Born Temujin in 1167 A.D., Genghis Khan and his mother and siblings were abandoned by their tribe after his father was poisoned. The family experienced years of hardship, and was told by his mother to ``remember, you have no companions but your shadow''. The boy showed early promise as a leader and fighter. By 1206, Temujin's military initiatives had defeated all competing tribes, and his power was such that he was proclaimed Genghis Khan, the `universal or oceanic ruler

Genghis Khan pledged to share with his followers both the sweet and the bitter of life. In structuring his army, he integrated soldiers from different tribes inspiring loyalty to the Mongol army as a whole rather than to a specific people. He gave his enemies one simple choice: surrender and be enslaved, or die. By enforcing discipline, rewarding skill and allegiance, and punishing those who opposed him, Genghis Khan established a vast empire.

At the time of his death in 1227, Genghis Khan's empire extended from Hungary across Asia to Korea, and from Siberia to Tibet. In 1279, Genghis Khan's grandson, Kublai Khan, founded the Chinese-style Yuan dynasty. Mongol rule brought relative peace to Asia, leaving China accessible to foreign visitors, such as Marco Polo. Native arts flourished, including calligraphy, painting and literature.

Gengis Kahn presented more than 200 magnificent artifacts representative of the rich cultural heritage of Inner Mongolia.

Gold headdresses, saddlery and necklaces, delicate porcelain, finely-wrought bronze figurines and grotesque funeral paintings were on display in an historic cultural event made possible by a unique partnership between the People's Republic of China and participating museums. Victoria's Royal British Columbia Museum was the only western Canadian venue for this exhibit.

The exhibit featured more than 200 artifacts, some more than 5,000 years old. One breathtaking piece was a hammered gold crown once worn by a chief of the Linhu peoples of the Ordos Plain. The wings and head of the turquoise eagle atop the crown were designed to move in concert with the motions of the wearer. Silk garments, bronze swords, goldwork, funerary objects, documents and pottery illustrated the native arts which flourished in this little-known civilization.

Genghis Khan was produced by the People's Republic of China, in association with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, to enhance appreciation of Inner Mongolian culture.

To complement the Empires exhibit, the Royal British Columbia Museum created a year-long series of special events and programs in Victoria, Vancouver and locations in the interior of B.C. These events highlighted the art, culture, history and contributions of British Columbia's ethnic Chinese.

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