396 the turkic tribes
In the 4th month (May/June) of 734, a high Turkish official arrived
at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5029).
In the 1st month (Jan./Feb.) of 735, a Turkish envoy was received
at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5029).
On Jan.21, 735, envoys announced the death of P’i-chia to the
T’ang court. He had been poisoned by a minister but was able to
execute the culprit, his family, and his supporters before he died.
P’i-chia was succeeded by his son the Yi-jan Qaghan. Hsüan-tsung
sent the Director of the Imperial Clan to condole and sacrifice and
to recognize Yi-jan. A stele and a temple were set up in memory of
P’i-chia, and a Member of the Suite for the Diaries of Activity and
Repose in the Office of History was ordered to write the inscription
for the stele (Chiu T’ang shu 194A:16b; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6809; Wen-
hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:11a).
In the 1st month (Jan./Feb.) of 735, a Turkish envoy was received
at the T’ang court (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5029).
In the 2nd month (Mar./Apr.) of 737, Turkish envoys congratulated
and offered regional objects (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5029).
Yi-jan’s death year is not recorded. However, his younger brother,
the Teng-li Qaghan (Tengri), was recognized by the T’ang in 740.
Yi-jan must therefore have died in 739 or 740. Hsüan-tsung sent the
General of the Gilded Mace to recognize Teng-li and to present a letter
stamped with the imperial seal (Chiu T’ang shu 194A:16b, 17a).
In the 3rd month (Mar./Apr.) of 741, envoys from Teng-li offered
regional objects. Soon thereafter, Teng-li was killed by a relative.
Turkish envoys announced his death to the T’ang court on Sep.2,
- The assassin enthroned a son of the P’i-chia Qaghan. The latter
was killed in turn by the sub-chief (yabghu) Ku-to, who enthroned his
younger brother. Ku-to then killed this brother and enthroned himself
(Chiu T’ang shu 9:4a; Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5029; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.6844;
Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:11a).
In 742, Ku-to was defeated by an alliance of Basmil, Uighurs, and
Qarluks, whereupon there ensued chaos. Members of the ruling house
with their followers submitted to China, including a grandson of Mo-
ch’o, a concubine of Yi-jan, and daughters of P’i-chia and Teng-li. On
Oct.12, 742, Hsüan-tsung gave them a banquet (Chiu T’ang shu 194A:
17a;Tzu-chih t’ung-chien pp.6838, 6855; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 343:11a).
In 745, the last nominal ruler of the Eastern Turks, the Po-mei
Qaghan, was killed by the Uighurs, who sent his head to Ch’ang-
an, the Dowager Qatun of P’i-chia surrendered to the Chinese, and