The Cefu yuangui is a Chinese encyclopaedia of history. A commission under Wang Qinruo and Yang Yi compiled it and completed it in 1013.[1] It divides history by topic rather than by reign.[2] The Göktürks appear in its section on the foreign vassals of the empire. They are treated in chapters on successions, tribute embassies, marks of favour, marriage alliances, defence, and the power and fall of foreign peoples.[3]

The compilers quoted the Veritable Records of the Tang at length. For the Uyghurs, their wording in places stands closer to the court record than the parallel chapter of the Jiu Tangshu.[4] For the years 715 to 750, the work keeps a series of chancellery documents. These are petitions of foreign princes and patents of investiture.[5]

The embassies of the western Göktürks

The chapter on tribute embassies lists the missions from the west month by month. In the seventh month of 619, the western Yabgu Khan and the king of Gaochang sent envoys together.[6] Envoys of the western Yabgu Khan came again in the third month of 620 and in the third month of 621.[6] In the fourth month of 622, his envoys brought a lion skin. In the eighth month they brought famous horses.[6] In the fourth month of 623, envoys of the western Göktürks came again.[6] In 624, an embassy came from Moheduo Khan of the western Göktürks. In 626, the western Yabgu Khan sent envoys in the third month and again in the sixth.[6] Embassies of the western Göktürks followed in the first and tenth months of 627 and in the fourth month of 628.[6]

The embassy of 619 is the first date at which Tong Yabgu appears in dealings with the Chinese court.[7]

The marriage suit and the death of Tong Yabgu

The chapter on marriage alliances records that the western Yabgu Khan asked for a Tang bride in 622. It also records a banquet for his envoys in the fourth month of 625.[8] Gaozu asked Pei Ju whether to grant the marriage. Pei Ju advised him to befriend the distant and attack the near. He should grant the marriage for the time being and so hold Ilig in check. Daoli, the prince of Gaoping, went to the khan’s court, and Tong Yabgu was delighted. Then Ilig’s raids closed the road, and the marriage was not made.[8] The Tang Huiyao and the Zizhi tongjian also name Pei Ju as the adviser.[9] The Tongdian and the Jiu Tangshu name Feng Deyi instead.[10]

The chapter on marks of favour enters Tong Yabgu’s death under the first year of Zhenguan, 627.[11] His paternal uncle killed him. When the emperor Taizong heard of it, he mourned Tong Yabgu and sent jade and silk to be burned in sacrifice where he had died. The country fell into disorder, and the envoy never arrived.[11] This date adds to the uncertainty about the year of Tong Yabgu’s death.[12]

The western khans before Tong Yabgu

The chapter on defence keeps the policy of the Sui envoy Zhangsun Sheng from the first years of the Sui. Zhangsun Sheng knew that Ishbara, Dianjue, Apa and Tuli were uncles, nephews and brothers. Each commanded strong troops, and each was called khan. He also knew that they were easier to divide than to defeat. The emperor sent Yuan Hui by the Yiwu road to Dianjue with a wolf-head standard and a feigned show of respect. At court, Dianjue’s envoys were seated above Ishbara’s. The khans began to suspect one another.[13] Dianjue is Tardush. The chapter on the wars of foreign peoples tells how Ishbara beat Apa, and Apa fled west to Tardu, called Dian, who was Ishbara’s paternal uncle.[14] The chapter on marriage alliances records that the Sui generals Gao Jiong and Yang Su broke Dianjue in 599.[8]

The same chapter on defence tells of Pei Ju’s proposal in 610 to split the western khaganate. He would promise Shegui the title of great khan if Shegui rose against Heshana.[13]

Relation to the older histories

Where the Cefu yuangui tells the story of the western khans at length, it repeats older wording. Its chapter on successions makes Shegui the uncle of Heshana in the words of the Tongdian.[15] Two passages agree word for word with the lower part of chapter 194 of the Jiu Tangshu. These are the notice of Taizong’s mourning and the account of Tong Yabgu’s quarrel with Ilig in the chapter on power.[16] The compilers may have copied the two older works, or they may have drawn on the same Tang records. Either way, for Tong Yabgu the Cefu yuangui gives one testimony with them, not a second.

