Tonyukuk | |
|---|---|
| Tarkhan of theSecond Turkic Khaganate | |
| Reign | 681–716 or 717 |
| Full name | |
| Native name | 𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀 𐱃𐰆𐰪𐰸𐰸 𐰉𐰆𐰖𐰞𐰀 𐰉𐰍𐰀 𐱃𐰺𐰴𐰣 (inOld Turkic) |
| Other titles | Apa Tarkan |
| Born | Ashide Yuanzhen 阿史德元珍 c. 646 Yulin,Tang dynasty (modern dayInner Mongolia)[1] |
| Died | c. 726 (aged 79–80) |
| Noble family | Ashide |
| Issue | Po Beg |
| Occupation | Counsellor[2] Grand vizier Commander-in-chief |
| Memorials | Tonyukuk inscriptions |
Tonyukuk (Old Turkic:𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀:𐱃𐰆𐰪𐰸𐰸,romanized: Bilgä Tuňuquq,lit. 'Tunyuquq the Wise',[3]Chinese:暾欲谷;pinyin:Tunyugu,Chinese:阿史德元珍;pinyin:Āshǐdé Yuánzhēn, born c. 646, died c. 726) was the baga-tarkhan (supreme commander) and adviser of four successiveGöktürkkhagans –Ilterish Qaghan,Qapaghan Qaghan,Inel Qaghan andBilge Qaghan. He conducted victorious campaigns against variousTurkic and non-Turkic steppe peoples, such as Tölis,Xueyantuo,Toquz Oguz,Yenisei Kyrgyz,Kurykans,Thirty Tatar,Khitan andTatabi as well as theTang dynasty.[4] He was described as akingmaker by historians such asE. P. Thompson[5] andPeter Benjamin Golden.[6]
The name is spelled ast1-o-ɲ-uq1-uq1 (𐱃𐰆𐰪𐰸𐰸) in theOld Turkic script, variously interpreted asTunuquq,Tonuquq,Tuj-uquq, Toɲ Yuguq,Tujun-oq,Tojuquq,Tuɲoqoq with a number of suggestions for its etymology. According to Sertkaya,Tunuk means "clear, pure, abyss, who reached the depth" or "pure, penetrative", anduq oroq means "idea, wise, well-informed". Thus, Tonuquq is the owner of deep and pure idea.[7][8] His title "Bilge" means wise or master.[9] According to Klyashtorny, the elementyuquq means "hidden, protected thing, value, treasure, jewelry", which is derived from the verb "yoq/yuq" meaning "to hide, to protect" (used in Uyghur legal documents); meanwhile, the otherton means "first"; thus his Chinese name 元珍Yuánzhēn is a calque of his Turkic nameTonyuquq, both meaning "first treasure"[10] René M. Giraud read the name astonïuquq, fromton "dress, clothes" withI possessive andyuquq (from the verbyuk- "to stick") and meaning "whose dress is blessed with oil"; Likewise,Jean-Paul Roux explained the name as "with oiled dress" while discussing the culinary culture of the Mongols and suggesting that they had dirty and stained clothes.[11]
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He was born around 646, nearTuul River inAshide tribe. He fled theTang dynasty in 679 and joinedElteriš in 681.
𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀
Bilge
𐱃𐰆𐰪𐰸𐰸
Toñuquq
𐰋𐰤
bän
𐰇𐰕𐰢
özüm
𐱃𐰉𐰍𐰲
Tabγač
𐰃𐰠𐰭𐰀
eliŋä
𐰶𐰠𐰦𐰢
qılıntım
𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰚
Türk
𐰉𐰆𐰑𐰣
bodun
𐱃𐰉𐰍𐰲𐰴𐰀
Tabγačqa
𐰝𐰇𐰼𐰼
körür
𐰼𐱅𐰃
ärti.
𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀 𐱃𐰆𐰪𐰸𐰸 𐰋𐰤 𐰇𐰕𐰢 𐱃𐰉𐰍𐰲 𐰃𐰠𐰭𐰀 𐰶𐰠𐰦𐰢 𐱅𐰇𐰼𐰚 𐰉𐰆𐰑𐰣 𐱃𐰉𐰍𐰲𐰴𐰀 𐰝𐰇𐰼𐰼 𐰼𐱅𐰃
Bilge Toñuquq bän özüm Tabγač eliŋä qılıntım Türk bodun Tabγačqa körür ärti.
I myself, wise Tonyukuk, born inTabgach [i.e.Tang China] country. (As the whole) Turk people was under Chinese subjection.[13][14]
Chinese sources state that Tonyuquq's name was "Yuanzhen," and he learned all Chinese traditions and was aware of the gaps in the borders and the Chinese wall. While he was supervising the surrendered clans inChanyü military governorship, he was dismissed and jailed by the military governor Changshih.[15]
Although he lost early wars againstXue Rengui, he was formidable force in establishing Turkic Khaganate. In 687, another invasion ofTang by Elteriš andAshide Yuanzhen began.Empress Dowager Wu commissioned the ethnicallyBaekje generalHeichi Changzhi, assisted by Li Duozuo, to defend against Turkic attack and they were able to defeat Turk forces at Huanghuadui (modern dayShuozhou,Shanxi) causing Turk forces to flee.
In 703, he was sent by qaγan for marriage proposal to theWu Zhou dynasty.Wu Zetian accepted the proposal, in exchange Wu Yanxiu was released on khagan's order. However,Emperor Zhongzhong's accession changed political climate. Marriage was cancelled.
In 712, he commanded Tujue army duringBattle of Bolchu which proved disastrous forTurgesh army.
He was not in active politics duringInäl's reign and accepted him as a legitimate ruler.[16] Although this did not cost him his life and was spared, perhaps because of his great authority and his age. Another reason would the fact that he was Bilge Qaghan's father-in-law.[17]
In 716 he was appointed to be Master Strategist (Bagha Tarkhan) by his son-in-lawBilgä Qaγan.
Chinese sources state that Bilgä Qaγan wanted to convert toBuddhism, establish cities and temples. However, Tonyukuk discouraged him from this by pointing out that their nomadic lifestyle was what made them a greater military power when compared toTang dynasty.[18] While Turks' power rested on their mobility, conversion to Buddhism would bring pacifism among population. Therefore sticking toTengriism was necessary to survive.[19][20][21][22]
In 720 Tang chancellorWang Jun proposed a plan to attack Bilgä Qaγan along with theBaximi,Xi, andKhitan.[23]Emperor Xuanzong also recruitedQapγan Qaγan's sons Bilgä Tegin and Mo Tegin,Yenisei Kyrgyz Qaγan Qutluğ Bilgä Qaγan and Huoba Guiren to fight against Tujue. Tonyukuk cunningly launched first attack on Baximi in 721 autumn, completely crushing them. Meanwhile Bilgä raidedGansu, taking much of the livestock. Later that yearKhitans, next yearXi were also crushed.
He died around 726.
He was father toEletmiš Bilgä Qatun and a father-in-law toBilgä Qaγan, thus a grandfather toYollïg andTeŋrï Qaγans.
His biography, achievements and advice for state administration were carved in the so-calledOrkhon-Turkic script on two stele erected around 716 (before his death) at a site known asBayn Tsokto, inUlaanbaatar'sNalaikh district.[24]Yuan era Uyghur official Xie Wenzhi (楔文質), as well as KoreanGyeongju Seol clan claimed descent from Tonyukuk.[25]
He was mentioned and remembered in some UyghurManichaean texts later inQocho.[26]
The Berlin Manichaean manuscript found in Qocho read as follows:[26]
Then the wise Toñuk(uk) spoke as follows: The Turk (nation) is ruined and has lost its chance of (salvation).
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