Chanyu

Chanyu (simplified Chinese: 单于; traditional Chinese: 單于; pinyin: Chányú) or Shanyu (Chinese: 善于), short for Chengli Gutu Chanyu (Chinese: 撐犁孤塗單于; pinyin: Chēnglí Gūtu Chányú), was the title used by the supreme rulers of Inner Asian nomads for eight centuries until superseded by the title "Khagan" in 402 CE.^[1] The title was most famously used by the ruling Luandi clan of the Xiongnu during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE) and Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). It was later also used infrequently by the Chinese as a reference to Tujue leaders.

Xiongnu

Etymology

 

"Chanyu from Heaven" Tiles, Inner Mongolia Museum

According to the Book of Han, "the Xiongnu called the Heaven (天) 'Chēnglí' (撐犁) and they called a child (子) gūtú (孤塗). As for Chányú (單于), it is a "vast [and] great appearance" (廣大之貌)."^[2].

L. Rogers and Edwin G. Pulleyblank argue that the title chanyu may be equivalent to the later attested title tarkhan, suggesting that the Chinese pronunciation was originally dān-ĥwāĥ, an approximation for *darxan.^[3] Linguist Alexander Vovin tentatively proposes a Yeniseian etymology for 撐犁孤塗單于, in Old Chinese pronunciation *treng-ri k^wa-la dar-ɢ^wā, from four roots: **tɨŋgɨr- "high",^[4][5] *k^wala- "son, child", *tɨl "lower reaches of the Yenisei" or "north", and *qʌ̄j ~ *χʌ̄j "prince"; as a whole "Son of Heaven, Ruler of the North".^[6][7]

List of Xiongnu Chanyus

Title	Reconstructed Han period's late Old Chinese and Later Han Chinese pronunciations^[8]	Personal Name	Reign
Touman (頭曼單于/头曼单于)	*do-mɑnᴬ		220–209 BC
Modun Chanyu (冒頓單于/冒顿单于)	*mouᴴ-tuən/mək-tuən < *mûh-tûn/mə̂k-tûn^[a]		209–174 BC
Laoshang Chanyu (老上單于/老上单于)	*lou^B-dźaŋ^C	Jiyu (稽鬻)	174–161 BC
Junchen Chanyu (軍臣單于/军臣单于)	*kun-gin		161–126 BC
Yizhixie Chanyu (伊稚斜單于/伊稚斜单于)	*ʔi-ḍiᴴ-ja		126–114 BC
Wuwei Chanyu (烏維/乌维)	*ʔɑ-wi		114–105 BC
Er Chanyu (兒^[b]單于/儿单于)	*ńe	Wushilu (烏師廬/乌师庐)	105–102/101 BC
Xulihu Chanyu (呴犛湖/呴犁湖) / Goulihu (句犁湖)	*hɨo-li-gɑ / *ko-li-ga		102/101–101/100 BC
Qiedihou (且鞮侯)^[c]	*tsiɑ-te-go		101/100–96 BC
Hulugu Chanyu (狐鹿姑單于/狐鹿姑单于)	*ɣuɑ-lok-kɑ		96–85 BC
Huyandi Chanyu (壺衍鞮單于/壺衍鞮单于)	*ɣɑ-jan^B/H-te		85–68 BC
Xulüquanqu Chanyu (虛閭權渠單于/虚闾权渠单于)	*hɨɑ-liɑ-gyan-gɨɑ		68–60 BC
Woyanqudi Chanyu (握衍朐鞮單于/握衍朐鞮单于)	*ʔɔk-jan^B/H-hɨo-te	Tuqitang (屠耆堂/ 屠耆堂)	60–58 BC
Huhanye Chanyu (呼韓邪單于/呼韩邪单于)	*hɑ-gɑn-ja	Jihoushan^[10]^: 59 ( 稽侯狦)	58 – 31 BC Tuqi 屠耆單于, 58–56 BC Hujie 呼揭單于, 57 BC Juli 車犂單于, 57–56 BC Wuji 烏籍單于, 57 BC Runzhen 閏振單于, 56–54 BC Zhizhi Chanyu 郅支單于, 55 – 36 BC Yilimu 伊利目單于, 49 BC
Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu^[10]^: 86 (復株纍若鞮^[d]單于/复株累若鞮单于)	*ńak-te	Diaotaomogao (彫陶莫皋/雕陶莫皋)^[10]^: 86	31–20 BC
Souxie Chanyu^[10]^: 86 (搜諧若鞮單于/搜谐若鞮单于)	*so-gɛi / *ṣu-gɛi	Jumixu^[10]^: 86 (且麋胥)	20–12 BC
Juya Chanyu^[10]^: 87 (車牙若鞮單于/车牙若鞮单于)	*kɨɑ-ŋa	Jumoju^[10]^: 87 (且莫車/攣鞮且莫車)	12–8 BC
Wuzhuliu Chanyu^[10]^: p. 87 (烏珠留若鞮單于/乌珠留若鞮单于)	*ʔɑ-tśo-liu	Nangzhiyasi/Zhi ^[12]^[page needed] (囊知牙斯)	8 BC – 13 AD
Wulei Chanyu^[10]^: 105–107 (烏累若鞮單于/乌累若鞮单于)	*ʔɑ-lui	Xian (鹹/挛鞮咸)	13–18 AD
Huduershidaogao Chanyu^[10]^: 108–109 (呼都而屍道皋若鞮單于/呼都而尸道皋若鞮单于)	*hɑ-tɑ-ńɨ-śi-dou^H-kou	Yu (輿/挛鞮舆)	18–46 AD
Wudadihou (烏達鞮侯/乌达鞮侯)^[12]^: 878	*ʔɑ-dɑt-te-ɡo		46 AD

