buddhism in the west uyghur kingdom and beyond 225
of the Buddha and recited sūtras in an Indian language. During their religious
feasts they often slaughtered a sheep, and if they had drunk wine they spread
blood on the lips of the Buddha’s statue.136
2.5 The Mongol Empire
Important changes came up with the rise of the Mongol Empire. Two events at
the beginning of the 13th century made a deep impact on Uyghur history from
then on. First, the adoption of the Uyghur alphabet by the Mongols in 1204137
after the defeat of the Naiman and the employment of Uyghur specialists of
writing and learning in Mongol service; second, the submission of the Uyghur
ruler Barčuk Art Tegin to Činggiz Qan in the year 1209.138 Both events forged
strong ties between Uyghurs and Mongols in the following years.139 Barčuk Art
Tegin was regarded as Činggiz Qan’s fifth son and he took part in several mili-
tary campaigns. Marriage alliances between the Mongol imperial family and
the Uyghur ruling house ensued. Uyghurs became tutors to members of the
imperial family and introduced them to literary culture or were part of
the administration in the Mongol Empire.140 Uyghur Buddhism became a
136 See Pinks, Uiguren von Kan-chou, 115, who sees a connection with shamanistic rites
recorded in the region of Kukunor in the 20th century.
137 The Uyghur Tatar Toŋa, who introduced the Uyghur script to the Mongols, was in charge
of the imperial seals at the Naiman court. On his biography see Ögel, Bahaeddin, Sino-
Turcica: Çingiz Han ve Çin’deki Hanedanın Türk Müşavirleri (Taipeh: IQ Kültürsanat
Yayıncılık, 1964), 153–157. Judging by their attested names and titles, the Naiman were
Turkic speaking. See Murayama, S. “Sind die Naiman Türken oder Mongolen?” Central
Asiatic Journal 4.3 (1959): 188–198. Although names and titles can certainly be borrowed,
this is unlikely in case of the Naiman.
138 A summary of the dramatic events is provided in Biran, Empire, 74–75. Cf. also Zieme,
Religion und Gesellschaft, 12–13. The Kara Khitai appointed a Buddhist monk as supervisor.
The Uyghurs loathed him because of his arrogance, and the Uyghur ıdok kut finally
decided to have him murdered in Kara Kočo. See Allsen, Thomas T., “The Yüan Dynasty
and the Uighurs of Turfan in the 13th Century,” in China Among Equals, ed. Morris Rossabi
(Berkeley et al.: University of California Press, 1983), 246.
139 But cf. Allsen, “Yüan Dynasty,” 251, who reports the events which led to the enthronement
of Möngke as Grand Qan. The Uyghur ıdok kut Salındı had supported the rival candidate
Širemün, and was beheaded at Beš Balık.
140 See Brose, “Uyghur Technologists,” and Brose, Michael C., Subjects and Masters: Uyghurs
in the Mongol Empire (Bellingham, Washington: Center for East Asian Studies, Western
Washington University, 2007) (with biographies of eminent Uyghurs in the Mongol
Empire). On the Uyghurs and other Turks in the Mongol Empire see de Rachewiltz, Igor,
“Turks in China under the Mongols,” in China Among Equals, ed. Morris Rossabi (Berkeley:
University of California Press, 1983), 281–310, and Ögel, Sino-Turcica, as well.