Chabi


Empress Chabi was a Khongirad empress consort of the Yuan dynasty in China, married to Kublai Khan. As such, she was the wife to the Mongol Khagan who had conquered all of China in the 1270s.

Life

According to "The Secret History of the Mongols", Chabi was the favorite wife of Kublai and a valued unofficial adviser throughout his reign. She was a patron of the arts and may have played a key role in advancing the interests of the young Venetian traveler, Marco Polo. It is said she was Christian, like her mother-in-law, Sorghaghtani, although Sorghaghtani was also said to be the niece of Chinngis Khan.
Empress Chabi exemplified the high role of women in Mongol culture. As Kublai's wife and advisor, she knew Kublai very well. She was an important political and diplomatic influence, especially in pleasing the Chinese masses through reconciliation. Chabi promoted Buddhism in the high levels of government. She suggested the better treatment of the north Chinese imperial family in order to appease the people. Chabi also helped Kublai prevent the conversion of Chinese cultivating land into Mongol pastures, out of respect to the Chinese people. Chabi and Kublai's combined cosmopolitan views were effective at adopting Chinese culture without being overwhelmed by it. Chabi converted to Nestorian Christianity under the influence of her mother-in-law, Sorgaghtani Beki and after Chabi's conversion, Nestorianism was fast spread around China. With Chabi's help, Kublai was not able to control his ambitious brother and the potentially unruly Chinese scholar-gentry and peasantry.