The Secret History of the Mongols: The Life and Times of Chinggis Khan (Institute of East Asian studies) [Hardcover]

Professor Urgunge Onon (Author), Urgunge Onon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0700713352 | ISBN-13: 978-0700713356 | Publication Date: July 20, 2001 | Edition: Ill

There has long been a need for a scholarly English edition of the great 13th century historical epic, The Secret History of the Mongols, the only surviving Mongol source about the empire. The book is mainly about the life and the career of Chinggis Khan, his ancestors and his rise to power.
Chinggis Khan was not only a military genius, but also a great statesman and diplomat. Through a combination of armed force and diplomacy, he managed to merge the complex system of alliances which existed between diverse tribes into a powerful confederacy that swept across most of Eurasia, starting in 1219.
Urgunge Onon's fresh translation brings out the excitement of this epic with its wide-ranging commentaries on military and social conditions, religion and philosophy, while remaining faithful to the original text. This fully annotated edition is prefaced by a 36 page introduction setting the work in its cultural and historical context.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'An outstanding achievement.' - A. Hürelbaatar Inner Asia

Product Details

• Hardcover: 298 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; Ill edition (July 20, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0700713352
• ISBN-13: 978-0700713356
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,386,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful translation -- much more accurate than Cleaves, October 21, 2002

By 

Ben Torgerson (Price, UT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret History of the Mongols: The Life and Times of Chinggis Khan (Institute of East Asian studies) (Hardcover)

This is an excellent translation of the Mongoliin Nuuts Tovchoo (Secret History of the Mongols). It is much more accurate that the Francis Cleaves edition. Onon fixes Cleaves' mistakes and explains why they are wrong. There are also good explanations of the mistakes of many of the Chinese interlinear notes in the early manuscript. Besides the outrageous price, this book is a "must have!"

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Decent translation, but not well-sourced, August 20, 2005

By 

A scholar (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret History of the Mongols: The Life and Times of Chinggis Khan (Institute of East Asian studies) (Hardcover)

While I agree with other reviewers that this is a better translation than Cleaves, it is not very well-sourced. Onon makes many assertions based on "I know this because I am a Mongol" which are not, as far as I can tell, supportable. I would recommend Onon for his readability, but the two-volume Igor De Rachewiltz translation has far better annotations and commentary for scholarly purposes. Onon's assertions (especially about Buddhism in the Mongol Empire) should probably be taken with numerous grains of salt.

Neither translation is particularly affordable for the average person, which is why we have interlibrary-loan.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have book., December 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Secret History of the Mongols: The Life and Times of Chinggis Khan (Institute of East Asian studies) (Hardcover)

Interested in Mongols' History? Think you know Chinggis khaan (Genghis Khan)? If you haven't read this book gotta have this one then. Without it you don't know a thing about Chinggis khaan. There are lots of translations of "The Secret History of the Mongols." But this. This is the best translation work! Urgunge Onon's translation is incomparable with other translations.