinese - The Lowest Rank)

Memory Trick! Try to remember the order with this simple phrase:
"My Super Hungry Sister" (Mongols, Semu, Han, Southerners/南人).

The Impact of This System on Ethnic Relations

The Four-Class System was created to secure Mongol rule and prevent the Chinese from rebelling. However, this policy of ethnic discrimination had very negative consequences:

  • Caused Resentment: The Han and Southerners, who made up the vast majority of the population, deeply resented the unfair treatment.
  • Created Conflict: It created deep divisions and tension between the different ethnic groups.
  • Led to Instability: This widespread anger and discrimination was a major reason why the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown after less than 100 years. People were not loyal to a government that treated them so poorly.
Key Takeaway

The most important feature of Yuan governance was the Four-Class System, which ranked people by ethnicity. This policy was designed to keep the Mongols in power but ended up causing social conflict and contributing to the dynasty's quick collapse.