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{{short description|Military commander of the Second Turkic Khaganate}}
{{Infobox noble
| name         = Tonyukuk
| image        = 
| caption      = 
| alt          = 
| CoA          = 
| more         = no
| succession   = [[Tarkhan]] of the [[Second Turkic Khaganate]]
| reign        = 681–716 or 717
| predecessor  = 
| successor    =
| suc-type     =
| spouse       = 
| spouse-type  = 
| issue        = [[Po Beg]]
| issue-link   = 
| issue-pipe   = 
| full name    = Bilge Tuñuquq [[Boila|Boyla]] [[Baghatur|Baga]] [[Tarkhan|Tarkan]]
| native_name  = 𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀 𐱃𐰆𐰪𐰸𐰸 𐰉𐰆𐰖𐰞𐰀 𐰉𐰍𐰀 𐱃𐰺𐰴𐰣 (in [[Old Turkic]])
| other_titles = Apa Tarkan
| noble family = [[Ashide]]
| house-type   = 
| father       = 
| mother       = 
| birth_name   = Ashide Yuanzhen <br />  阿史德元珍
| birth_date   = {{circa}} 646
| birth_place  = [[Yulin, Inner Mongolia|Yulin]], [[Tang dynasty]] (modern day [[Inner Mongolia]])<ref>Schlegel, 1892, p. 13</ref>
| death_date   = {{circa}} 726 (aged 79–80)
| death_place  = 
| burial_date  = 
| burial_place = 
| occupation   = Counsellor<ref>Istanbul University Research Institute of Turkology (1979), ''I. Milletler Arası Türkoloji Kongresi: Türk dili ve edebiyatı'', p. 381</ref><br />[[Grand vizier]]<br />[[Commander-in-chief]]
| memorials    = [[Tonyukuk inscriptions]]
}}

'''Tonyukuk''' or '''Ashide Yuanzhen''' ({{langx|otk|𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀:𐱃𐰆𐰪𐰸𐰸|Bilgä Tuňuquq|lit=Tunyuquq the Wise}},<ref>{{cite journal|title=BİLGE TONYUKUK Tonyuquq the Wise|author=İlhami DURMUŞ|journal=Asya Araştırmaları Dergisi|issue=1|volume=3|lang=tr}}</ref> {{lang-zh||c=暾欲谷|p=Tunyugu}}, {{Lang-zh|c=阿史德元珍|s=|t=|p=Āshǐdé Yuánzhēn}}, born {{Circa|646}}, died {{Circa|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 peoples|Turkic]] and non-Turkic steppe peoples, such as the Tölis, [[Xueyantuo]], [[Toquz Oguz]], [[Yenisei Kyrgyz]], [[Kurykans]], [[Tatar confederation|Thirty Tatar]], [[Khitan people|Khitan]] and [[Tatabi]] as well as the [[Tang dynasty]].<ref>Peter B. Golden, (1992), ''An Introduction to the History of the Turkic People'', p. 137</ref> He was described as a [[kingmaker]] by historians such as [[E. P. Thompson]]<ref>{{cite book|publisher=Türkiye Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi|year=1937|title=Ülkü|page=352|language=tr}}</ref> and [[Peter Benjamin Golden]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Peter B. Golden|year=2010|title=Central Asia in World History|page=42}}</ref>

== Name ==
The name is spelled as ''t<sub>1</sub>-o-ɲ-uq<sub>1</sub>-uq<sub>1</sub>'' ({{script|Orkh|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.<ref>O. F. Sertkaya (2003, p. 33)</ref><ref>Nadelyaev V.M. “Orhon–Eniseisk mark’s reading” and “Etymology of the name of Tonuquq”. // Turkology researches M.L. 1963 pp. 197–213; Amanzholov A.C. “Talas, Enisey and Orhon inscriptions’ graphics” /Kazakh language and literature, KAz SU, Almaty, 1973. Amanzholov A.C. “Old Turkic inscriptions History and Theory”, Almaty, 2003; pp. 56–57.</ref> His title "Bilge" means wise or master in [[Old Turkic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=ON THE NAME AND TITLES OF TONYUQUQ  |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/991592 |access-date=28 December 2024|author=Erhan AYDIN}}</ref> 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"<ref>S. G. Klyashtorny 1966, pp. 202–205</ref> 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.<ref>Aydın, Erhan "On the name and titles of Tonyuquq", ''Türkbilig'', 2019/37: 1–10</ref>

== Life ==
=== Early years ===
[[File:Turkic Gold Belt Ornaments (35671983336).jpg|thumb|Gold belt ornaments, Tonyukuk ritual place, Tov, Erdene.<ref>{{cite web |title=National History Museum of Mongolia |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/142086940@N03/48761143791/in/album-72157718782605608/ |date=7 September 2019}}</ref>]]
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.

