Chingünjav
Encyclopedia
Chingünjav was one of the two major leaders of the 1755 - 1756 rebellion in Outer Mongolia
. Although his rebellion failed, he is nowadays often hailed as a fighter for Mongolia
's independence from the Manchu
, who were ruling China
at that time.
, in the Khotgoid
's Erdenedüüregch vangiin khoshuu of Zasagt Khan aimag, or today's Bürentogtokh sum
of Khövsgöl aimag. His father Bandi was the khoshuu's Zasag Noyon
. In 1738, Chingünjav succeeded his father. Chingünjav made a career in the Manchu
military and eventually reached the rank of an assistant general of Zasagt Khan aimag.
campaign against the Zungar Khanate, Chingünjav and Amursanaa conspired to start a rebellion in autumn of the same year. However, their seniors came to know of their plans and separated them. Chingünjav was sent to fight in Uriankhai
, and Amursanaa was summoned to Beijing
for demanding too big a share of the Zungar Khanate. On the way, his escort let him escape. This led to the trial and execution of the commander of the escort, a brother of the Jebtsundamba Khutugtu
and direct descendant of Chingis Khan
, in early 1756, an event that gravely disturbed the Khalkha
nobility.
. However, although there was widespread unrest throughout Khalkha, support from other nobles and even from the Jebtsundamba Khutugtu was not forthcoming, and Chingünjav never managed to command more than 1,000 - 2,000 troops. By the time the Manchu
were able to reinforce their loyal Outer Mongolian troops with detachements from Inner Mongolia, Chingünjav had achieved little more than spending time by waiting for an answer for his appeals to the nobility and the Jebtsundamba, and consequently was not able to face the Manchu in an open battle. He retreated northward towards the Darkhad area, with his force continuously shrinking through desertions. When he was captured at a place now known as Wang Tolgoi, about 10 km from Khankh
, in January 1757, all but 50 of his men had left him.
Chingünjav, together with almost his whole family, was brought to Beijing
and executed. The Manchu, although not as brutal as against the Zungars, sent punitive units to Mongolia to deal on the spot with all those rebels they could find. Nobles that were suspected of having sympathized with Chingünjav were also executed. The Jebtsundamba Khutugtu "died" in 1758, the Tüsheet Khan shortly afterwards. The Qianlong Emperor
declared that all future incarnations of the Jebtsundamba Khutugtu were to be found in Tibet. On the other hand, the Mongolian debts to Chinese trading firms were partially annulled, and the rest being paid for by the emperor, in order to tackle the economic sources of the unrest in Khalkha
.
, in 1978. A statue of him was erected in Mörön in 1992 and another one in 2010.
Outer Mongolia
Outer Mongolia was a territory of the Qing Dynasty = the Manchu Empire. Its area was roughly equivalent to that of the modern state of Mongolia, which is sometimes informally called "Outer Mongolia" today...
. Although his rebellion failed, he is nowadays often hailed as a fighter for Mongolia
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...
's independence from the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
, who were ruling China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
at that time.
Early life and career
Chingünjav was born in 1710 at the shore of lake Sangiin Dalai nuurSangiin Dalai nuur
Sangiin Dalai Lake is a salt water lake in northern Mongolia, located at the border between the Tsagaan-Uul, Shine-Ider, and Bürentogtokh sums of Khövsgöl aimag, and the Ikh-Uul sum of Zavkhan aimag. It is surrounded by mountains, hills, and rocks. In 1905, it was the site of a strong earthquake....
, in the Khotgoid
Khotgoid
Khotogoid is a subgroup of Mongol people in northwestern Mongolia. The Khotogoid people live roughly between Uvs Lake to the west and the Delgermörön river to the east...
's Erdenedüüregch vangiin khoshuu of Zasagt Khan aimag, or today's Bürentogtokh sum
Bürentogtokh, Khövsgöl
Bürentogtokh is a sum of Khövsgöl aimag . The area is about 3,760 km², of which 2,870 km² are pasture. In 2005, the sum had 4251 inhabitants, mainly Khalkha and Khotgoid...
of Khövsgöl aimag. His father Bandi was the khoshuu's Zasag Noyon
Jasagh
A jasagh was the head of a Mongol banner or khoshun during the Qing Dynasty and Boghda Khaanate of Mongolia. The term is rendered "zhasake" in contemporary Chinese documents. The position was held by hereditary succession by certain Mongol princes, most of whom were descendants of Genghis Khan...