Its errors are those of a compilation. In one notice it treats Mohe Shad and Duolu Khan as one man, although the chapters on the western Göktürks make Mohe Shad the father of Duolu. In another it may confuse the king of Karashahr with a khan of the western Göktürks.[17]

Reliability

The narrative passages add little to the Tongdian and the Jiu Tangshu. The list of embassies is another matter. It dates the dealings of the western khans with the Tang court to the month, and no other source gives them in this form.

The passage

Cefu yuangui 974: Taizong mourns Tong Yabgu

太宗貞觀元年西突厥統葉䕶為伯父所殺

帝聞統葉䕶之死甚悼之

遣賫玉帛至其死所祭而焚之

㑹其國亂不果至而止

In the first year of Zhenguan under Taizong, Tong Yabgu of the Western Göktürks was killed by his paternal uncle.

When the emperor heard of Tong Yabgu's death, he mourned him deeply.

He sent men with jade and silk to the place where he had died, to offer them and burn them in sacrifice.

But the country fell into disorder, the mission did not arrive, and the matter stopped there.

[11] Cefu yuangui, juan 974

Cefu yuangui 978: Tong Yabgu asks for a bride and Pei Ju advises

武德五年西突厥葉䕶可汗遣使請婚

八年四月宴西蕃突厥使

時中國以突厥為患故遣使與西突厥連和以備北狄

於是葉䕶請婚

帝謂侍中裴矩曰西突厥與我懸逺有急不得相助今來請婚其意如何

對曰西蕃懸逺誠如聖旨但北宼盛彊数為邉害當今之計湏逺交而近攻權可許婚以近頡利且羈縻之

待一二年後中國完實足抗北夷然後徐思其宜此蓋一時之䇿也

帝然之令高平王道立至其國統葉䕶大恱

遇頡利頻歲入㓂西蕃路梗繇是未果

In the fifth year of Wude, the Yabgu Khan of the Western Göktürks sent envoys to ask for a marriage.

In the fourth month of the eighth year a banquet was given for the envoys of the Göktürks of the western lands.

At that time China suffered from the Göktürks, and so it sent envoys to ally itself with the Western Göktürks as a defence against the northern Di.

Thereupon the Yabgu asked for a marriage.

The emperor said to the palace attendant Pei Ju: “The Western Göktürks are far from us and could not help us in an emergency. Now they come to ask for a marriage. What is their intention?”

He answered: “The western lands are indeed far off, as Your Majesty says. But the northern raiders are strong and often harm the frontier. The plan for now must be to ally with the distant and attack the near. For the time being the marriage can be granted, with Jieli, the nearer one, in view, and he can be held on a loose rein meanwhile.

Wait one or two years, until China is whole and strong enough to stand against the northern barbarians, and then think at leisure what is fitting. This is only a policy for the moment.”

The emperor agreed and ordered Daoli, prince of Gaoping, to go to his country. Tong Yabgu was delighted.

But Jieli invaded year after year, the road to the western lands was blocked, and so nothing came of it.

[8] Cefu yuangui, juan 978

Cefu yuangui 990: Zhangsun Sheng and the wolf-head standard

晟先知攝圗玷厥阿波突利等叔侄兄弟各統強兵俱號可汗分居四靣

内懐猜忌外示和同難以力征易可離間

因上表髙祖大悦因召與語

帝深嗟異皆納用焉

因遣大僕元暉出伊吾道使詣玷厥賜以狼頭纛謬為欽敬禮數甚優

反間旣行果相猜貳

Zhangsun Sheng had known beforehand that Shetu, Dianjue, Apa, Tuli and the others, uncles and nephews and brothers, each commanded strong troops, all bore the title of khan, and lived apart in the four directions.