Notes

1. a.k.a. Batur < Baγatur ^[9]
2. "underage"^[10]
3. a.k.a. Chedihou
4. 若鞮 (pinyin ruòdī), glossed as "respectful to parents;^[10]: 107 filial piety"^[11] in Hànshū; Pulleyblank reconstructs 若鞮's Early Middle Chinese pronunciation as *njak-tei & instead compares this to Tocharian A ñäkci or Toch. B ñäkc(i)ye "godly, heavenly"

Northern Xiongnu (北匈奴)

Chinese name	Reign	Note
Punu Chanyu (蒲奴)	46–? AD
Youliu^[12]^[page needed] (優留)	?–87 AD
Northern Chanyu (北單于)	88–? AD
Yuchujian^[12]^[page needed] (於除鞬單于)	91–93 AD
Feng-hou (逢侯)	94–118 AD

Southern Xiongnu (南匈奴)

Chinese name	Data	Personal Name	Reign
Sutuhu/Bi (蘇屠胡/比) Huhanxie the Second (呼韓邪第二) Xiluo Shizhu Ti (醯落尸逐鞮)	brought the southern Xiongnu into tributary relations with Han China in AD 50		48–56/55 AD
Qiufu Youti/Mo (丘浮尤提)			55/56–56/57 AD
Yifa Yulüti/Han (伊伐於慮提)			56/57–59 AD
Xitong Shizhu Houti/Shi (醯僮尸逐侯提)			59–63 AD
Qiuchu Julinti/Su 丘除車林提			63 AD
Huxie Shizhu Houti/Chang (湖邪尸逐侯提)			63–85 AD
Yitu Yulüti/Xuan (伊屠於閭提/宣)			85–88 AD
Tuntuhe^[12]^[page needed] Shulan^[10]^: 130–134 Xiulan Shizhu Houti (休蘭尸逐侯提)			88–93 AD
Anguo^[12]^[page needed] (安國)	started a large scale rebellion against the Han		93–94 AD
Shizi^[12]^[page needed] (師子) Tingdu Shizhu Houti (亭獨尸逐侯提)			94–98 AD
Wanshishizhudi/Tan (萬氏尸逐侯提/檀)	opposed by... ...Feng Shanyu		98-124AD 98–118 AD
Wujihoushizhudi/Ba (烏稽尸逐侯提/拔)	???		124–127/128 AD
Xiuli (休利) Qute Ruoshi Zhujiu (去特若尸逐就)^[12]^[page needed]	committed suicide under Chinese pressure		127/128–140/142?
Cheniu^[12]^[page needed]	Popularly elected		140–143 AD
Toulouchu (兜樓儲)^[10]^: 144 Hulan Ruoshi Zhujiu(呼蘭若尸逐就)	appointed puppet at the Chinese court		143–147 AD
Jucheer (居車兒)^[12]^[page needed] Yiling Ruoshi Zhujiu (伊陵若尸逐就)	puppet Chinese appointee that escaped Chinese control; incarcerated by Chinese in 158 AD		147–158 AD (d. 172 AD)
Tute Ruoshi Zhujiu (屠特若尸逐就)^[10]^: 145 (True name unknown; the Chinese moniker has negative connotation; confirmed by Chinese Court as Chanyu in 172 AD)</ref>			158–178 AD
Huzheng^[10]^: 145 (呼徵)			178–179 AD
Qiangqu (羌渠)	Jiangqu;^[12]^[page needed] killed in Xiuchuge Xiongnu rebellion		179–188 AD