. In 1738, Chingünjav succeeded his father. Chingünjav made a career in the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
military and eventually reached the rank of an assistant general of Zasagt Khan aimag.
Conspiracy with Amursanaa
During the 1755 ManchuManchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
campaign against the Zungar Khanate, Chingünjav and Amursanaa conspired to start a rebellion in autumn of the same year. However, their seniors came to know of their plans and separated them. Chingünjav was sent to fight in Uriankhai
Tannu Uriankhai
Tannu Uriankhai is a historic region of the Mongol Empire and, later, the Qing Dynasty. The realms of Tannu Uriankhai largely correspond to the Tuva Republic of the Russian Federation, neighboring areas in Russia, and a part of the modern state of Mongolia....
, and Amursanaa was summoned to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
for demanding too big a share of the Zungar Khanate. On the way, his escort let him escape. This led to the trial and execution of the commander of the escort, a brother of the Jebtsundamba Khutugtu
Jebtsundamba
The Khalkha Jebtsundamba Khutuktus were the spiritual heads of the Gelug lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia. They also held the title of Bogd Gegeen, making them the top-ranked lamas in Mongolia.- History :...
and direct descendant of Chingis 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....
, in early 1756, an event that gravely disturbed the Khalkha
Khalkha
Khalkha is the largest subgroup of Mongol people in Mongolia since 15th century. The Khalkha together with Tsahar, Ordos and Tumed, were directly ruled by the Altan Urag Khans until the 20th century; unlike the Oirat people who were ruled by the Dzungar nobles or the Khorchins who were ruled by...
nobility.
Rebellion
In the summer of 1756, Chingunjav began his rebellion by leaving his post, gathering troops in his home area, and sending a letter to the Qianlong EmperorQianlong Emperor
The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796...
. However, although there was widespread unrest throughout Khalkha, support from other nobles and even from the Jebtsundamba Khutugtu was not forthcoming, and Chingünjav never managed to command more than 1,000 - 2,000 troops. By the time the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
were able to reinforce their loyal Outer Mongolian troops with detachements from Inner Mongolia, Chingünjav had achieved little more than spending time by waiting for an answer for his appeals to the nobility and the Jebtsundamba, and consequently was not able to face the Manchu in an open battle. He retreated northward towards the Darkhad area, with his force continuously shrinking through desertions. When he was captured at a place now known as Wang Tolgoi, about 10 km from Khankh
Khankh, Khövsgöl
Khankh is a sum of Khövsgöl aimag. The area is about 5,500 km². In 2000, the sum had 2140 inhabitants. The center, officially named Turt , is situated on the shore of Lake Khövsgöl, 280 km north of Mörön, 1020 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar, and 22 km from the Khankh/Mondy border...
, in January 1757, all but 50 of his men had left him.
Aftermath
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
and executed. The Manchu, although not as brutal as against the Zungars, sent punitive units to Mongolia to deal on the spot with all those rebels they could find. Nobles that were suspected of having sympathized with Chingünjav were also executed. The Jebtsundamba Khutugtu "died" in 1758, the Tüsheet Khan shortly afterwards. The Qianlong Emperor
Qianlong Emperor
The Qianlong Emperor was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1735 to 8 February 1796...
declared that all future incarnations of the Jebtsundamba Khutugtu were to be found in Tibet. On the other hand, the Mongolian debts to Chinese trading firms were partially annulled, and the rest being paid for by the emperor, in order to tackle the economic sources of the unrest in Khalkha
Outer Mongolia
Outer Mongolia was a territory of the Qing Dynasty = the Manchu Empire. Its area was roughly equivalent to that of the modern state of Mongolia, which is sometimes informally called "Outer Mongolia" today...
.
Legacy
Although never having had a realistic chance to succeed, Chingünjav passed into the realm of folklore. A small monument has been raised at remains of a fort attributed to him, some kilometres south of BürentogtokhBürentogtokh, Khövsgöl
Bürentogtokh is a sum of Khövsgöl aimag . The area is about 3,760 km², of which 2,870 km² are pasture. In 2005, the sum had 4251 inhabitants, mainly Khalkha and Khotgoid...
, in 1978. A statue of him was erected in Mörön in 1992 and another one in 2010.