darughatchi

Mongolian official

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "darughachi" refers to a Mongolian official, often translated as "seal bearer". These officials held significant, initially all-encompassing powers within the Mongol administration, particularly during the early years of conquest in China. Their role was crucial in governing conquered territories and extracting resources from sedentary populations.1

Over time, the functions of the darughachi were gradually specialized, with subfunctions being entrusted to officials trained in Chinese bureaucratic traditions. This system represented a blend of Mongol military administration and existing Chinese administrative practices. The darughachi system was a key component of the Mongol government's efforts to manage their vast empire and its diverse populations.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

China
Early Mongol rule
…administration was that of the darughatchi (seal bearer), whose powers were at first all-inclusive; only gradually were subfunctions entrusted to specialized officials in accordance with Chinese bureaucratic tradition. This re-feudalization of northern China, along Mongol lines with a slight understructure of Chinese-type bureaucrats, lasted for many years.
Read More
…administration was that of the darughatchi (seal bearer), whose powers were at first all-inclusive; only gradually were subfunctions entrusted to specialized officials in accordance with Chinese bureaucratic tradition. This re-feudalization of northern China, along Mongol lines with a slight understructure of Chinese-type bureaucrats, lasted for many years.
Read More