Ashina tribe: Difference between revisions
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== Origin == |
== Origin == |
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According to [[Twenty-Four Histories|Xin Tangshu]], the Ashina were related to the northern tribes of the [[Xiongnu]]. As early as the [[7th century]], four theories about their origin were recorded by [[Zhoushu]], [[Suishu]] and [[Youyang Zazu]]: |
According to [[Twenty-Four Histories|Xin Tangshu]], the Ashina were related to the northern tribes of the [[Xiongnu]]. As early as the [[7th century]], four theories about their origin were recorded by [[Zhoushu]], [[Suishu]] and [[Youyang Zazu]]:<ref>Xue, p. 39-42</ref> |
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*Ashina was one of ten sons descended from a [[grey wolf|grey she-wolf]] |
*Ashina was one of ten sons descended from a [[grey wolf|grey she-wolf]].<ref name=zhoushu>''[[Zhoushu]]'', 50[http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/cho5.htm]</ref> |
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*Their ancestor was a man from the Suo nation, north of [[Xiongnu]], whose mother was a [[wolf]], and a season goddess |
*Their ancestor was a man from the Suo nation, north of [[Xiongnu]], whose mother was a [[wolf]], and a season goddess.<ref name=zhoushu/> |
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*The Ashina were half-bloods from the Pingliang prefecture of middle [[Gansu]] |
*The Ashina were half-bloods from the Pingliang prefecture of middle [[Gansu]].<ref>''[[Suishu]]'', 84[http://ef.cdpa.nsysu.edu.tw/ccw/02/swa9.htm]</ref> |
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*The Ashina descended from a skilled [[Archery|archer]] named Shemo, who had once fallen in love with a sea goddess |
*The Ashina descended from a skilled [[Archery|archer]] named Shemo, who had once fallen in love with a sea goddess.<ref>''[[Youyang Zazu]]'', 04[http://www.oa18.com/read/classic/best/xyzz/007.htm]</ref> |
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These stories have parallels with folktales and legends of other Turkic peoples, for instance, the [[Wusun]] and [[Kazakhs]]. |
These stories have parallels with folktales and legends of other Turkic peoples, for instance, the [[Wusun]] and [[Kazakhs]]. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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It should be noted that the name '''Ashina''' had only first appeared in the 6th century under the Chinese accounts, and prior to that no other sources had related their history at all.<ref>Xue, p. 39</ref> However, some scholar conducts that between 265－460 the Ashina were incorporated into several late [[Xiongnu]] confederations. About 460 they were subjugated by the [[Rouran|Juan Juan (Rouran)]], who ousted them from [[Xinjiang]] into the [[Altay Mountains]], where the Ashina gradually emerged as the leaders of the early Turkic confederation, known as the [[Göktürk]]s. By the 550s [[Bumin Khan]] felt strong enough to throw off the yoke of the Juan Juan domination and established the [[Göktürk Empire]], which flourished until the 740s. The [[Orkhon Valley]] was the centre of the Ashina power. |
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After the collapse of the Göktürk empire under pressure from the resurgent [[Uyghur]]s, branches of the Ashina clan moved westward to Europe, where they became the [[kaghan]]s of the [[Khazars]] and possibly other nomadic peoples with Turkic roots. According to Marquart<!--name spelling changed in 1922-->, the Ashina clan constituted a noble caste throughout the [[steppes]]. Similarly, the [[Tatar]] historian [[Zeki Validi Togan]] described them as a "desert aristocracy" that provided rulers for a number of [[Eurasia]]n [[nomadic empire]]s. |
After the collapse of the Göktürk empire under pressure from the resurgent [[Uyghur]]s, branches of the Ashina clan moved westward to Europe, where they became the [[kaghan]]s of the [[Khazars]] and possibly other nomadic peoples with Turkic roots. According to Marquart<!--name spelling changed in 1922-->, the Ashina clan constituted a noble caste throughout the [[steppes]]. Similarly, the [[Tatar]] historian [[Zeki Validi Togan]] described them as a "desert aristocracy" that provided rulers for a number of [[Eurasia]]n [[nomadic empire]]s. |
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Accounts of the Göktürk and [[Khazar]] [[khaganate]]s suggest that the Ashina clan was accorded sacred, perhaps quasi-[[divinity|divine]] status in the [[shaman]]ic religion practiced by the steppe nomads of the first millennium CE. |
Accounts of the Göktürk and [[Khazar]] [[khaganate]]s suggest that the Ashina clan was accorded sacred, perhaps quasi-[[divinity|divine]] status in the [[shaman]]ic religion practiced by the steppe nomads of the first millennium CE. |
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==Notes== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==References== |
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*Zongzheng, Xue (1992). "A History of Turks". Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press. ISBN 7-5004-0432-8. p. 208-213. |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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Revision as of 15:48, 15 May 2007
Ashina (Asen, Asena, etc.) was a tribe and the ruling dynasty of the ancient Turks who rose to prominence in the mid-6th century when their leader, Bumin Khan, revolted against the Juan Juan (Rouran). The two main branches of the family, one descended from Bumin and the other from his brother Istemi, ruled over the eastern and western parts of the Göktürk empire, respectively.
Origin
According to Xin Tangshu, the Ashina were related to the northern tribes of the Xiongnu. As early as the 7th century, four theories about their origin were recorded by Zhoushu, Suishu and Youyang Zazu:[1]
- Ashina was one of ten sons descended from a grey she-wolf.[2]
- Their ancestor was a man from the Suo nation, north of Xiongnu, whose mother was a wolf, and a season goddess.[2]
- The Ashina were half-bloods from the Pingliang prefecture of middle Gansu.[3]
- The Ashina descended from a skilled archer named Shemo, who had once fallen in love with a sea goddess.[4]
These stories have parallels with folktales and legends of other Turkic peoples, for instance, the Wusun and Kazakhs.
History
It should be noted that the name Ashina had only first appeared in the 6th century under the Chinese accounts, and prior to that no other sources had related their history at all.[5] However, some scholar conducts that between 265－460 the Ashina were incorporated into several late Xiongnu confederations. About 460 they were subjugated by the Juan Juan (Rouran), who ousted them from Xinjiang into the Altay Mountains, where the Ashina gradually emerged as the leaders of the early Turkic confederation, known as the Göktürks. By the 550s Bumin Khan felt strong enough to throw off the yoke of the Juan Juan domination and established the Göktürk Empire, which flourished until the 740s. The Orkhon Valley was the centre of the Ashina power.
After the collapse of the Göktürk empire under pressure from the resurgent Uyghurs, branches of the Ashina clan moved westward to Europe, where they became the kaghans of the Khazars and possibly other nomadic peoples with Turkic roots. According to Marquart, the Ashina clan constituted a noble caste throughout the steppes. Similarly, the Tatar historian Zeki Validi Togan described them as a "desert aristocracy" that provided rulers for a number of Eurasian nomadic empires.
Accounts of the Göktürk and Khazar khaganates suggest that the Ashina clan was accorded sacred, perhaps quasi-divine status in the shamanic religion practiced by the steppe nomads of the first millennium CE.
Notes
References
- Zongzheng, Xue (1992). "A History of Turks". Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press. ISBN 7-5004-0432-8. p. 208-213.