본 논문은 16세기 우익 몽골에서 유통되었던 물품을 『알탄 칸傳』을 중심으로 살펴본다. 16세기 투메드 몽골의 수장이었던 알탄 칸(1508~1582)의 행적은 대외 원정, 사신 파견, 불교 귀의로 크게 나누어 볼 수 있다. 알탄은 일찍부터 형제들과 함께 우량칸·위구르·오이라드·明을 상대로 활발한 대외 원정을 전개하였다. 1542년 형인 메르겐 지농이 사망한 뒤로도 알탄은 대외 원정을 주도하고, 전쟁에서 획득한 포로와 전리품을 분배함으로써 우익 몽골의 실력자로 자리매김하였다. 또한 정복지에서 공물과 세금을 징수할 뿐만 아니라, 越境 한인들을 포섭하여 투메드 평원에 농경을 시행하고 후흐호트를 건설함으로써 경제적 기반을 확보하였다.
세력 범위가 점차 확대됨에 따라 알탄은 주변국과의 외교 관계에도 관심을 기울였다. 天山 남부의 모굴 칸국에 사신을 파견하여 칭기스 일족 간의 유대감을 확인하고 아라비아산 말과 금강석을 우익 몽골로 들여왔다. 알타이 산맥 이북의 오이라드와는 통혼을 통해 칭기스 칸때 맺었던 사돈 관계를 회복하였다. 한편, 명의 북변을 끊임없이 위협하던 우익 몽골은 1571년 명과 ‘隆慶和議’를 맺은 뒤로 마시에서 말과 은 또는 비단을 교환할 수 있었다.
1571년 알탄은 아싱 라마와의 만남을 계기로 불교에 귀의하고 중앙티베트에 사절을 보내 겔룩파의 고승 쇠남 갸초를 초청하였다. 1578년 알탄은 찹치얄에서 쇠남 갸초와 만나 쿠빌라이와 팍빠의 선례를 본받아 施主-應供僧 관계를 수립하였다. 이때 알탄은 명에서 얻은 차와 비단, 금·은을 비롯한 각종 귀금속뿐 아니라 모굴 칸국을 통해 들여온 아라비아산 말 등을 티베트 승려에게 공양물로 바쳤다. 1571년 알탄이 명과 화약을 맺고 불교에 귀의한 이래로 명과 모굴 칸국에서 들여온 교역품이 우익 몽골을 거쳐 보시의 형태로 티베트에 유입되었다. 결국 16세기동유라시아 세계의 물품 유통 과정에서 우익 몽골이 중추적 역할을 수행하였다고 할 수 있다.
This article examines the distribution of goods in the sixteenth century Western Tümen by focusing on the biography of Altan Khan. The life of Altan Khan (1508-1582), the leader of the Tümed Mongols during the course of the sixteenth century, can be represented by three major events: military expeditions, dispatches of envoys, and a conversion to Buddhism. Altan launched military expeditions against the Uriyangkhan, Uyighur, Oyirad, and Ming together with his brothers from his youth. After his elder brother’s death in 1542, Altan became the most powerful ruler over the Three Western Tümen by not only leading military campaigns, but also distributing the spoils and prisoners. He also collected tributes and taxes from the conquered people. Encouraging the Chinese defectors to engage in agriculture and build Höhhot on the Tümed Plain, Altan established an economic base. As his power expanded, Altan made an effort to have diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. Sending envoys to the Moghul Khanate, Altan reaffirmed the solidarity of the Chinggisid and imported Arabic steeds and diamonds. He restored matrimonial relations with the Oyirad originating from the reign of Chinggis Khan. After the Sino- Mongol Peace Accord of 1571, the lords of the Three Western Tümen could exchange horse for silver or silk at the Horse Fairs. Following the arrival of Asing Lama in 1571, Altan converted to Buddhism and sent delegations to Central Tibet for the purpose of inviting a Geluk hierarch, Sönam Gyatso. In 1578, a meeting was held between Altan and Sönam Gyatso at Chabchiyal, where they established the patron-priest relationship modeled on that of Khubilai and Phagpa. Altan made innumerable offerings, such as tea, silk, and a variety of precious metals including gold and silver obtained from the Ming, as well as Arabic steeds imported from the Moghul Khanate to Tibetan lamas. Since 1571 when the Sino-Mongol Peace Accord was reached and Altan converted to Buddhism, goods imported from the Ming and the Mogul Khanate flowed into Tibet through Western Tümen. In conclusion, Three Western Tümen headed by Altan Khan played a significant role in the distribution of goods in the sixteenth century Eastern Eurasia.
This article examines the distribution of goods in the sixteenth century Western Tümen by focusing on the biography of Altan Khan. The life of Altan Khan (1508-1582), the leader of the Tümed Mongols during the course of the sixteenth century, can be represented by three major events: military expeditions, dispatches of envoys, and a conversion to Buddhism. Altan launched military expeditions against the Uriyangkhan, Uyighur, Oyirad, and Ming together with his brothers from his youth. After his elder brother’s death in 1542, Altan became the most powerful ruler over the Three Western Tümen by not only leading military campaigns, but also distributing the spoils and prisoners. He also collected tributes and taxes from the conquered people. Encouraging the Chinese defectors to engage in agriculture and build Höhhot on the Tümed Plain, Altan established an economic base. As his power expanded, Altan made an effort to have diplomatic relations with neighboring countries. Sending envoys to the Moghul Khanate, Altan reaffirmed the solidarity of the Chinggisid and imported Arabic steeds and diamonds. He restored matrimonial relations with the Oyirad originating from the reign of Chinggis Khan. After the Sino- Mongol Peace Accord of 1571, the lords of the Three Western Tümen could exchange horse for silver or silk at the Horse Fairs. Following the arrival of Asing Lama in 1571, Altan converted to Buddhism and sent delegations to Central Tibet for the purpose of inviting a Geluk hierarch, Sönam Gyatso. In 1578, a meeting was held between Altan and Sönam Gyatso at Chabchiyal, where they established the patron-priest relationship modeled on that of Khubilai and Phagpa. Altan made innumerable offerings, such as tea, silk, and a variety of precious metals including gold and silver obtained from the Ming, as well as Arabic steeds imported from the Moghul Khanate to Tibetan lamas. Since 1571 when the Sino-Mongol Peace Accord was reached and Altan converted to Buddhism, goods imported from the Ming and the Mogul Khanate flowed into Tibet through Western Tümen. In conclusion, Three Western Tümen headed by Altan Khan played a significant role in the distribution of goods in the sixteenth century Eastern Eurasia.
