Stone Stela on Mount Gedeng: the Oirat Text of the Edict on the Suppression of the Dzungars

Abstract

After the fall of the Dzhungar Khanate in the second half of the 18th century, "the highest approved" official works by order of the Qing authorities appear in Chinese historiography. They are devoted to the "description of the suppression of the Dzhungars". In addition to this, steles were also installed, proclaiming the victory of the Qing emperor over the Dzhungars. One of such steles was installed on Mount Gedeng, which is located near Mongolkure on the modern border of China and Kazakhstan. The stele is known under various names — "Stele on Gedeng Mountain", "Ili Stele on Gedeng Mountain", "Stele on Gedeng Mountain near Mongolkure". The text on the stone stele is written in four languages: Manchu, Chinese, Tibetan and Oirat (‘Clear script’). The article examines the ‘Clear script’ text containing 9 lines and 266 words.

Keywords

• oirats
• qing empire
• dzungar khanate
• stone stele on mount gedeng
• text in "clear script"