Sayyid Ajall

Governed Yunnan for six years, establishing a province, building water-conservancy works and founding schools.

Life

Noble of Bukhara

Sayyid Ajall Shams al-Din was from Bukhara in Central Asia, a Huihui (Muslim) noble who submitted with his people during Genghis Khan's Western Campaign. He held posts including judge (jarghuchi) of Yanjing and head of the Shaanxi-Sichuan Branch Secretariat.

Established Yunnan Province

In 1274 he was appointed pingzhang zhengshi of the Yunnan Branch Secretariat. He established the provincial system in Yunnan, setting up circuits, prefectures, subprefectures and counties and replacing the earlier military administration.

Built water-conservancy works

He taught the people to sow crops and build reservoirs against flood and drought, founded Confucian temples and Minglun halls, acquired classics and histories, and set up school fields. Since the locals used cowrie shells as money and paper currency was impractical there, he petitioned the court to let them keep their old custom. When some commanders attacked a town without orders, he rebuked them: "The Son of Heaven ordered me to pacify Yunnan; he never ordered me to slaughter." He died in Yunnan in 1279, deeply mourned by the local people.

Legacy

Sayyid Ajall governed Yunnan for six years, formally bringing Yunnan into the provincial system and profoundly influencing the development of the southwestern frontier.

Major works & achievements

• Established Yunnan Province
• Built reservoirs and irrigation works
• Founded schools

Did you know? One branch of his descendants later adopted Chinese surnames such as "Ma"; the Ming-era navigator Zheng He is said to be one of his descendants.

Key dates

• 1219Submitted to Genghis Khan with his father (approx.)
• 1274Made pingzhang zhengshi (chief administrator) of Yunnan Province
• 1279Died in Yunnan