Yufuluo (於扶羅)	a.k.a. Tezhi Shizhuhou (特至尸逐侯)^[citation needed]. Homeless puppet Chanyu, overthrown in the Ordos by the unnamed Chanyu of Xiluo 醯落 and Tuge 屠各. Led dozens of refugee Xiongnu tribes to Pingyang (平阳) in Shanxi.		188–195 AD
Huchuquan (呼廚泉)	Yufuluo's brother,^[12]^[page needed] he ruled over the Pingyang Xiongnu after Yufuluo died.		195–?

Da Chanyu (大單于)

Chinese name	Data	Personal Name	Reign
Liu Bao (劉豹)	Yufuluo's son. He changed the Chanyu clan name from Luanti to Liu, the surname of Han emperors. He bore the title 匈奴單于 but ruled only over the West partition in Jiuyuan (九原) of the Pingyang Xiongnu newly partitioned into North, South, left (West), right (East), and Centre by Cao Cao		216–260AD
劉(刘)去卑 Liú Qùbēi	Huchuquan's son. Cao Cao ordered him to rule over the north partition of Pingyang Xiongnu as Tiefu Right Virtuous King (鐵弗 右贤王).		260–272
劉誥升爰 Liú Gàoshēngyuán	Son of 劉(刘)去卑 Liú Qùbēi. Bore the title 鐵弗 右贤王		272–309
Liu Yuan (劉淵)	Han Zhao state, a.k.a. Emperor Guangwen (光文). Son of Liu Bao (劉豹). Bore the title Xiongnu 匈奴單于 of tribe Yuanhai, so Chinese annals use Yuanhai as his surname ^[13]		309–310
Liu He, ch. 劉和 py. liú hé	Han Zhao state, personal name Xuantai 玄泰		7 days in 310
Liu Cong, ch. 劉聰 py. liú cōng	Han Zhao state, a.k.a. Emperor Zhaowu, ch. 昭武, personal name Xuanmen 玄門, nickname Zai 載		310–318
Liu Can, ch. 劉粲 py. liú càn	Han Zhao state, a.k.a. Emperor Yin, ch. 隱, personal name Shiguang 士光		a month and days in 318
Liu Yao ch. Liu Yao 劉曜 py. liú yaò	Han Zhao state, a.k.a. Emperor Hou Zhu 後主, personal name Yongming 永明		318–329
Liu Xi ch. Liu Xi 劉熙	Last ruler of Han Zhao; statutory Chanyu, probably never raised to the throne		329
Liu Hu 劉虎	Liu Qubei's grandson. He was not allowed to call himself Chanyu		329–341
劉務恒 Liú Wùhéng	???		341–356
劉閼陋頭 Liú èlòutóu	???		356–358
劉悉勿祈 Liú Xīwùqí	???		358–359
劉衛辰 Liú Wèichén	Posthumously named "Emperor Huan"		359–391
劉勃勃 Liú Bóbó	a.k.a. Wulie (武烈 Wǔliè) established Xiongnu Xia 407 and in 413 reverted surname to 赫連 Hèlián		391–425
赫連昌 Hèlián Chāng	???		425–428
赫連定 Hèlián Dìng	Last native ruler of Xiongnu in China		428–431

