ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the dialogues that triggered my initial exploration of evil and how they may provide a glimpse into Chinggis Khan’s psyche, specifically as a vehicle for the emergence of the transcendent function. Although we cannot know for certain, considering the notion that Chinggis Khan was ready to begin a spiritual journey, illustrates how the deepening of the relationship between the conscious and unconscious can emerge with the guidance of a witness to the journey. In this case, I am referring to my speculation that as Chinggis Khan began to confront his mortality, Ch’ang-Ch’un acted as a containing presence to foster self-reflection. Jack Weatherford suggests that Chinggis Khan had reached a time in his life when he had achieved great success and was thus compelled to focus on spirituality. Khan may indeed have been thinking about death which is supported by the fact that at least in the beginning, his primary goal for bringing Ch’ang-Ch’un to his camp was to obtain the Elixir of Life. By the time Ch’ang-Ch’un reached Khan’s camp, the Emperor of the Mongols would have been 60 years old. We will see that their relationship deepened over the course of their discussions.
