Tonyukuk inscriptions

Turkic inscription in Nalaikh, Mongolia

Tonyukuk inscriptions

Turkic Bilge Tonyukuk Inscriptions - part of Orkhon Inscriptions in Mongolia

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Location| Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Coordinates| 47°41′40″N 107°28′33″E﻿ / ﻿47.69449°N 107.47594°E﻿ / 47.69449; 107.47594
Type| Tomb

The Tonyukuk inscriptions (Chinese: 暾欲谷碑), also called the Bain Tsokto inscriptions are Turkic inscriptions of the 8th century located in Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. They are one of the oldest written attestations of the Turkic language family, predating the Orkhon inscriptions (Khöshöö Tsaidam monuments) by several years.[1]

## Geography

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The inscriptions are in Tuul River valley at 47°42′N 107°28′E﻿ / ﻿47.700°N 107.467°E﻿ / 47.700; 107.467 (in Nalaikh, Ulaanbaatar).[2] They are often confused with, or considered as a part of, the Orkhon inscriptions (Khöshöö Tsaidam inscriptions), although the Orkhon inscriptions are actually located about 360 kilometres (220 mi) to the west of Bain Tsokto.

## History

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Bain Tsokto inscriptions are about Tonyukuk, the counselor of four Turkic khagans which are Ilterish Khagan, Kapaghan Khagan, Inel Khagan and Bilge Khagan of the Second Turkic Khaganate. He died in the 720s. Unlike the two other Orkhon inscriptions which were erected after the hero had died, Bain Tsokto inscriptions were erected by Tonyukuk himself around the year 716.[1] (His deeds after 716 had not been narrated.) The narrator is Tonyukuk. The inscriptions were inscribed on two steles. The writing, which proceeds vertically from top to bottom, is in the Old Turkic alphabet.

## Summary of the text

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### 1st stele (35 lines)

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West side: The revolt of Turks against the Tang dynasty in 681. (After the Tang subjugated the Turks in 630)
South side: War against Oghuz Turks
East side: Capture of 23 cities and plan to counterattack against a possible alliance of the neighbors (Tang, Onoq and Yenisei Kirghiz)
North side: Defeat of Yenisei Kirghiz (north) and campaign to Turgesh (Onoq territory, west)

### 2nd stele (27 lines)

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West side: Battle of Bolchu (711) against Turgesh and annexation of Onoq territory (roughly present Turkestan)
South side: Annexation of Temir Kapig, Ilterish Qaghan’s 7 campaigns to Khitan people (east), 17 campaigns to Tang dynasty (south), 5 campaigns to Oghuz Turks
East side: (Tonyukuk praises himself on his valuable assistance to khagans and adds that he gets old)
North side: (Epilogue) After the victories, Turks and the Turkic Sir (people) live happily.[3][4]

## See also

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* Göktürks
* Tariat inscriptions

## References

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1. ^ a b Türkçe bilgi (in Turkish)
2. ^ Don Croner's World Wide wanders
3. ^ University of London Orkhon Inscriptions
4. ^ Muharrem Ergin: Orhun Abideleri, Boğaziçi Yayınları,İstanbul, 1980, pp.54-61

## External links

[edit]

* Turkbitig Inscriptions

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Göktürks

First Turkic Khaganate
(552–581)|

* (Ashina Tuwu)
* Bumin Qaghan
* Issik Qaghan
* Muqan Qaghan
* Taspar Qaghan
* Ashina Anluo
* Ishbara Qaghan
* Bagha Qaghan
* Tulan Qaghan
* (Istämi)
* (Empress Ashina)
* (Apa Qaghan)

* (Yangsu Tegin)
* (Tamgan)

Eastern Turkic Khaganate
(581–630)|

* Yami Qaghan
* Shibi Qaghan
* Chulo Qaghan
* Illig Qaghan
* Qilibi Qaghan
* Chebi Qaghan

* (Ashina Jiesheshuai)
* (Ashina Funian)
* (Ashina She'er)
* (Ashina Nishufu)
* (Ashide Wenfu)
* (Ashide Fengji)
* (Ashina Shibobi)

Western Turkic Khaganate
(581–657)|

* Tardu
* Niri Qaghan
* Heshana Qaghan
* Sheguy
* Tong Yabghu Qaghan
* Külüg Sibir
* Sy Yabghu Khagan
* Duolu Qaghan
* Ishbara Tolis

* (El Kulug Shad)
* (Irbis Ishbara Yabgu Qaghan)

* Yukuk Shad
* Irbis Seguy
* Hallig
* (Bagha Shad)
* (Böri Shad)
* (Ashina Duzhi)
* (Tardush Shad)
* (Ashina Tuizi)

Second Turkic Khaganate
(682–744)|

* Ilterish Qaghan
* Qapaghan Qaghan
* Inel Qaghan
* Bilgä Qaǧan
* Yollıg Khagan
* Tengri Qaghan
* Kutluk Yabgu Khagan
* Özmiş Khagan
* Ashina Shi

* (Ashina Duoxifu)
* (Kulun Beg)
* (Kul Tigin)
* (Tonyukuk)
* (Qutluğ Säbäg Qatun)
* (El Bilga Khatun)

Western Turks
under Jimi system|

Kunling Protectorate

* Ashina Mishe
* Ashina Yuanqing
* Ashina Xian
* Ashina Zhen

Mengchi Protectorate

* Ashina Buzhen
* Ashina Huseluo
* Ashina Huaidao
* Ashina Xin

Anxi Protectorate

* Tokhara Yabghus (625-758)
* Turk Shahis (665–870)

Göktürk culture|

* Tengrism
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* Kurultai
* Old Turkic language
* Old Turkic script
* Orkhon inscriptions
* Orkhon Valley
* Shoroon Bumbagar tomb
* Turks in the Tang military
* Ülüş system
* Tonyukuk inscriptions
* Ongin inscription
* Altyn Tamgan Tarhan inscription
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Göktürk wars
and battles|

* Battle of Gol-Zarriun/Bukhara
* Göktürk–Persian wars
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Titles|

* Khagan
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Family|

* Göktürk family tree
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Turkic inscriptions

Oghur Turkic|

| Late Avar period|

* Alsószentmihály inscription
* Szarvas inscription1

|

Bulgars|

* Buyla inscription

Siberian Turkic|

| Second Turkic Khaganate|

* Orkhon inscriptions
* Tonyukuk inscriptions
* Ongin inscription
* Altyn Tamgan Tarhan inscription

|

Uyghur Khaganate|

* Choiti-Tamir inscriptions
* Karabalgasun inscription
* Sükhbaatar inscriptions
* Tariat inscriptions

Xueyantuo|

* Kul-chur inscription

Yenisei Kyrgyz|

* Yenisei Inscriptions
* Elegest inscription
* Uyuk-Tarlak inscription
* Uyuk Turan Inscription

Karluk Turkic|

| Timurids|

* Karsakpay inscription

|

Karluks|

* Bombogor inscription

Non-Turkic|

| First Turkic Khaganate|

* Bugut inscription
* Inscription of Hüis Tolgoi

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1Presumably Turkic
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