What is "jinong"

Jinong was a title of the Mongols. It was derived from Chinese Jinwang ( Traditional Chinese: 晉王; pinyin: jìn wáng; lit. King of Jin) although some historians have suggested it originates from Qinwang ( Traditional Chinese: 親王; pinyin: qīn wáng; lit. Prince). Whatever its relation with the Chinese title, the Mongol title was rendered in Chinese as "jinong" ( Traditional Chinese: 濟農; pinyin: jǐ nóng) or "jinang" ( Traditional Chinese:吉囊; pinyin: jí náng).

The title of Jinong was first given to Kamala, a grandson of Khubilai Khan in 1292. He served the mausoleum of Genghis Khan (naiman chaghaan ger; ; lit. eight white houses). Those who served the mausoleum were called the Ordus and Jinong came to mean the highest priest of the portable mausoleum. The Ordus lived on the Kherlen River but later moved to the area now known as Ordos. After Dayan Khan, whose father was the Jinong, unified Mongolia, his descendants assumed the position until 1949. During the Qing Dynasty the Jinong also served as the chief of the Yeke Juu League or a banner in it.