ABSTRACT
The conversion of the Mongols to Buddhism marks a turning point in world history. Patronizing Buddhism to a degree no nation ever approached, the Mongols brought Buddhism to its apogee as a world religion, connecting their empire with Buddhist centers over an area that stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Black Sea. The assimilation of Buddhism occurred since the onset of their campaign for world dominion beginning with the investiture of Chinggis Khan in 1206, but the Mongols did not convert to Buddhism until after Qubilai Qa’an’s reign. Buddhism flourished in a semi-circle of nations on their periphery: the Uyghurs of Qocho, the Tangut of Xi Xia, the Khitans of Qara Khitai, and the Jurchen Jin dynasty. Mongol assimilation of Buddhism was not a simple matter of individual lords exercising personal preference for religion. The foundation of the Mongolian Buddhist world lay in establishing Buddhist centers throughout the realm.
