Buluzhen Khan

Buluzhen ruled the Rouran for a shorter time than any other khan of his house. He is remembered for two intrigues: the first made him khan, and the second brought him down.^[1]

Coup against Hulü (414)

Buluzhen was the son of Hulü’s eldest brother. When Hulü betrothed a daughter to Feng Ba of the Northern Yan, Buluzhen proposed that the daughters of the ministers Shuli and Wudiyan go with her. The proposal was refused. Buluzhen then told the ministers that the khan meant to send their daughters away.^[1]

Shuli’s party seized Hulü by night and sent him to Helong with the bride. They set Buluzhen up in his place.^[1] Buluzhen left the government to Shuli.^[1]

Fall

The Gaoche chief Chiluohou had once deserted his own tribe to guide Shelun against the other tribes. In gratitude, Shelun had made him a great man of the state.^[1]

Buluzhen and Shelun’s son Shebo went together to Chiluohou’s tents, where they debauched his young wife. She told Buluzhen that Chiluohou meant to set up Datan as ruler. According to her, Chiluohou had also sent Datan a golden bridle as a token.^[1]

Buluzhen went back and raised eight thousand horse. He surrounded Chiluohou. Chiluohou burned his treasures and cut his own throat.^[1] Buluzhen then moved against Datan. Datan raised his army and seized Buluzhen and Shebo. He strangled them both and made himself khan.^[1]

A modern summary tells this more briefly. Datan became khan after defeating his rival Buluzhen and removing the other claimants.^[2]

Assessment

In the Wei Shu’s telling, Buluzhen caused his own death twice over. The intrigue against Hulü cost the state a khan. The insult to Chiluohou cost it Chiluohou himself. The account is a moralist’s story. It is also the only account of these events.