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Article: Little more than an autumn breeze.(mangolains invasion into Japan)
- Article from:
- Calliope
- Article date:
- January 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Carus Publishing Co. 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. (Hide copyright information)
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Exactly why the Mongol ruler Kubilai Khan invaded Japan may never be known. Perhaps it was the desire for world conquest that led to Kubilai Khan's campaign. A similar desire had propelled Mongol armies since the time of his grandfather Ghengis Khan. Marco Polo, the Italian who traveled in East Asia between 1274 and 1292 and served Kubilai, claimed that Japan's riches may also have contributed to the invasion. The Zen priest Togen Eian, writing in 1270, claimed that the Mongols were impressed by the bravery of Japanese warriors and wanted to add them to their forces, to help with their conquest of China and India.
The Mongols first invaded Japan in 1274, landing ...