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Tang dynasty in Inner Asia

June 02, 2023

The Tang dynasty in Inner Asia was the expansion of the Tang dynasty's realm in Inner Asia in the 7th and, to a lesser degree, the 8th century AD, in the Tarim Basin, Gobi Desert and Central Asia. Wars were fought against the Gokturk Empires and Xueyantuo, but also against many states of central Asia. This expansion was not steady; for example, the Tang did lose control of the Tarim basin temporarily to the Tibetans in the 680s, and their expansion north of the Gobi was thwarted in 682. Emperor Taizong's military success was, in part, a consequence of changes he initiated in the Chinese army, including improved weaponry. The emperor placed a new emphasis on cavalry, which was very important because his non-Han opponents used the horse effectively in warfare.[1]

Map of the six major protectorates during Tang dynasty. The Protectorates are marked as Anxi, Anbei, Andong.

History

 
Mural commemorating victory of General Zhang Yichao over the Tibetan Empire in 848. Mogao cave 156, late Tang dynasty

Tang expansion

The Tang dynasty was one of the Golden Ages of Chinese history. Coming out of the devastation of the late Sui dynasty, Tang emperors were eager to expand their territories by conquering the Gokturks. As a result, Tang forces mounted several campaigns against the Gokturks in order to subjugate them and consolidated Tang rule in the process. Controlling the Tarim Basin, which contained key trade routes, was also a secondary objective.

Tang conquest of the Eastern Gokturks

Main article: Emperor Taizong's campaign against Eastern Tujue

The Eastern Gokturks were the primary threat to the Tang dynasty.[2] Following Liang Shidu's defeat and death, the Tang dynasty prepared to march against the Eastern Gokturks.[3] In 630, the Tang army marched against the Gokturks and defeated them in Southern Mongolia, sending them to flight.[4] However, the real victory came when Li Jin, regarded as one of the best generals in Chinese history, surprised the Eastern Gokturk Khan with a fast force of 3,000 Cavalry at the battle of Ying shan, which also involved a rear guard of over 100,000 Tang troops.[4] This battle destroyed the Gokturk army, resulting in the capture of the Khan and over 120,000 Gokturks.[3] Thus ended the Eastern Gokturk Empire. Emperor Taizong of Tang took up the title of Tian Kehan, or "Heavenly Khan" of the Gokturks.[4]

Tang conquest of Xueyantuo

Main article: Emperor Taizong's campaign against Xueyantuo

Xueyantuo had helped Tang armies defeat the Eastern Gokturks, but after the demise of the Eastern Gokturks, Xueyantuo-Tang relations turned hostile because Xueyantuo kept on making attacks on Gokturks who were now Tang subjects.[5]

In 642, Taizong sent an army to attack Xueyantuo and destroyed it.[3][5]

Tang Conquest of the Western Gokturks

Main article: Conquest of the Western Turks

The Western Gokturks were not an initial threat to the Tang, so initially relations were peaceful.[6] However, Civil war and dispute in the Western Gokturks gave the Tang the opportunity to expand into Central Asia.[6] From 642 to 645, the Tang army defeated the Western Gokturks and drove them out of Dzungaria.[6]

In 657, the Tang defeated the last Western Gokturk Khan and took over all Western Gokturk territory.[6]

Second Göktürk Khaganate

In what has been described as "a response to a surge of something like national sentiment",[7] the Eastern Türkish Kaghanate was restored in 682 by Elterish (a.k.a. Qutlugh).[8] In the Orkhon inscriptions, Elterish's son describes the modest beginnings of Elterish's struggle against the Tang thus:

My father the kaghan set out with seventeen men, and as the word spread that he had set out and was advancing, those who were in the towns went up into the mountains and those who were in the mountains came down, they gathered, and there were seventy-seven men. Because heaven gave them strength, the army of my father was like wolves and his enemies were like sheep. [...] When they were seven hundred, in accordance with the institutions of my ancestors my father organized those who had been deprived of their state, those who had been deprived of their kaghan, who had become slaves and servants, who had lost their Türk institutions"[9]

