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7 The Orkhon Inscriptions: The Early Turks Introduction Inscriptions from the eighth century ad (probably from the 730s), were discovered near Lake Tsaidam, to the west of the river Orkhon in modern-day Mongolia, in 1889 by the Russian explorer N. M. Yadrinstev. The two monoliths, dedicated to the Turkic rulers Kul Tegin and his brother Bilge Qaghan, contain long inscriptions in Old Turkic, carved in runic script, as well as inscriptions in Chinese. Studied first by the Russian-German Turkologist V. V. Radlov, the inscriptions were translated into Danish and French already in the late nineteenth century by the Danish philologist Vilhelm Thomsen (who disagreed with Radlov on some interpretations), and most English speakers since have been familiar with the rendering of the Danish translation into English. The inscriptions, carved apparently by artisans especially brought from China, open with a statement from the patron, and then continue to describe his deeds and relate the history of his forefathers, Bumïn and Istemi, two centuries earlier. Events are recounted in a heroic fashion and relate the glorious deeds of past rulers as well as the circumstances that led to their downfall. The inscriptions not only detail campaigns of conquest and dealings with distant realms, but also serve as a warning of the dangers of not upholding proper governance and the proper veneration of the ancestors. Turkic Peoples of the Steppe A 52 Encounter with the Turks The Kul Tegin Inscription I, the Heaven-like and Heaven-born Turkish Bilge Qaghan, succeeded to the throne at this time. Hear my words from the beginning to the end, first of all you, my younger brothers and my sons, and my folks and relatives, you, shadpit lords to the south, tarkans and buyruq lords to the north, you, Otuz (Tatar?), and you, Toquz-Oghuz lords and people! Hear these words of mine well, and listen hard! Eastwards to the sunrise, southwards to the midday, westwards as far as the sunset, and northwards to the midnight—all the peoples within these boundaries (are subject to me). This many peoples I have organized thoroughly. These peoples are not rebellious now. If the Turkish qaghan rules from the Otukan mountains there will be no trouble in the realm. I went on campaigns eastwards up to the Shantung plain; I almost reached the ocean. I went on campaigns southwards up to Toquz-Arsin; I almost reached Tibet. Westwards I went on campaigns up to the Iron Gate beyond the Pearl River, and northwards I went on campaigns up to the soil of Yir Bayirqu. I have led (the armies) up to all these places. A land better than the Otukan mountains does not exist at all! The place from which the tribes can be (best) controlled is the Otukan mountains. Having stayed in this place, I came to an amicable agreement with the Chinese people. They (i.e., the Chinese people) give (us) gold, silver, and silk in abundance. The words of the Chinese people have always been sweet and the materials of the Chinese people have always been soft. Deceiving by means of (their) sweet words and soft materials, the Chinese are said to cause the remote peoples to come close in this manner. After such a people have settled close to them, (the Chinese) are said to plan their ill will there. (The Chinese) do not let the real wise men and real brave men make progress. If a man commits an error, (the Chinese) do not give shelter to anybody (from his immediate family) to the families of his clan and tribe. Having been taken in by their sweet words and soft materials, you Turkish people were killed in great numbers. O Turkish people, you will die! If you intend to settle at the Choghay mountains and on the Togultun plain in the south, O Turkish people, you will die! . . . If you stay in the land of Otukan, and send caravans from there, you will have no trouble. If you stay at the Otukan mountains, you will live forever dominating the tribes! O Turkish people, you always regard yourselves as satiated! You do not think of being hungry or satiated; if you once become satiated, you do not think of being hungry (again). On account of your being so, you went in (almost) all directions without a asking the advice of your qaghan who had nourished (you). You were completely ruined and destroyed in those places. (Of you), those who survived there, utterly exhausted...

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