Ligdan Khan

Also known as Khutugtu Khan · Hudundu Han

Ligdan Khan, called Hudundu Han by the Ming and titled Khutugtu Khan, was born in 1592 and succeeded as Great Khan of the Mongols at thirteen, ruling from the Chahar capital of Chagan Khot in today's Ar Horqin Banner, Inner Mongolia. A patron of Tibetan Buddhism, he had the Tibetan Kangyur translated into Mongolian. Attacked by the Later Jin in 1632 he withdrew west, and died of smallpox at Dacaotan in the summer of 1634. According to the intangible-heritage record, he left the court song scores behind when he withdrew; fifteen old scores found at Genpei Temple in 1984 were identified as part of his court repertoire.