The new Kaghanate was centered on the upper Orkhon river and in the Ötükän, presumably the Khangai mountains. After decades of war and border raids with the Tang, peace was made in 721–22.[10] The second Gokturk Khanate remained a tributary and vassal of the Tang dynasty. It then survived until the 740s, when it fell due to internal conflicts and was succeeded by the Uighur Kaghanate[11]

Battle of Talas River

Main article: Battle of Talas

The Battle of Talas was a military engagement between the Arab Abbasid Caliphate along with their ally the Tibetan Empire against the Tang dynasty, governed at the time by Emperor Xuanzong. In July 751 AD, Tang and Abbasid forces met in the valley of the Talas River to vie for control of the Syr Darya region of central Asia. After a stalemate in several days of combat, the Tang lost the battle because the Karluks defected from the Tang side to the Abbasid side. The defeat marked the end of Tang westward territorial expansion, resulting in Muslim control of Transoxiana for the next four hundred years.

Retrenchment of Tang influence post-763

In 755, the Tang dynasty was subject to the devastating Anshi Rebellion and lost much influence in Inner Asia, which came to be dominated by the Uyghurs. Tang influence and rule over the northwestern regions, however, continued until the dynasty's fall in 907, at which time these areas were taken over by the Tanguts, who later established the Western Xia dynasty in 1038.[12]

Tang-Uyghur relations

Although they now controlled most of the Mongolian Plateau, the Uyghur Khans still maintained relatively cordial relations with the Tang dynasty, accepting many titles from the Tang emperors. in 788, the Uyghur Khan pleaded the Tang emperor to change the title of the Uyghurs from Huihe (回紇) to Huihu (回鶻).[12]

Fall of the Uyghur Khanate

 
Armoured Turkic horseman with shield and lance

By the mid-800's, the power of the Uyghur Khanate was on the wane. Attacked on all sides, the Uyghurs retreated to the Xinjiang area and their Khanate collapsed, to be replaced by other peoples[12]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Latourette, Kenneth Scott. (1965). The Chinese: Their History and Culture, p. 144.
  2. ^ Li Bo; Zheng Yin. 5000 Years of Chinese History. pp. 764–765.
  3. ^ a b c Li Bo; Zheng Yin. 5000 Years of Chinese History. p. 766.
  4. ^ a b c Li Bo; Zheng Yin. 5000 Years of Chinese History. p. 765.
  5. ^ a b Bo Yang. Outlines of the History of the Chinese. Vol. 2. p. 512.
  6. ^ a b c d Li Bo; Zheng Yin. 5000 Years of Chinese History. p. 767.
  7. ^ Grousset, René. (1970). The Empire of the Steppes, p. 103.
  8. ^ Sinor, Denis. (1990). Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia, p. 310.
  9. ^ Sinor, p. 311.
  10. ^ Grousset, p. 112.
  11. ^ Sinor, p. 313.
  12. ^ a b c Li; Zheng. 5000 Years of Chinese History. p. 768.

