buddhism in the west uyghur kingdom and beyond 237
confederation.224 Taking into consideration the importance of genealogies
and tribal origins among Turkic speaking peoples of Modern Central Asia—
for instance in Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan—it is likely that the Uyghurs still
had a good knowledge about their tribal affiliations even after they became
sedentary.
2.6.1 The Religious and Political Sphere
In the colophon to the confession text cited above,225 the division of the world
into two spheres is mentioned. Already in Manichaean texts we find a similar
expression that points to the concept of two systems, which is known from
Tibetan and Mongol sources: “[.. .] may inwardly religion and outwardly the
realm prosper and thrive.”226 In the trilingual inscription (Chinese, Sogdian,
Old Turkic) from Karabalgasun (OU Ordo Balık), this terminology is found in
the Sogdian part, but in reverse order: “outwardly with respect to the realm,
inwardly with respect to religion.”227
As we have already observed, in Buddhist texts the same expression is
applied in the context of the protective deities. We may cite another example:
By virtue of this puṇya may their heavenly powers2 and their parivāra-
crowds increase and grow, and may they protect and guard inwardly the
dharma and śāsana and outwardly the realm2.228
The terms dharma (OU nom) and ‘teaching, (Buddhist) religion’ (Skt. śāsana
>> OU šazin) pertain to the religious sphere whereas ‘realm’ (OU el) and ‘land’
(OU uluš) belong to the sphere of political power.229 In the Uyghur version
224 See Hamilton, James Russell, “Toquz-Oγuz et On-Uyγur,” Journal Asiatique 250 (1962):
23–64.
225 See page 234. Cf. the reference in footnote 215.
226 [.. .] ištin nom tašt(ı)n el keŋin alkıgın turzun. Cf. Le Coq, A[lbert] von, Türkische Manichaica
aus Chotscho. III. Nebst einem christlichen Bruchstück aus Bulayïq (Berlin: Verlag der
Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1922), no. 27 (/v/16/). More Manichaean attestations of this
concept are cited in Zieme, Religion und Gesellschaft, 70 (footnotes 367 and 368) and 71.
227 “[.. .] all’esterno rispetto al regno e all’interno rispetto alla religione”, fragments 1–7, line 16,
trans. in Provasi, Elio, “La versione sogdiana dell’iscrizione trilingue di Karabalgasun,” in Il
Manicheismo, Volume 1: Mani e il Manicheismo, ed. Gherardo Gnoli ([Milano]: Mondadori,
2003), 241.
228 OU bo buyan ädgü kılınč küčintä [tä]ŋridäm küčläri küsünläri parivar kuvragları asılıp
üstälip ičtin sıŋar nomug šazinıg: taštın sıŋar elig ulušug [küy]ü küzädü tutmakları bolzun.
Cf. Kasai, Kolophone, 224 (text no. 122.7–9).
229 Further attestations of the two complementary concepts are cited in Zieme, Religion und
Gesellschaft, 69 (footnote 362).