{{fs interlinear|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 in [[Tuoba#Legacy of the Tuoba/Tabgach name|Tabgach]] [i.e. [[Tang dynasty|Tang China]]] country. (As the whole) Turk people was under Chinese subjection.<ref>Atalay Besim (2006). Divanü Lügati't Türk. [[Turkish Language Association]], {{ISBN|975-16-0405-2}}, p. 28, 453, 454</ref><ref>Aydın 2017, p. 104</ref>|lang=otk|indent=3}}

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 [[Protectorate General to Pacify the North|Chanyü military governorship]], he was dismissed and jailed by the military governor Changshih.<ref>Taşağıl 2004, p. 63</ref>

=== 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 [[Göktürks|Göktürk]] land again. [[Wu Zetian|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 ===
[[File:Bilge Tonyukuk - Orkhon Inscriptions.jpeg|thumb|The [[Tonyukuk inscriptions]].]]
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 Zhongzong of Tang|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.<ref>Dobrovits,M.:“[http://www.turkdilleri.org/turkdilleri/sayilar/tda18/MDobrovits.pdf Textological Structure and Political Message of  the Old Turkic Runic Inscriptions]”, Talât Tekin Armağanı, Türk Dilleri Araştırmaları 18 (2008), 149–153.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia|volume=1|author=Denis Sinor|page=312|year=1990}}</ref>{{Clarify|reason=Not clear why he would have lost his life|date=September 2025}}

=== 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]].<ref>Denis Sinor (ed.), ''The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia'', vol.1, Cambridge University Press, 1990, {{ISBN|978-0-521-24304-9}}, 312–313.</ref> While the Turks' power rested on their mobility, conversion to Buddhism would bring pacifism among population. Therefore sticking to [[Tengrism|Tengriism]] was necessary to survive.<ref>''[[Wenxian Tongkao]]'', 2693a</ref><ref>''[[New Book of Tang]]'', [https://zh.wikisource.org/wiki/%E6%96%B0%E5%94%90%E6%9B%B8/%E5%8D%B7215%E4%B8%8B vol 215-II]</ref><ref>Golden 2002, p. 9</ref><ref>Ercilasun 2016, pp. 295–296</ref>

In 720 the Tang chancellor [[Wang Jun (Tang chancellor)|Wang Jun]] proposed a plan to attack Bilge Qaghan' along with the [[Basmyl|Baximi]], [[Kumo Xi|Xi]], and [[Khitan people|Khitan]].<ref>''[[Old Book of Tang]]'', Vol. 194-I</ref> [[Emperor Xuanzong of Tang|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 [[Khitan people|Khitans]], the next year the [[Kumo Xi|Xi]] were crushed.

He died around 726.

== 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 [[Tonyukuk inscriptions|Bayn Tsokto]], in [[Ulaanbaatar]]'s [[Nalaikh district]].<ref>For the site see Sören Stark ''Die Alttürkenzeit in Mittel- und Zentralasien. Archäologische und historische Studien'' (Nomaden und Sesshafte, Band 6), Reichert: Wiesbaden 2008, pp. 75–76.
Ross (1930): "About 48° N. and a little more 107° W.{{sic}} of Greenwich, near a place said to have the name of Bain Chokto, between the Nalaikha post-station and the right bank of the upper waters of the Tola."</ref> [[Yuan era]] Uyghur official Xie Wenzhi (楔文質), as well as Korean [[Gyeongju Seol clan]] claimed descent from Tonyukuk.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Subjects and masters : Uyghurs in the Mongol Empire|last=Brose, Michael C.|year=2007|isbn=9780914584292|location=Bellingham, WA, USA|pages=169, 183–185|oclc=235941570}}</ref>

He was mentioned and remembered in some Uyghur [[Manichaeism|Manichaean]] texts later in [[Qocho]].<ref name=erdal>{{Cite journal|last1=Marcel Erdal|last2=Chen Hao 陳浩|date=2017|title=The Khocho Toñukuk Tradition in Runiform, Uyghur and Chinese Sources // 探討高昌突厥石碑和維吾爾語、中文文獻上的暾欲谷記|journal=Central Asiatic Journal|volume=60|issue=1–2|pages=109|doi=10.13173/centasiaj.60.1-2.0109|jstor=10.13173/centasiaj.60.1-2.0109|s2cid=165707355 }}</ref>

The Berlin Manichaean manuscript found in Qocho read as follows:<ref name=erdal></ref>

{{quote|Then the wise Toñuk(uk) spoke as follows: The Turk (nation) is ruined and has lost its chance of (salvation).}}

==In popular culture==
* Portrayed by Kim Seong-hun in the 2006-2007 [[Korean Broadcasting System|KBS]] TV series ''[[Dae Jo-yeong (TV series)|Dae Jo-yeong]]''.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

*E. Denison Ross, ''The Tonyukuk Inscription, Being a Translation of Professor [[Vilhelm Thomsen]]'s final Danish Rendering'', Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, University of London, 1930.
* Nathan Light. An 8th Century Turkic Narrative: Pragmatics, Reported Speech and Managing Information. Turkic languages. 10.2, 2006. pp 155–186.

==External links==
*[http://bitig.org/?lang=e&mod=1&tid=1&oid=17&m=1 Tonyukuk Inscriptions complete text]
*[http://irq.kaznpu.kz/?lang=e&mod=1&tid=1&oid=17&m=1 Tonyukuk’s Memorial Complex], Language Committee of Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan

{{Göktürks}}

[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:7th-century Asian people]]
[[Category:8th-century Asian people]]
[[Category:Ashide]]
[[Category:646 births]]
[[Category:720s deaths]]
[[Category:People from Hohhot]]