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In episode 7 of The History of the Mongols, Genghis Khan isn't leading a cavalry charge or conquering cities, he’s doing something no one expected. He’s asking a Taoist monk how to live forever.
It’s 1219, and after years of relentless warfare, Genghis sends a letter to a famous Taoist sage named Qiu Chuji. What follows is one of the most fascinating journeys in medieval history. The monk travels thousands of miles, through the ruins of Zhongdu, over the Mongolian steppe, and into Central Asia, to meet the most powerful man in the world.
But this meeting wasn’t just about immortality. It was also about politics, religion, and influence. Genghis wanted more than answers, he wanted legitimacy. And Qiu Chuji? He may have seen this as a chance to protect his people from destruction.
We’ll explore:
* Why Genghis Khan turned to Taoism instead of Buddhism or Islam
* The incredible rise of the Quanzhen school of Taoism
* How Qiu Chuji's words changed Mongol policy toward China
* The real reason the Khan cared so much about a wandering monk
* And why their encounter mattered far more than you’d think
If you thought Genghis Khan was just a conqueror, think again. This episode reveals the man behind the legend, and the spiritual quest that almost no one talks about.
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