Gungsangnorbu
Encyclopedia
Gungsangnorbu was an Inner Mongolia
n prince and politician of the Republic of China
. Some scholars describe him as a moderate, progressive moderniser caught between the influence of conservative older leaders and young radicals. Others describe him less favourably as a conservative who, despite his early activities for promoting education, would go on to become protective of his own rights and interest as a member of the nobility, and suspicious of young Mongols who had received a modern education as potential challengers to those interests.
, is transcribed into Chinese as . In the (proleptic) Mongolian Cyrillic alphabet
, it is written Гүнсэнноров (Günsennorov). His courtesy name was . His art-name
was .
(today part of Chifeng
). In 1902, he established what has been described as one of the first modern schools in Inner Mongolia. In 1903, he was invited to visit Japan along with a group of Manchu nobles, where he was highly impressed with the Meiji period
reforms; upon his return to Inner Mongolia established a military school and a girls' school, both with Japanese teachers. Among his pupils there was Serengdongrub
. Later, he sent a small number of Mongolian students to Japan, including Altanochir
.
In 1912, in the aftermath of the Xinhai Revolution
, Gungsangnorbu made some attempts to form an alliance with Bogd Khan
and the Khalkha Mongols in the newly independent state of Mongolia
, with the aim of bringing together a Greater Mongolia
. However, political fragmentation in Inner Mongolia, combined with the high Han Chinese
population in his own domains, thwarted these aims. He restricted himself to a more modest effort to attempt to consolidate his own power and unite the Inner Mongolian nobility. He began purchasing weapons from a group of Japanese army officers in Beijing
connected to Naniwa Kawashima
; however, the arms shipments were intercepted and the officers involved arrested, bringing to an end Gungsangnorbu's efforts to strengthen his own military power. Instead, he participated in Yuan Shikai
's Beiyang Government
, taking a position as director of the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission
, and overseeing the establishment of the Mongolian and Tibetan Academy in Beijing, which trained a number of cadres who would go on to achieve prominence in Inner Mongolian politics in the coming decades. He was the only Mongolian prince to achieve ministerial rank in Yuan's government. He would hold that position for seventeen years, though in the chaos of the warlord era
he was not able to achieve all that he hoped for. After the 1928 Northern Expedition he resigned from his position, and died two years later.
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...
n prince and politician of the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. Some scholars describe him as a moderate, progressive moderniser caught between the influence of conservative older leaders and young radicals. Others describe him less favourably as a conservative who, despite his early activities for promoting education, would go on to become protective of his own rights and interest as a member of the nobility, and suspicious of young Mongols who had received a modern education as potential challengers to those interests.
Names
His Mongolian name, which is of Tibetan originTibetan name
Ethnic Tibetan personal names typically consist of two juxtaposed elements.Family names are rare except among those of aristocratic ancestry...
, is transcribed into Chinese as . In the (proleptic) Mongolian Cyrillic alphabet
Mongolian Cyrillic alphabet
The Mongolian Cyrillic script is the writing system used for the Khalkha dialect of the Mongolian language as the standard dialect of the modern state of Mongolia. Cyrillic has not been adopted by the Khalkha in the Inner Mongolia region of China, who still use the Mongolian script.Mongolian...
, it is written Гүнсэнноров (Günsennorov). His courtesy name was . His art-name
Art-name
An art-name is a pseudonym, or penname, used by an East Asian artist, which they sometimes change. The word and the idea to use a pseudonym originated from China, then became popular in other East Asian countries ....
was .
Career
Gungsangnorbu was prince of Right Harqin BannerHarqin Banner
Harqin Banner is a banner of southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It is under the administration of Chifeng City, to the north-northeast.-References:*...
(today part of Chifeng
Chifeng
Chifeng , also known as Ulanhad, is a prefecture-level city in southeastern Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. It borders Xilin Gol to the north and west, Tongliao to the northeast, Chaoyang prefecture of Liaoning province to the southeast, and Chengde prefecture of Hebei province to the...
). In 1902, he established what has been described as one of the first modern schools in Inner Mongolia. In 1903, he was invited to visit Japan along with a group of Manchu nobles, where he was highly impressed with the Meiji period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
reforms; upon his return to Inner Mongolia established a military school and a girls' school, both with Japanese teachers. Among his pupils there was Serengdongrub
Serengdongrub
Serengdongrub was an Inner Mongolian politician in the Republic of China. An ethnic Mongol, he was a native of Harqin Middle Banner .-Names:...
. Later, he sent a small number of Mongolian students to Japan, including Altanochir
Altanochir
Altanochir was an Inner Mongolian politician under the Republic of China and the Mengjiang government.-Names:Historical sources refer to him by a variety of names:*Altanochir or Altan Ochir , his Mongolian name...
.
In 1912, in the aftermath of the Xinhai Revolution
Xinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing , and established the Republic of China...
, Gungsangnorbu made some attempts to form an alliance with Bogd Khan
Bogd Khan
The Bogd Khan was enthroned as the Great Khaan of Mongolia on 29 December 1911, when Outer Mongolia declared independence from the Qing Dynasty after the Xinhai Revolution. He was born in the Kham region of eastern Tibet, today's Sichuan province of the People's Republic of China...
and the Khalkha Mongols in the newly independent state of 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...
, with the aim of bringing together a Greater Mongolia
Greater Mongolia
Greater Mongolia as a region, is the contiguous territories primarily inhabited by ethnic Mongols. It approximately includes the modern state of Mongolia, the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China , and the Buryat Republic as well as a few smaller territories in...
. However, political fragmentation in Inner Mongolia, combined with the high Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
population in his own domains, thwarted these aims. He restricted himself to a more modest effort to attempt to consolidate his own power and unite the Inner Mongolian nobility. He began purchasing weapons from a group of Japanese army officers in 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...
connected to Naniwa Kawashima
Naniwa Kawashima
Naniwa Kawashima , a member of the Japanese spy network in Manchuria and close friend of to Shanqi, the 10th of hereditary Prince Su of the Manchu imperial family, who had inherited the allegiance of the tribes of Inner Mongolia...
; however, the arms shipments were intercepted and the officers involved arrested, bringing to an end Gungsangnorbu's efforts to strengthen his own military power. Instead, he participated in Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
's Beiyang Government
Beiyang Government
The Beiyang government or warlord government collectively refers to a series of military regimes that ruled from Beijing from 1912 to 1928 at Zhongnanhai. It was internationally recognized as the legitimate Government of the Republic of China. The name comes from the Beiyang Army which dominated...
, taking a position as director of the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission
Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission
The Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission is one of two ministry-level commissions of the Executive Yuan in the Republic of China. Inaugural addresses are delivered by the Chairman of the Commission...
, and overseeing the establishment of the Mongolian and Tibetan Academy in Beijing, which trained a number of cadres who would go on to achieve prominence in Inner Mongolian politics in the coming decades. He was the only Mongolian prince to achieve ministerial rank in Yuan's government. He would hold that position for seventeen years, though in the chaos of the warlord era
Warlord era
The Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
he was not able to achieve all that he hoped for. After the 1928 Northern Expedition he resigned from his position, and died two years later.