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Tonyukuk
Military commander of the Second Turkic Khaganate From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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 successive Göktürk khagans – Ilterish Qaghan, Qapaghan Qaghan, Inel Qaghan and Bilge Qaghan. He conducted victorious campaigns against various Turkic and non-Turkic steppe peoples, such as the Tölis, Xueyantuo, Toquz Oguz, Yenisei Kyrgyz, Kurykans, Thirty Tatar, Khitan and Tatabi as well as the Tang dynasty.[4] He was described as a kingmaker by historians such as E. P. Thompson[5] and Peter Benjamin Golden.[6]
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Name
The name is spelled as t1-o-ɲ-uq1-uq1 (𐱃𐰆𐰪𐰸𐰸) in the Old Turkic script, variously interpreted as Tunuquq, 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", and uq or oq means "idea, wise, well-informed". Thus, Tonuquq is the owner of deep and pure idea.[7][8] His title "Bilge" means wise or master in Old Turkic.[9] According to Klyashtorny, the element yuquq 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 other ton means "first"; thus his Chinese name 元珍 Yuánzhēn is a calque of his Turkic name Tonyuquq, both meaning "first treasure"[10] René M. Giraud read the name as tonïuquq, from ton "dress, clothes" with I possessive and yuquq (from the verb yuk- "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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Life
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Early years
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Tonyukuk was born around 646, near Tuul River in the land of the Ashide tribe. He fled the Tang dynasty in 679 and joined Ilterish Qaghan 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.
I myself, wise Tonyukuk, born in Tabgach [i.e. Tang China] country. (As the whole) Turk people was under Chinese subjection.[13][14]
Chinese sources state that Tonyukuk'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 in Chanyü military governorship, he was dismissed and jailed by the military governor Changshih.[15]
During Ilterish Qaghan's reign
Although he lost early wars against Xue Rengui, he was a formidable force in establishing the Second Turkic Khaganate. In 687, the Tang invaded Göktürk land again. Empress Dowager Wu commissioned the ethnically Baekje general Heichi Changzhi, assisted by Li Duozuo, to defend against Turkic attack and were able to defeat the Turkic forces at Huanghuadui (modern day Shuozhou, Shanxi) causing the Turkic forces to flee.
During Qapaghan Qaghan's reign
In 703, he was sent by Qapaghan Qaghan for a marriage proposal to the Wu Zhou dynasty. Wu Zetian accepted the proposal, in exchange Wu Yanxiu was released on the Khagan's order. However, Emperor Zhongzhong's accession changed the political climate, causing the cancellation of the marriage.
In 712, he commanded a Turkic army during Battle of Bolchu which proved disastrous for the Turgesh army.
During Inel Qaghan's reign
He was not in active politics during Inel Qaghan'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][clarification needed]
During Bilge Qaghan's reign
In 716 he was appointed as master strategist (bagha tarkhan) by his son-in-law Bilge Qaghan.
Chinese sources state that Bilge Qaghan wanted to convert to Buddhism and 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 to the Tang dynasty.[18] While the Turks' power rested on their mobility, conversion to Buddhism would bring pacifism among population. Therefore sticking to Tengriism was necessary to survive.[19][20][21][22]
In 720 the Tang chancellor Wang Jun proposed a plan to attack Bilge Qaghan' along with the Baximi, Xi, and Khitan.[23] Emperor Xuanzong also recruited Qapaghan Qaghan's sons Bilgä Tegin and Mo Tegin, Yenisei Kyrgyz Qaγan Qutluğ Bilgä Qaγan and Huoba Guiren to fight against the Turks. Tonyukuk launched a first attack on Baximi in the autumn of 721, completely crushing them. Meanwhile Bilge raided Gansu, taking much of the livestock. Later that year the Khitans, the next year the Xi were crushed.
He died around 726.
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Family
He was father to Qutluğ Säbäg Qatun and a father-in-law of Bilge Qaghan', thus a grandfather to Yollıg Khagan and Tengri Qaghan.
Legacy
His biography, achievements and advice for state administration were carved in Old Turkic script on two stele erected around 716 (before his death) at a site known as Bayn Tsokto, in Ulaanbaatar's Nalaikh district.[24] Yuan era Uyghur official Xie Wenzhi (楔文質), as well as Korean Gyeongju Seol clan claimed descent from Tonyukuk.[25]
He was mentioned and remembered in some Uyghur Manichaean texts later in Qocho.[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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In popular culture
- Portrayed by Kim Seong-hun in the 2006-2007 KBS TV series Dae Jo-yeong.
References
External links
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