Turkestan in the 13th Century According to Taoist Monk Ch'ang Ch'un's Account

Ch'ang Ch'un, born in 1148 in Shanthung province, was a famous Taoist monk living in China. He has achieved tremendous fame with his scientific activities and otherworldly lifestyle. In the early 13th century, after the Mongols conquered northern China, Genghis Khan heard the fame of the famous monk cited and invited him to come to his marquee. The Mongol khan wanted to learn the secret of immortality from the Taoist monk. But Ch'ang Ch'un have desire to make Genghis Khan convert to his religion before he would leave for this journey. Ch'ang Ch'un was forced to leave his hermitage in Shanthung and embark on a long and difficult journey through Turkestan towards Iran and Afghanistan where he would meet Genghis Khan. His journey lasted for three years between 1221-1224. Ch'ang Ch'un traveled from China to the West with his nineteen disciples. This journey was recorded warts and all by Li Chih-Ch'ang, the disciple of the master. The group, by moving from China, passed Turkish cities such as Beshbalig, Almalig, Talas, Tashkent, Samarkand, Kesh, and Balkh and then reached Afghanistan. Ch'ang Ch'un's travelogue is a very important resource for the understanding of the political, social, military and cultural structure of the Turkic communities living in Turkestan and the Mongols. This work, which contains unique information about China, Turkestan, Genghis Khan's conquests, Mongols' interests in Buddhism, Old Mongol religion, Taoism and Chinese Alchemy, is extremely important for Turkish history. In particular, it is the only eastern source given information about Genghis Khan's Western Expedition. This unique work we have written a long review about is translated into Turkish for the first time. In addition, detailed explanations on historical events, concepts and toponym are presented. We have no doubt that this study, which is intended to be published as a book in 2019, will make a significant contribution to Turkish historiography.