Altan Khan

Lore & Background

Altan Khan was the second son of Bars Bolud Jinong and a grandson of Dayan Khan, who had re-unified the Mongolian nobility. After his elder brother Gün Bilig died in 1542, Altan became de facto leader of the whole Right Wing and was given the title 'Tösheetü Sechen Khan'. He ruled the Tümed subgroup, whose pastures were north of the border with Shanxi, in present-day Inner Mongolia. He forced Darayisung Küdeng Khan to flee eastward in 1547 and in 1551 received the title 'Gegeen Khan' in a compromise. Altan Khan founded the city of Köke Khota (Hohhot), now the capital of Inner Mongolia.

Altan Khan repeatedly sought to trade horses with the Ming dynasty for agricultural products and textiles, but his attempts were rebuffed and envoys sometimes killed. He raided northern China in 1529, 1530, and 1542, and in 1550 besieged Beijing, setting its suburbs on fire. He strengthened his base by welcoming Chinese refugees and nurturing a network of Ming conspirators led by White Lotus disciple Zhao Quan. In 1552 he gained control of the remains of Karakorum. In 1570, after his grandson defected to the Ming, Altan Khan accepted the Ming title of Shunyi prince in exchange for his grandson and trading rights, and Zhao Quan was executed. Despite nominal vassalage, Altan retained significant autonomy.

Altan Khan became interested in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. He invited Sonam Gyatso to Tümed in 1569; Sonam Gyatso sent a disciple and later came in 1577. Altan Khan built Thegchen Chonkhor, Mongolia's first monastery, at their meeting place. Sonam Gyatso declared himself a reincarnation of Drogön Chögyal Phagpa and Altan Khan a reincarnation of Kublai Khan. In 1578 Altan Khan designated Sonam Gyatso as 'Dalai', and in 1587 the Ming emperor promoted Sonam Gyatso to Duǒ Er Zhǐ Chàng. Sonam Gyatso became known as the 3rd Dalai Lama, and the title was posthumously given to his predecessors. Sonam Gyatso proselytized among the Mongols, securing edicts abolishing animal sacrifices and other customs. Within 50 years virtually all Mongols had become Buddhist. When Sonam Gyatso died in 1588, his incarnation was Altan Khan's great-grandson.

Reader's Guide

Altan Khan's significance lies in his dual role as a unifier of Mongol tribes and a pivotal figure in the spread of Tibetan Buddhism among the Mongols. His military campaigns against the Ming, including the 1550 siege of Beijing, forced the Ming to grant him the title of Shunyi prince and establish trade relations, though he retained substantial autonomy. More enduringly, his alliance with Sonam Gyatso created the Dalai Lama institution, which became central to Mongolian and Tibetan religious life. By adopting Gelug Buddhism, Altan Khan helped preserve a distinct Mongol cultural identity against Chinese influence. His founding of Hohhot established a lasting urban center. The translation of Buddhist texts into Mongolian and the conversion of virtually all Mongols within 50 years transformed Mongolian society. His great-grandson became the 4th Dalai Lama, cementing the link between Mongol ruling houses and the Gelug hierarchy. Altan Khan's legacy is commemorated by a statue in Hohhot, completed in 2011.

Did You Know?

• Altan Khan founded the city of Köke Khota (Hohhot), now the capital of Inner Mongolia.
• He designated Sonam Gyatso as 'Dalai' in 1578, creating the title Dalai Lama.
• His great-grandson Yonten Gyatso was selected as the 4th Dalai Lama in 1601.
• In 1550 Altan Khan besieged Beijing and set its suburbs on fire.