Tümengken Choghtu Khong Tayiji ( Classical Mongolian: , ''Tümengken čoγtu qong tayiǰi''; modern Mongolian: , , Tümenkhen Tsogt Khun Taij; ; 1581–1637), was a noble in Northern Khalkha. He expanded into Amdo (present-day

Qinghai Qinghai is an inland Provinces of China, province in Northwestern China. It is the largest provinces of China, province of China (excluding autonomous regions) by area and has the third smallest population. Its capital and largest city is Xin ...

) to help the

Karma Kagyu Karma Kagyu (), or Kamtsang Kagyu (), is a widely practiced and probably the second-largest lineage within the Kagyu school, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The lineage has long-standing monasteries in Tibet, China, Russia, M ...

sect of

Tibetan Buddhism Tibetan Buddhism is a form of Buddhism practiced in Tibet, Bhutan and Mongolia. It also has a sizable number of adherents in the areas surrounding the Himalayas, including the Indian regions of Ladakh, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, D ...

but was overthrown by Güshi Khan, who supported the rival

Gelug file:DalaiLama0054 tiny.jpg, 240px, 14th Dalai Lama, The 14th Dalai Lama (center), the most influential figure of the contemporary Gelug tradition, at the 2003 Kalachakra ceremony, Bodh Gaya, Bodhgaya (India) The Gelug (, also Geluk; 'virtuous' ...

sect. He is also known for writing a famous poem in 1621, which was transcribed on the surface of a rock in 1624, and still exists. He established a base on the Tuul river. Known as an intellectual, he embraced the Karma sect and built monasteries and castles. In 1601, he built the White Castle, or the White House of Choghtu Khong Tayiji. He submitted himself to Ligdan Khan, last grand khan of the Mongols. He took part in Ligdan's campaign to

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ), or Greater Tibet, is a region in the western part of East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are other ethnic groups s ...

to help the Karma sect although Ligdan Khan died in 1634 before they joined together. But he pursued the campaign. In the same year, he conquered the Tümed around Kokonor (Qinghai Lake) and moved his base there. By request from Shamar Rabjampa, he sent an army under his son Arslan to central Tibet in 1635. However, Arslan attacked his ally Tsang army. He met the fifth Dalai Lama and paid homage to Gelukpa monasteries instead of destroying them. Arslan was eventually assassinated by Choghtu's order. The Geluk sect asked for help Törü Bayikhu (Güshi Khan), the leader of the

Khoshut The Khoshut (Mongolian language, Mongolian: Хошууд,, qoşūd, ; literally "bannermen," from Middle Mongol language, Middle Mongolian ''qosighu'' "flag, banner") are one of the four major tribes of the Oirats, Oirat people. They established ...

tribe of the Oirat confederation. In 1636, Törö Bayikhu led the Khoshuts and the Dzungars to Tibet. In the next year a decisive war between Choghtu Khong Tayiji and Törü Bayikhu ended in the latter's victory and Choghtu was killed. Descendants of Sutai Yeldeng, Choghtu's grandson, succeeded the jasagh of a banner in Sain Noyon Khan Aimag. He has traditionally been portrayed as evil by the Geluk sect. On the other hand, the Mongolian movie '' Tsogt taij'' (1945) treated him as a national hero.

References

*Okada Hidehiro 岡田英弘, Čoɤtu Qong Tayiǰi ni tsuite Čoɤtu Qong Tayiǰi について, ''Ajia Afurika gengo kenkyū 1'' アジア・アフリカ言語研究 1, February 1968, pp. 111–125. He provided a brief biography of Choghtu Khong Tayiji and the inscription of Čaɤan bayising. *Yamaguchi Zuihō (山口瑞鳳), Chibetto (チベット), University of Tokyo Press, 1988. He utilized Tibetan materials. His paper is also cited by Okada's work. Kojitsu Kan no Chibetto shihai ni itaru keii 顧実汗のチベット支配に至る経緯, ''Iwai Daisetsu hakushi koki kinen tenseki ronshū'' 岩井大慧博士古希記念典籍論集, 1963. *Oyunbilig (乌云毕力格): On Choktu Taidji (关于绰克图台吉), 内蒙古大学学报哲学社会科学版 1987 No.3, pp. 52–57. {{DEFAULTSORT:Tayiji, Choghtu Khong 1581 births 1637 deaths 17th-century Mongols