太宗八年,窩闊(kuo)臺親自賜酒于耶律楚材,說道:“朕之(zhi)(zhi)所以推誠(cheng)任(ren)卿,乃先帝之(zhi)(zhi)命(ming)也。要不是愛卿,就沒(mei)有中(zhong)原的今日;朕今日之(zhi)(zhi)所以能安臥高枕,也全是愛卿之(zhi)(zhi)力也。”
從蒙哥開始,即依(yi)從漢(han)制,追(zhui)尊其父(fu)為帝(di),追(zhui)上托雷廟號(hao):睿宗。憲宗二(er)年壬子,公元1252年,八月,蒙哥可(ke)汗此時已兼用漢(han)人(ren)的(de)皇帝(di)稱(cheng)號(hao)與稱(cheng)謂,行幸和林。
1260年,亦即建元中統之時,忽必烈下的(de)詔書云:
“祖宗以神(shen)武定四方,淳德御群下(xia)。朝(chao)廷革創,未逢潤色之(zhi)(zhi)文(wen);政(zheng)事變通,漸(jian)有綱維之(zhi)(zhi)目。朕獲贊舊服,載擴丕圖,稽列圣之(zhi)(zhi)洪規,講前代之(zhi)(zhi)定制。建元(yuan)表(biao)歲,示人(ren)君萬世之(zhi)(zhi)傳,;紀(ji)時(shi)書王,見(jian)天(tian)下(xia)一家之(zhi)(zhi)義(yi)。法(fa)《春秋(qiu)》之(zhi)(zhi)正始,體大《易》之(zhi)(zhi)乾元(yuan)。炳煥(huan)皇(huang)猷,權輿治道。可自庚(geng)申(shen)年五月十(shi)九日,建元(yuan)為中統(tong)元(yuan)年。惟即位(wei)體元(yuan)之(zhi)(zhi)始,必(bi)立經陳紀(ji)為先。故(gu)內(nei)立都(dou)省,以總(zong)(zong)宏綱;外(wai)設總(zong)(zong)司(si),以平庶(shu)政(zheng)。仍(reng)以興利除害之(zhi)(zhi)事,補偏救政(zheng)之(zhi)(zhi)方,隨(sui)詔以頒。于(yu)戲(xi)!秉葆握樞,必(bi)因(yin)時(shi)而建號;施(shi)仁(ren)發政(zheng),期與物以更新。敷(fu)宣懇惻之(zhi)(zhi)辭,表(biao)著憂勞之(zhi)(zhi)意(yi)。凡在(zai)臣庶(shu),體予至(zhi)懷!”
這(zhe)(zhe)是(shi)成吉思(si)汗的(de)繼(ji)任者中頭(tou)(tou)一(yi)個(ge)采(cai)用“漢(han)(han)法”傳統年(nian)號來(lai)紀(ji)年(nian)的(de)可汗,亦可視為(wei)蒙古(gu)人開(kai)始漢(han)(han)化的(de)重要標志(zhi)。這(zhe)(zhe)里已把《易》之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)乾元與中統聯(lian)系起(qi)來(lai)了,可謂忽必烈(lie)皇(huang)帝愛(ai)上了這(zhe)(zhe)“元”字之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)源(yuan)頭(tou)(tou)。忽必烈(lie)皇(huang)帝曾云:“昔為(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)有國者,或以所起(qi)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)地,或所因(yin)受之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)封,為(wei)不(bu)(bu)足法也,故謂之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)”元“焉。元謂之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)大也,大不(bu)(bu)足以盡之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi),而謂之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)元者,大之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)至也。”
元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)世(shi)(shi)祖(zu)至元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)八年農(nong)歷(li)十(shi)(shi)一月(yue)十(shi)(shi)五日(公(gong)歷(li)1271年12月(yue)18日),元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)世(shi)(shi)祖(zu)忽(hu)(hu)必烈(lie)發布《建(jian)(jian)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)號(hao)(hao)詔》,主(zhu)要(yao)內容有:改(gai)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)建(jian)(jian)號(hao)(hao),,取《易經(jing)》“大(da)(da)哉(zai)乾元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)”之(zhi)義,將(jiang)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)號(hao)(hao)“大(da)(da)蒙(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)古(gu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)”改(gai)為(wei)(wei)“大(da)(da)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)”,元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)世(shi)(shi)祖(zu)忽(hu)(hu)必烈(lie)從(cong)“大(da)(da)蒙(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)古(gu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)皇帝”變為(wei)(wei)“大(da)(da)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)皇帝”。1267年忽(hu)(hu)必烈(lie)汗(han)遷都(dou)中(zhong)都(dou)(今北京市),并命劉(liu)秉忠興(xing)建(jian)(jian)中(zhong)都(dou)城。