Ch'ang Ch'un

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Ch'ang Ch'un was a Tao monk whose teachings impressed and influenced Genghis Khan. He travelled more then 5000 kilometers to meet Genghis on the border of modern day Afghanistan. This journey took a few years to complete. His friendship with Mongol Khagan resulted in abolishing of taxation on followers of Tao religion in Genghis Khan's empire. This made the Tao religion very rich and powerful. In addition the Tao followers occupied Buddhist monasteries. The Tao did incur some decline in the reign of Genghis Khan's grandson Kublai Khan.

Ch'ang Ch'un was supposed to have the knowledge of an elixir which could make a humans live for hundreds of years. The word of this knowledge had spread far and wide and impressed Genghis Khan also. This prompted Genghis Khan to send his minister to Shangdu, to the monastery of Ch'ang Ch'un to persuade him to meet Genghis Khan. Ch'ang Ch'un had previously spurned the meeting requests of the Jin and Song emperors. Genghis's envoy made it clear that he could not take no for an answer. Ch'ang Ch'un reluctantly agreed to meet Genghis and set out on his long and ardous journey to meet the Khagan.

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