Sources

June 02, 2023
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The Tang dynasty in Inner Asia was the expansion of the Tang dynasty s realm in Inner Asia in the 7th and to a lesser degree the 8th century AD in the Tarim Basin Gobi Desert and Central Asia Wars were fought against the Gokturk Empires and Xueyantuo but also against many states of central Asia This expansion was not steady for example the Tang did lose control of the Tarim basin temporarily to the Tibetans in the 680s and their expansion north of the Gobi was thwarted in 682 Emperor Taizong s military success was in part a consequence of changes he initiated in the Chinese army including improved weaponry The emperor placed a new emphasis on cavalry which was very important because his non Han opponents used the horse effectively in warfare 1 Map of the six major protectorates during Tang dynasty The Protectorates are marked as Anxi Anbei Andong Contents 1 History 1 1 Tang expansion 1 1 1 Tang conquest of the Eastern Gokturks 1 1 2 Tang conquest of Xueyantuo 1 1 3 Tang Conquest of the Western Gokturks 1 1 4 Second Gokturk Khaganate 1 2 Battle of Talas River 1 3 Retrenchment of Tang influence post 763 1 3 1 Tang Uyghur relations 1 3 2 Fall of the Uyghur Khanate 2 See also 3 References 3 1 Citations 3 2 SourcesHistory Edit Emperor Taizong s campaigns in the Tarim Basin Mural commemorating victory of General Zhang Yichao over the Tibetan Empire in 848 Mogao cave 156 late Tang dynasty Tang expansion Edit The Tang dynasty was one of the Golden Ages of Chinese history Coming out of the devastation of the late Sui dynasty Tang emperors were eager to expand their territories by conquering the Gokturks As a result Tang forces mounted several campaigns against the Gokturks in order to subjugate them and consolidated Tang rule in the process Controlling the Tarim Basin which contained key trade routes was also a secondary objective Tang conquest of the Eastern Gokturks Edit Main article Emperor Taizong s campaign against Eastern Tujue The Eastern Gokturks were the primary threat to the Tang dynasty 2 Following Liang Shidu s defeat and death the Tang dynasty prepared to march against the Eastern Gokturks 3 In 630 the Tang army marched against the Gokturks and defeated them in Southern Mongolia sending them to flight 4 However the real victory came when Li Jin regarded as one of the best generals in Chinese history surprised the Eastern Gokturk Khan with a fast force of 3 000 Cavalry at the battle of Ying shan which also involved a rear guard of over 100 000 Tang troops 4 This battle destroyed the Gokturk army resulting in the capture of the Khan and over 120 000 Gokturks 3 Thus ended the Eastern Gokturk Empire Emperor Taizong of Tang took up the title of Tian Kehan or Heavenly Khan of the Gokturks 4 Tang conquest of Xueyantuo Edit Main article Emperor Taizong s campaign against Xueyantuo Xueyantuo had helped Tang armies defeat the Eastern Gokturks but after the demise of the Eastern Gokturks Xueyantuo Tang relations turned hostile because Xueyantuo kept on making attacks on Gokturks who were now Tang subjects 5 In 642 Taizong sent an army to attack Xueyantuo and destroyed it 3 5 Tang Conquest of the Western Gokturks Edit Main article Conquest of the Western Turks The Western Gokturks were not an initial threat to the Tang so initially relations were peaceful 6 However Civil war and dispute in the Western Gokturks gave the Tang the opportunity to expand into Central Asia 6 From 642 to 645 the Tang army defeated the Western Gokturks and drove them out of Dzungaria 6 In 657 the Tang defeated the last Western Gokturk Khan and took over all Western Gokturk territory 6 Second Gokturk Khaganate EditIn what has been described as a response to a surge of something like national sentiment 7 the Eastern Turkish Kaghanate was restored in 682 by Elterish a k a Qutlugh 8 In the Orkhon inscriptions Elterish s son describes the modest beginnings of Elterish s struggle against the Tang thus My father the kaghan set out with seventeen men and as the word spread that he had set out and was advancing those who were in the towns went up into the mountains and those who were in the mountains came down they gathered and there were seventy seven men Because heaven gave them strength the army of my father was like wolves and his enemies were like sheep When they were seven hundred in accordance with the institutions of my ancestors my father organized those who had been deprived of their state those who had been deprived of their kaghan who had become slaves and servants who had lost their Turk institutions 