Chinese researchers have republished Genghis Khan's code of
laws, considered the world's earliest legal ban on
homosexuality.
Genghis Khan's Code, published by the Beijing-based
Commercial Press, contains Chinese and English text as well as
interpretations of the laws based on research findings.
In article 48 of what is believed to be the world's first
constitution, Genghis Khan banned homosexuality, saying, "men who
commit sodomy shall be put to death," according to experts with
Inner Mongolia's research institute of ancient Mongolian laws and
sociology after 14 months spent compiling the code.
Experts say this was because Genghis Khan wanted to expand the
Mongolian population, which was around 1.5 million, to compete with
the 100 million rivals of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) that
dominated what is now central China.
Genghis Khan's code of laws also highlighted environment
protection, the researchers have found. The code stipulated that
the death penalty was applied to those who damaged the grassland
with unauthorized excavations or caused fires.
It also prohibited hand washing or drowning someone in a
river.
Reproduction of the code was based on the research findings of
the experts, who referred to literature on Mongolian history as
well as other classics including Marco Polo's travelogue to find
the content of the code, as its original text was lost more than
600 years ago.
Genghis Khan, whose grandson Kublai Khan founded the Yuan
Dynasty (1271-1368), unified the Mongol tribes and conquered most
of Eurasia.
(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2007)