Chanyu family trees

Chanyu Xiongnu rulers family trees

Southern Xiongnu 南匈奴 Northern Xiongnu 北匈奴 Touman 头曼单于 r.220–209BC Modu Chanyu 冒顿单于 r.209–174BC Laoshang 老上单于 r.174–161BC Junchen 军臣单于 r.161-126BC daughter Wife of Zhao Xin 赵信 Yizhixie 伊稚斜单于 r.126-114BC 涉安侯 於單 Wuwei Chanyu 烏維单于 r.114-105BC Xulihu 呴犁湖单于 r.102/101– 101/100 BC Qiedihou 且鞮侯 r.101-96/99?BC Er 儿单于 r.104-102/101BC Hulugu 狐鹿姑单于 r.96-85BC daughter Wife of Li Ling 李陵 d.74 BC 左大将 左大都尉 右谷蠡王 Huyandi 壺衍鞮单于 r.85-68BC 左谷蠡王 Xulüquanqu 虚闾权渠单于 r.68-60BC daughter Wife of Li Guangli 李廣利 d.88BC daughter Wife of 乌禅幕 Cheli 車犂單于 r.57-56BC 先贤掸 Zhizhi 郅支单于 r.56-36BC Huhanye 呼韩邪单于 r.58-31BC 右谷蠡王 驹于利受 Fuzhulei Ruoti 搜谐若鞮单于 r.31–20BC Souxie 搜谐若鞮单于 r.20-12BC Juya 车牙若鞮单于 r.12-8BC 右贤王 卢浑 Wuzhuliu 乌珠留若鞮单于 r.8-13AD 右贤王 铢娄渠堂 右谷蠡王 伊屠智牙师 Wulei 乌累若鞮单于 r.13-18AD 左贤王 乐 Huduershidaogao 呼都而尸道皋若鞮單于 r.18-46AD 醯諧屠奴侯 须卜居次 云 须卜单于 当 r.18-21AD 当于居次 左祝都韩王 朐留斯侯 右於塗仇撣王 乌夷当 左日逐王 都 右大且 方 左於駼仇掸王 稽留昆 斩将王 Shun 顺单于 登 r.11–12 Shun 顺单于 助 r.11 角 Wudadihou 乌达鞮侯 r.46 Punu Chanyu 蒲奴 r.46-? Sutuhu/Huhanxie 呼韓邪 r.48-56/55 右股奴王 乌鞮牙斯 Qiufu Youti 丘浮尤提 r.55/56-56/57 Yifa Yulüti 伊伐於慮提 r.56/57-59 Xitong Shizhu Houti 醢僮尸逐侯提 r.59–63 Huxie Shizhu Houti 湖邪尸逐侯提 r.63–85 Tuntuhe/ Siuan 休兰尸逐侯鞮单于 r.88–93 Qiuchu Julinti 丘除车林鞮单于 r.63 Yitu Yulüti 伊屠於閭鞮單于 r.85–88 Anguo 安国 r.93–94 Shizi 尸逐 r.94–98' Wanshishizhudi 萬氏尸逐侯提 r.98–124 Wujihoushizhudi 烏稽尸逐侯提 r.124–128 Xiuli 去特若尸逐就 r.127/128– 140/142? 左贤王 Feng-hou 逢侯 r.94–118 □ □ □ □ Tuqi Chanyu 屠耆單于 r.58–56BC Yilimu Chanyu 伊利目單于 r.49BC Runzhen Chanyu 閏振單于 r.56-54BC Huyan Qudi 握衍朐鞮單于 r.60-58BC Shengzhi 胜之 You Xian wáng 右贤王 都涂吾西 姑瞀楼头 Aojian wang 奥鞬王 □ Northern Chanyu 北單于 r.89–91AD? Youliu 優留 r.?–87 AD Yuchujian 於除鞬單于 r.91–93AD Jucheer 伊陵尸逐就單于 r.147-158/172; d.172 Tute Ruoshi Zhujiu 屠特若尸逐就單于 r.158/172–178AD Huzheng 呼徵 r.178–179 ? Qiangqu 羌渠 r.179–188CE Liu Qubei 劉去卑 Panliuxi 潘六奚 Chizhi Shizhu Hou 持至尸逐侯单于 b.150–d.196; r.188–195 Huchuquan 呼厨泉 r.195–216 ? Tiefu/Xia state Liu Bao 刘豹 Liu Qubei 劉去卑 d.272 Tiefu chieftain r.260–272 Han Zhao state Liu Yuan 劉淵 d.310 Guangwen of Han (Zhao) 漢(趙)光文帝 r.304–310 Tiefu/Xia state rulers family tree Han Zhao rulers family tree

