“Robes of Honor” and “Belts of Submission” in Mongol Imperial Culture

The significance of honorable garments within Mongolian imperial culture has been examined through various sources, primarily written in Arabic, Persian, Mongolian, and Chinese, spanning from the tenth to the fifteenth century. Additionally, later documents that illustrate the continuity of Mongolian imperial traditions have been analyzed. The symbols of power among medieval nomads are evident in diverse forms, including book miniatures, architectural stone reliefs, luxurious fabrics, and metal jewelry. Decorative and applied arts serve as a unique expression of historical reality. Honorable garments were distinguished from ceremonial attire by their outward characteristics and symbolic functions. The khan’s distinctions, conveyed through favors and gifts, often included the presentation of an honorable garment, where the robe of power and the belt of humility played crucial roles. The symbolism associated with these garments became deeply embedded in the imperial iconography of the Mongolian Empire, influencing the political culture of the subjugated peoples.