1272年改(gai)中(zhong)都(dou)為(wei)(wei)大(da)(da)都(dou)(突厥語稱汗(han)八里,帝都(dou)之(zhi)意),將(jiang)上(shang)都(dou)作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)陪都(dou)。1271年12月(yue)18日,忽(hu)(hu)必烈(lie)汗(han)公(gong)布《建(jian)(jian)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)號(hao)(hao)詔》,取《易經(jing)》中(zhong)“大(da)(da)哉(zai)乾元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)”之(zhi)意,將(jiang)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)號(hao)(hao)由(you)大(da)(da)蒙(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)古(gu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)改(gai)為(wei)(wei)大(da)(da)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)大(da)(da)蒙(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)古(gu)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo),建(jian)(jian)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)朝,即元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)世(shi)(shi)祖(zu);1260年設立(li)(li)中(zhong)書省,1263年設立(li)(li)樞密院,1268年設立(li)(li)御(yu)史臺等(deng)等(deng)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)家(jia)機(ji)構;設置大(da)(da)司(si)農(nong)司(si)并且提(ti)倡農(nong)業;尊孔崇儒并大(da)(da)理發展(zhan)儒學等(deng)推(tui)行(xing)漢法的政策。然而為(wei)(wei)了保留(liu)原蒙(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)古(gu)制度,最后形成蒙(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)漢兩元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)政治(zhi)。元(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)(yuan)世(shi)(shi)祖(zu)雖然于爭奪汗(han)位戰爭獲(huo)得蒙(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)(meng)古(gu)大(da)(da)汗(han)的汗(han)位,并且最后成為(wei)(wei)中(zhong)國(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)(guo)皇帝。
《元史.世祖本紀》之后(hou),有(you)一段至為簡單的話(hua),概括地(di)精確而恰當(dang),其文(wen)曰:“世祖度量宏(hong)廣,知(zhi)人善任(ren),信用(yong)(yong)儒術,用(yong)(yong)能(neng)以(yi)夏變夷,立經陳(chen)紀,所以(yi)為一代之制者,規(gui)模宏(hong)遠也。”
誕膺(ying)景命,奄(yan)四海(hai)以(yi)(yi)宅尊;必有美(mei)名(ming),紹百王而(er)(er)紀統。肇從(cong)隆古,匪獨我(wo)家。且(qie)唐之(zhi)為言蕩也,堯以(yi)(yi)之(zhi)而(er)(er)著(zhu)稱(cheng);虞(yu)之(zhi)為言樂(le)也,舜因(yin)之(zhi)而(er)(er)作號。馴至禹興而(er)(er)湯造(zao),互名(ming)夏大以(yi)(yi)殷中。世降以(yi)(yi)還,事(shi)殊非(fei)古。雖乘時而(er)(er)有國,不(bu)以(yi)(yi)利(li)而(er)(er)制(zhi)稱(cheng)。為秦(qin)為漢者,著(zhu)從(cong)初起之(zhi)地名(ming);曰(yue)隋曰(yue)唐者,因(yin)即所封之(zhi)爵(jue)邑。是皆(jie)徇百姓見(jian)聞之(zhi)狃習,要一時經制(zhi)之(zhi)權宜,概以(yi)(yi)至公,不(bu)無少貶。
我太祖(zu)圣(sheng)武(wu)(wu)皇帝(di),握乾符(fu)而起朔土,以神武(wu)(wu)而膺帝(di)圖(tu),四震天聲,大(da)恢土宇,輿圖(tu)之(zhi)廣,歷古所無。頃者耆宿詣庭(ting),奏章(zhang)申(shen)請(qing),謂既(ji)成(cheng)于大(da)業,宜早定(ding)于鴻名(ming)(ming)。在古制以當然(ran),于朕心乎何(he)有。可建國號曰大(da)元,蓋取《易(yi)經》“乾元”之(zhi)義。茲大(da)冶流形于庶品,孰(shu)名(ming)(ming)資始之(zhi)功;予一人(ren)(ren)底(di)寧于萬邦,尤切體仁之(zhi)要。事從因革,道(dao)協天人(ren)(ren)。於戲!稱(cheng)義而名(ming)(ming),固匪為之(zhi)溢美;孚休惟永,尚不負于投艱。嘉與(yu)敷天,共隆大(da)號。
這(zhe)詔(zhao)書是(shi)說明元朝(chao)(chao)政權性質(zhi)非常重要的文件。詔(zhao)書明確承(cheng)認,忽(hu)必烈(lie)他所(suo)建立之元朝(chao)(chao)這(zhe)一(yi)(yi)王(wang)朝(chao)(chao),乃(nai)是(shi)中國封建王(wang)朝(chao)(chao)的繼承(cheng),是(shi)堯(yao)舜禹湯,秦漢隋唐(tang)的繼續(xu),所(suo)謂:“紹百王(wang)而(er)紀(ji)統”者是(shi):詔(zhao)書又把(ba)從成吉思汗到(dao)忽(hu)必烈(lie)自己的這(zhe)份統一(yi)(yi)大(da)業,看(kan)作是(shi)“歷古所(suo)無”的“大(da)業”,這(zhe)業績是(shi)古代任何一(yi)(yi)個君主所(suo)無法(fa)比(bi)擬的,因而(er)用“蒙古”這(zhe)個民族(zu)的名稱,已(yi)不足以表示(shi)新王(wang)朝(chao)(chao)的涵義。