Yelü Chucai

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Yelü Chucai (Chinese: 耶律楚材; pinyin: Yélǜ Chǔcái; Wade-Giles: Yeh-lü Chu-tsai; Mongolian: Urtu Saqal, 吾图撒合里, "long beard") was a member of the Khitan royal family who became the chief adviser of Genghis Khan. He lived from 1189 to 1243.

Besides racial affinity, the Khitans and Mongols were united by their common hatred for the Jurchen. This is shown in the well-known words pronounced by Genghis Khan, at the end of July, when he met Yelü Chucai for the first time at his ordos in the Sāri Steppe (west of the great bend of the Kerulen River): "Liao and Chin have been enemies for generations; I have taken revenge for you." To which Yelü Chucai replied, "My father and grandfather have both served the Jin respectfully. How can I, as a subject and a son, be so insincere at heart as to consider my sovereign and my father as enemies?" The Mongol is said to have been impressed by this frank reply, as well as by Yelü Chucai’s looks (he was a very tall man with a magnificent beard reaching to his waist) and sonorous voice. He gave him the nickname "Urtu Saqal" (Long Beard) and placed him in his retinue as an adviser.

While Northern China was ruled by the Mongols, Yelü Chucai instituted several administrative reforms, like separating civil and military powers and introducing numerous taxes and levies. He also advised the Mongols to rule and tax the Chinese people instead of killing all of them in order to further their own riches.[1]. He was six-foot eight-inches tall and had a waist-length beard.^[1]