Inwardly they harboured suspicion and jealousy, outwardly they showed harmony. They were hard to beat by force but easy to set against one another.

He therefore submitted a memorial. Gaozu was greatly pleased and summoned him to talk with him.

The emperor marvelled and adopted all of it.

Then he sent the Minister of the Imperial Stud, Yuan Hui out by the Yiwu road to Dianjue, to present him with a wolf-head standard, feigning respect and honouring him with great ceremony.

Once the division was at work, they did come to suspect and distrust one another.

[13] Cefu yuangui, juan 990

Cefu yuangui 995: the Göktürks and the end of the Rouran

北齊文宣天保三年二月突厥破茹王阿那瓌瓌自殺

其太子菴羅辰及瓌從弟登注侯利登注子庫提竝擁衆奔

茹茹餘衆立注次子鐵伐為主

四年二月送登注及子庫提還北

鐵伐尋為契丹所殺國人復立登注為主

仍為其大人阿當提等所殺國人復立庫提為主

十二月突厥復攻茹茹茹茹舉國南奔

帝自晉陽北討突厥納茹茹

乃廢其主庫提立阿那瓌子菴羅辰為主

置之馬邑川給其廪餼繒帛

親追突厥朔州突厥請降許之而還

於是貢獻相繼

In the second month of the third year of Tianbao under Wenxuan of the Northern Qi, the Göktürks defeated the Rouran king Anagui, and Anagui killed himself.

His crown prince Anluochen, Anagui's cousin Dengzhu Houli, and Dengzhu's son Kuti all took their followers and fled.

The remnants of the Rouran set up Dengzhu's second son Tiefa as their lord.

In the second month of the fourth year, Dengzhu and his son Kuti were escorted back to the north.

Soon Tiefa was killed by the Khitan, and the people set up Dengzhu as lord again.

Then he too was killed by his grandee Adangti and others, and the people set up Kuti as lord.

In the twelfth month the Göktürks attacked the Rouran again, and the Rouran fled south with their whole nation.

The emperor marched north from Jinyang to attack the Göktürks and to take in the Rouran.

He deposed their lord Kuti and set up Anagui's son Anluochen as lord.

He settled them on the plain of Mayi and supplied them with grain and silk.

He pursued the Göktürks in person as far as Shuozhou. The Göktürks asked to submit, and he agreed and returned.

After that, tribute followed one mission after another.

[14] Cefu yuangui, juan 995

Cefu yuangui 995: Yili Khan and his brothers against the Rouran

隋髙祖時突厥沙鉢畧與阿波相攻

先是後魏末突厥伊利可汗以兵擊鐵勒大敗之降五萬餘家

遂求婚於茹茹

茹茹王阿那瓌大怒遣使罵之

伊利斬其使率衆襲茹茹破之

弟乙息記可汗立又擊破茹茹

弟木杆可汗立又擊㓕茹茹

In the time of Gaozu of the Sui, the Göktürk Shaboluo and Apa attacked each other.

Earlier, at the end of the Later Wei, the Göktürk Yili Khan had attacked the Tiele with troops and defeated them heavily, and more than fifty thousand households surrendered.

He then asked the Rouran for a bride.

The Rouran king Anagui was furious and sent an envoy to abuse him.

Yili killed the envoy, led his people against the Rouran and defeated them.

His younger brother Yixiji Khan took the throne and again defeated the Rouran.

His younger brother Mugan Khan took the throne and again destroyed the Rouran.

