Talk:Khanbaliq

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I am wondering if the characterisation of Khanbaliq as the ancient Mongol name for Beijing is totally correct. I am not a historian, but I have been told that the Ming did not only 'rebuild' the city, they virtually 'buried' the capital of the hated Mongols under their new city. (This was in contrast to the Manchus, who simply took over the Ming city without much change.)

I personally feel that a description along the lines of 'Khanbaliq was the capital of the ancient Mongol Empire and stood on the site of the modern city of Beijing. ...... ...... The city was completely rebuilt by the Ming and moved several kilometres south in the process.'

I suggest that there may be POV problems involved. To say that Khanbaliq is Beijing emphasises the continuity of the city's existence, which is a view that modern Beijing would like to promote (the 悠久的历史 line) and is also slightly Sinocentric, in that it follows the Chinese historiographical tradition of forcing history into an orderly succession of dynasties.

Are there any historians who could comment on this?

Bathrobe 23:23, 4 May 2005 (UTC)