元代由蒙古人主政,继承了中原王朝经筵制度的基本形式。经筵通过《大学衍义》、《孝经》等汉文化内容,向蒙古统治者阐述礼乐文明的作用和意义。但由于缺乏汉文化学养和害怕丧失游牧民族本性,蒙元统治者仍然坚守本族礼俗,对《孝经》的推崇也出于以“忠”为孝的理解。同时,对汉臣制定的汉族礼制,蒙古人迟迟不能融入,使终元一朝的礼制始终带有明显的蒙古本位色彩。
The Yuan Dynasty was headed by Mongolian rulers who inherited the basic form of Jing Yan (preaching of classics and history for the monarch) system adopted by previous monarch of the Central Plains. Through The Elaboration of Great Learning and The Book of Filial Piety and other content in Han culture, Jing Yan explained to the Mongolian rulers the role and significance of the civilization of rites and music. However, due to the lack of Han culture and fear of loss of nomadic nationality, the Mongolian rulers still adhered to their own rites and customs, and their admiration for The Book of Filial Piety was confined to the interpretation of "ill- ial piety" into "loyalty". Meanwhile, the Mongolian rulers found it difficult to fuse into the Han ritual system drafted by Han officials. Consequently, the ritual system of the Yuan Dynasty throughout was distinctive of Mon- golian dominance.