Disputed Birth Year of Temüjin

The birth year of Temüjin, who later became known as Genghis Khan, remains a topic of scholarly debate. Historians propose various dates, including 1155, 1162, and 1167. The year 1155 is supported by historical figures such as Zhao Hong and Rashid al-Din, while other significant sources, including the _History of Yuan_ and the _Shengwu_, lean towards 1162. The 1167 date, favored by sinologist Paul Pelliot, is based on a lesser-known text by the Yuan artist Yang Weizhen. This date aligns more closely with the timeline of Genghis Khan's life, suggesting that he had children earlier than what a 1155 date would imply, which would indicate he did not father children until after the age of thirty and continued his military campaigns into his seventies. Most historians accept 1162 as the most plausible date, although Paul Ratchnevsky noted that Temüjin himself may not have been aware of his exact birth year. In addition to the disputed year, the location of Temüjin's birth is also contested. The _Secret History_ of the Mongols identifies Delüün Boldog on the Onon River as his birthplace, but scholars have proposed alternative locations, including Dadal in Khentii Province and southern Agin-Buryat Okrug in Russia. The ambiguity surrounding both the year and location of Temüjin's birth reflects the complexities of Mongolian history and the challenges historians face in reconstructing the past. These disputes not only highlight the difficulties in historical documentation but also underscore the significance of Temüjin's legacy, as he rose to unify the Mongolian tribes and establish one of the largest empires in history.