Zhenzhu Tong Irkin

Zhenzhu Tong Irkin was an envoy of Tong Yabgu, the khan of the western Göktürks, to the Tang court in 627.^[1] The Chinese histories name him once, as the bearer of the khan’s gifts for a Tang marriage.^[2]

Tong Yabgu had asked the Tang emperor Gaozu for a princess.^[3] Gaozu agreed and sent Li Daoli, the prince of Gaoping, to the khan.^[3] In 627, the first year of Zhenguan, the khan sent Zhenzhu Tong Irkin back to Chang’an with Li Daoli.^[4] The envoy brought a gold belt set with ten thousand studs and five thousand horses.^[5] The Xin Tang Shu says that the gifts were to seal the agreement. The Zizhi tongjian says that they were to fetch the princess.^[6]

Ilig Khan of the eastern Göktürks did not want the marriage.^[1] He raided the frontier again and again. He sent word to Tong Yabgu that a Tang princess would have to pass through his country.^[1] Tong Yabgu was troubled by it. Before the marriage could be concluded, he was murdered.^[2] Nothing more is recorded of his envoy.

Name

The Jiu Tang Shu, the Tongdian, the Xin Tang Shu and the Zizhi tongjian all write 真珠統俟斤, Zhenzhu Tong Sijin.^[7] The last two characters are the title irkin, which tribal chiefs bore.^[8]