Legends by the numbers: the symbolism of numbers in the 'Secret History of the Mongols.' (13th-century text) From: Asian Folklore Studies | Date: April 1, 1996| Author: Moses, Larry | COPYRIGHT 1996 Asian Folklore Studies. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The Secret History of the Mongols, a thirteenth-century text, is often used by scholars as a source for historical data on the early Mongols. The numerical material has found its way into virtually every article on Mongol military organization and on the dating of events. The present article shows that most of the numbers used in the text are of a legendary nature, and are therefore not a reliable source for scholarship.

Key words: Mongols - Secret History - Chinggis Khan - Mongol lege...