2021-04-09 Fri

Buyantu Khan was the fourth emperor of the Yuan dynasty. He distributed offices more equitably between the Chinese and Mongols than had his predecessors, and during his reign commercial ties with Europe increased.

His name means "blessed/good Khan" in the Mongolian language. His name "Ayurbarwada" was from a Sanskrit compound "Ayur-parvata", which means "the mountain of longevity". Ayurbarwada was the first Yuan emperor who actively supported the adoption of Confucian principles into the Mongolian administration system. More importantly, Ayurbarwada reinstituted the civil service examination system for the Yuan dynasty.

Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan completely ceased the production of coinage in favour of paper money and made it illegal to use coins for payment, however, the private production of copper cash coins would persist despite these laws. Because the khans of the Yuan dynasty were Buddhists they allowed Buddhist temples exemption from taxation and granted them special rights to cast bronze statues, and mint their own coins for religious offerings. During the periods that paper money was considered to be less valuable due to inflation people would use these "temple coins" as a substitute currency.

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