Interview

My Interview with Kublai Khan

Q: What are your views on other countries, cultures, and beliefs?

A: I like many cultures and am accepting of many customs. I do a lot of construction projects to make travel to foreign countries easier. We have learned many great things from foreign places. Personally, I am Buddhist. I love Buddhism! However, I do not force my religion on the countries that I conquer. I understand that the people of a particular country have their own religion which they love just as much, and I respect that.

Q: How did you come to have so much power?

A: My grandfather, Genghis Khan, was a great conqueror and so my territories are mostly inherited from him. I am officially the Great Khan because I have control of our homeland, Mongolia. However, I had to fight for my title. For 6 years I waged a war with Ariq Boke who also claimed to be the rightful Great Khan. I won this war and now I am the mot powerful person in Asia, perhaps in the world.

Q: Then why did you want to wait to conquer the Song Dynasty of Southern China?

A: My generals and I realized that there were too many rivers and rice paddies in Southern China for us to simply ride through on horseback and conquer as we went, as is our usual style. We had to spend time making calculations and finding alternatives. I ordered some of the best of my Muslim engineers to build strong catapults. We also stole a fleet of Song warships. We attacked when we were fully prepared and armed with new and better weapons.

Q: Why did you feel it was necessary to kill Emperor Bingdi and his royal court?

A: Although the Song’s capital, Hangzhou, was surrendered to us after our victory in Changzhou, there was still a group of resistors who refused to let go of the Song. They were rallied around the child Emperors Gongzong, Duazong, and Bingdi. Gongzong was brought up to Northern China when Hangzhou surrendered. Duazong died some years later. Bingdi was the resistors last hope, and unfortunately he had to be killed to get the South’s cooperation.

Q: So Gongzong lives here in Shangdu? Why is he allowed to remain alive?

A: Why should he be killed? He never did anything wrong. Bingdi had to be killed to put down the rebellion in the South, but Gongzong could fortunately be taken away from all the fighting. He has grown up mostly in Northern China. He lives a comfortable life here and I make sure he is well respected. I believe in reconciliation. Just because we conquered his country doesn’t mean we think he or his country is evil.