Chabi

Who was Chabi?

Empress Chabi was an Onggirat empress consort of the Yuan Dynasty in China, married to Kublai Khan. As such, she was the wife to the khagan Mongol who had conquered all of China in 1290 CE.

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 suspected that Chabi herself may have come under Christian influence, like her mother-in-law, Sorhatani.

Empress Chabi exemplified the high role of women in Mongol culture, which contrasted deeply with current treatment of Chinese women. As Kublai's wife and advisor, 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. With Chabi's help, Kublai was able to control his ambitious brother and the potentially unruly Chinese scholar-gentry and peasantry.