[14] Cefu yuangui, juan 995

References

  1. ^ Mackerras 1972, p. 198
  2. ^ Mackerras 1972, p. 4
  3. ^ Cefu yuangui, juan 967; Cefu yuangui, juan 970; Cefu yuangui, juan 978; Cefu yuangui, juan 1000
  4. ^ Mackerras 1972, p. 5
  5. ^ Chavannes 1903, p. 290
  6. ^ a b c d e f Cefu yuangui, juan 970
  7. ^ Chavannes 1904, p. 2
  8. ^ a b c d Cefu yuangui, juan 978
  9. ^ Tang Huiyao (Institutional History of the Tang), juan 94; Zizhi tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance), juan 191
  10. ^ Tongdian, juan 199; Jiu Tangshu (Old Book of Tang), juan 194
  11. ^ a b c Cefu yuangui, juan 974
  12. ^ Chavannes 1904, p. 4
  13. ^ a b c Cefu yuangui, juan 990
  14. ^ a b c Cefu yuangui, juan 995
  15. ^ Cefu yuangui, juan 967; Tongdian, juan 199
  16. ^ Cefu yuangui, juan 974; Cefu yuangui, juan 1000; Jiu Tangshu (Old Book of Tang), juan 194
  17. ^ Chavannes 1904, p. 5

Sources

Literature

  • Édouard Chavannes, Documents sur les Tou-Kiue (Turcs) occidentaux (1903)
  • Édouard Chavannes, Notes additionnelles sur les Tou-kiue (Turcs) occidentaux (1904)
  • Colin Mackerras, The Uighur Empire According to the T'ang Dynastic Histories (1972)

Articles resting on this source 62

Abaoji · Abaoji's campaign to the Orkhon (924) · Anbei Protectorate · Anxi Protectorate · Asena the She-Wolf (Gök Börü) · Baghatur Khan · Banquet of the Wine Fountain (647) · Battle of the Iron Mountain (630) · Bilge Khan · Boma · Border Markets · Capture of Ilig Khan (630) · Dieluozhi · Diqincha · Dubo · Eyang Ridge · Following in Death · Ganzhou Uyghur Kingdom · Göktürk campaign against the Kirghiz (710) · Grape Wine in Central Asia · Heng'an · Iron Mountain · Jade Gate · Kang Sumi · Kirghiz embassy of 648 · Kül Tegin inscription · Kurykan · Kutluk Tegin · Lady Poshi · Murder of Tong Yabgu (630) · Nezak Shahs · Night Attack on Dingxiang (630) · Nishu Bagha Shad · Pei Ju · Princess Anyi · Princess Qianjin · Princess Taihe · Qikou · Que Dadu Shad · Revolt of the Tiele (627) · Rudan Tegin · Shanyu Protectorate · Si Yabgu Khan · Sogdiana · Sogdians · Suni Shi · The Archery Match at the Wu'an Hall (599) · The Caucasus campaign, 627–629 · The Ten Steeds of 647 · Tong Yabgu · Tongdian · Trade Routes of the Steppe · Tuğ · Turk Shahi of Kabul and Kapisa · Turkic Songs at the Tang Court · Tuyuhun Hunye · Uyghur Horse-Silk Trade · Western Göktürk Khaganate · Yabgus of Tokharistan · Yangsu Tegin · Yukuk Shad · Zihe Garrison

Related

What links here30

Persons
Abaoji · Baghatur Khan · Dieluozhi · Diqincha · Kang Sumi · Kutluk Tegin · Lady Poshi · Nishu Bagha Shad · Princess Taihe · Que Dadu Shad · Suni Shi · Tuyuhun Hunye · Yukuk Shad
Battles & Events
Banquet of the Wine Fountain (647) · Battle of the Iron Mountain (630) · Capture of Ilig Khan (630) · Murder of Tong Yabgu (630) · Night Attack on Dingxiang (630) · Revolt of the Tiele (627)
Places
Eyang Ridge · Heng'an · Iron Mountain · Jade Gate · Mount Jiansi Chuzheshi · Qikou · Zihe Garrison
Institutions and Titles
Envoys and Embassies
Religions
Following in Death
Foods
Grape Wine in Central Asia
Sources
Tongdian

Cite this article

Yavuz, Emre-E. “Cefu yuangui.” Turkic Atlas, revised 8 November 2026. https://turkicatlas.org/sources/cefu-yuangui/

Last revised: 8 November 2026