See also

• Shan Yu
• Mulan
• Khan

References

1. Taskin V.S. "Materials on history of Dunhu group nomadic tribes", Moscow, 1984, p. 305,306, (Таскин В.С. "Mатериалы по истории древних кочевых народов группы Дунху") (in Russian)
2. Book of Han, Vol. 94-I, 匈奴謂天為「撐犁」，謂子為「孤塗」，單于者，廣大之貌也.
3. Universität Bonn. Seminar für Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft Zentralasiens: Zentralasiatische Studien, Vol. 24–26, p.21
4. Georg, Stefan (2001): Türkisch/Mongolisch tengri "Himmel/Gott" und seine Herkunft. Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia 6: 83–100.
5. Starostin, Sergei A., and Merritt Ruhlen. (1994). Proto-Yeniseian Reconstructions, with Extra-Yeniseian Comparisons. In M. Ruhlen, On the Origin of Languages: Studies in Linguistic Taxonomy. Stanford: Stanford University Press. pp. 70–92. [Partial translation of Starostin 1982, with additional comparisons by Ruhlen.]
6. "Once again on the Etymology of the title qaɣan", in Studia Etyologica Crocoviensia, (2007) vol. 12, p. 177-185
7. "Did the Xiongnu speak a Yeniseian language? Part 2: Vocabulary", in Altaica Budapestinensia MMII, Proceedings of the 45th Permanent International Altaistic Conference, Budapest, June 23–28, pp. 389–394.
8. Schuessler, Axel (2014). "Phonological Notes on Hàn Period Transcriptions of Foreign Names and Words". Studies in Chinese and Sino-Tibetan Linguistics: Dialect, Phonology, Transcription and Text. Language and Linguistics Monograph Series. Taipei, Taiwan: Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica (53).
9. Hirth F. Sinologische Beitrage zur Geschichte der Turk-Volker. Die Ahnentafel Attila's nach Johannes von Thurocz. Bull. Imp. Acad, series V, vol. XIII, 1900, No 2, pp. 221–261.
10. Bichurin N.Ya. (1851). Collection of information on peoples in Central Asia in ancient times". Vol. 1. p. 46
11. Pulleyblank, E. G. "Chinese and Indo-Europeans." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, no. 1/2 (1966): 9–39. www.jstor.org/stable/25202896.
12. R. de Crespigny, "Northern Frontier: the policies and strategy of the Later Han empire", Australian National University Faculty of Asian Studies Monographs, New Series No.4, Canberra 1984, . Archived from the original on 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
13. [1] 2011-11-30 at the Wayback Machine note 208

Further reading

• Yap, Joseph P. (2019). The Western Regions, Xiongnu and Han, from the Shiji, Hanshu and Hou Hanshu. ISBN 978-1792829154.