9 The new Kaghanate was centered on the upper Orkhon river and in the Otukan presumably the Khangai mountains After decades of war and border raids with the Tang peace was made in 721 22 10 The second Gokturk Khanate remained a tributary and vassal of the Tang dynasty It then survived until the 740s when it fell due to internal conflicts and was succeeded by the Uighur Kaghanate 11 Battle of Talas River Edit Main article Battle of Talas The Battle of Talas was a military engagement between the Arab Abbasid Caliphate along with their ally the Tibetan Empire against the Tang dynasty governed at the time by Emperor Xuanzong In July 751 AD Tang and Abbasid forces met in the valley of the Talas River to vie for control of the Syr Darya region of central Asia After a stalemate in several days of combat the Tang lost the battle because the Karluks defected from the Tang side to the Abbasid side The defeat marked the end of Tang westward territorial expansion resulting in Muslim control of Transoxiana for the next four hundred years Retrenchment of Tang influence post 763 Edit In 755 the Tang dynasty was subject to the devastating Anshi Rebellion and lost much influence in Inner Asia which came to be dominated by the Uyghurs Tang influence and rule over the northwestern regions however continued until the dynasty s fall in 907 at which time these areas were taken over by the Tanguts who later established the Western Xia dynasty in 1038 12 Tang Uyghur relations Edit Although they now controlled most of the Mongolian Plateau the Uyghur Khans still maintained relatively cordial relations with the Tang dynasty accepting many titles from the Tang emperors in 788 the Uyghur Khan pleaded the Tang emperor to change the title of the Uyghurs from Huihe 回紇 to Huihu 回鶻 12 Fall of the Uyghur Khanate Edit Armoured Turkic horseman with shield and lance By the mid 800 s the power of the Uyghur Khanate was on the wane Attacked on all sides the Uyghurs retreated to the Xinjiang area and their Khanate collapsed to be replaced by other peoples 12 See also EditHorses in East Asian warfare Military history of China pre 1911 Protectorate General to Pacify the West Protectorate General to Pacify the North Protectorate General to Pacify the East Sino Tibetan relations during the Tang dynasty Yuan dynasty in Inner Asia Qing dynasty in Inner AsiaReferences EditCitations Edit Latourette Kenneth Scott 1965 The Chinese Their History and Culture p 144 Li Bo Zheng Yin 5000 Years of Chinese History pp 764 765 a b c Li Bo Zheng Yin 5000 Years of Chinese History p 766 a b c Li Bo Zheng Yin 5000 Years of Chinese History p 765 a b Bo Yang Outlines of the History of the Chinese Vol 2 p 512 a b c d Li Bo Zheng Yin 5000 Years of Chinese History p 767 Grousset Rene 1970 The Empire of the Steppes p 103 Sinor Denis 1990 Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia p 310 Sinor p 311 Grousset p 112 Sinor p 313 a b c Li Zheng 5000 Years of Chinese History p 768 Sources Edit Fairbank John King Franke Herbert Twitchett Denis 1994 The Cambridge History of China Vol 6 Alien Regimes and Border States 907 1368 Cambridge England Cambridge University Press OCLC 186526593 Latourette Kenneth Scott 1934 The Chinese Their History and Culture New York NY Macmillan OCLC 220885107 The Chinese and their History and Culture Grousset Rene 1970 The Empire of the Steppes New Brunswick Rutgers University Press ISBN 978 0 8135 1304 1 OCLC 90972 in French 1939 L empire des steppes Attila Gengis Khan Tamerlan Paris Editions Payot OCLC 220712631 Sinor Denis 1990 The establishment and dissolution of the Turk empire pp 285 316 in The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia Cambridge England Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 24304 9 OCLC 18070387 in Chinese Li Bo 李波 Zheng Yin 郑颖 5000 years of Chinese history 中华五千年 Inner Mongolian People s Publishing Corp 内蒙古人民出版社 ISBN 7 204 04420 7 2001 http book jqcq com product 30157 html in Chinese Bo Yang 柏扬 Outlines of the History of the Chinese 中国人史纲 下 vol 2 The Time Literature amp Art Press 时代文艺出版社 ISBN 7 5387 0042 0 Dec 1987 Marc Samuel Abramson Ethnic identity in Tang China 2007 ISBN 978 0 8122 4052 8 Book of Tang http www njmuseum com rbbook gb 25 xingtanshu xts htm Zizhi Tongjian http www guoxue com shibu zztj zztjml htm This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Mongolia Country Studies Federal Research Division Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tang dynasty in Inner Asia amp oldid 1150582513, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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