Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals
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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
12-14
DOI
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
12 February 2025
ACCEPTED
09 March 2025
PUBLISHED
08 April 2025
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue04 2025
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
Relations Between the
Western Turkic Khaganate
And Tibet From History
Mukhamedov Yakubdjan Kadirovich
Doctor of philosophy in history (PhD), senior teacher National university
of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan
Abstract:
This article examines the relationship
between the Western Turkic Khaganate and Tibet based
on archaeological and written sources. In covering this
issue, the information provided by foreign and Uzbek
scholars on their scientific research is scientifically
analyzed and covered.
Keywords:
Turkish, yabg ' u, Tibet, Lhasa, diplomacy,
Tang, sui-shu, tan - shu, Kashgar, Hutan, Eastern
Turkestan, Seven Rivers, Ashina, China, Fergana, Tegin,
Teginshakhs. Turgash, Uyghurs.
Introduction:
The political relations it maintained with
major powers such as China, Iran, Byzantium, and Tibet
played a significant role in the Western Turkic
Khaganate's rise to power in the Eurasian region. In this
regard, researching the relations between the Western
Turkic Khaganate and Tibet is one of the most pressing
issues today.
The earliest information about Tibet is partially
preserved in Chinese chronicles, Tibetan inscriptions,
Arabic, Persian, and Turkish written sources. The
Chinese
chronicles
(Sui-shu,
Tan-shu)
contain
information about Tibet's geographical location, nature,
climate, mountains, border regions, ruling dynasties,
and political relations with neighboring regions. A
distinctive feature of these sources is that they describe
the relations between the Khaganate and the Tibetan
Empire in the period from the second half of the 7th
century to the second quarter of the 8th century. They
can be included in the sources devoted to political
events that took place on both sides of the Khaganate,
related to the struggle for the border regions between
the Turkic Khaganate in East Turkestan and Tibet and
China.
its geographical location, the territory of the Western
Turkic Khaganate of Tibet is considered one of the
territories where political relations were established
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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals
with the rulers of Kashgar and Khotan in East
Turkestan. However, the issue of mutual relations
between the Western Turkic Khaganate and Tibet has
not been studied separately. In studying the topic,
foreign scholars, researchers, and researchers have
partially provided information about the Turks. In
particular, foreign scholars E. Shavann, K. Bekvis, A.
Rona Tas, E. Aydin, Ajar Volkan, P. Golden, B. Dotson,
Russian scholars VV Bartold, LN Gumilev, SG
Klyashtorny, NI Bichurin, AG Malyavkin, and Uzbek
scholars G. Boboyorov, F. Dzhumaniyozova have
discussed this in detail.
G. Boboyorov, based on written sources and the works
of foreign scholars, discusses his views on the
establishment of mutual alliances between Fergana
and Tibet, which were part of the Western Turkic
Khaganate [1], while F. Dzhumaniyozova presents her
scientific observations on Tibet's relations with the
neighboring Kabul Teginshahs, India, and China, based
on information from Chinese sources and partly from
Arabic sources [2].
The foreign scholar on Tibet, K. Beckvis, based on
information from Chinese and Tibetan sources,
presented his own scientific views on the economic
and political relations between the Turkic Khaganate
and Tibet [3]. The works of the Hungarian scholar G.
Uray contain information about the alliance between
the Western Turkic Khaganate and Tibet [4].
In the early Middle Ages, Tibet's transformation into a
large political entity was greatly influenced by
neighboring regions, such as the Turkic Khaganate, the
Chinese dynasties (Sui, Tang), the Turgash Khaganate
(699-766), and the Uyghur Khaganate (745-840) [5].
It is known that the Tibetans have had close neighborly
relations with the Turks since ancient times. In
particular, in “Hudud ul ʿAlam” it is stated that the
country of Khalluq is located in the northern part of
Tibet. In Idrisi’s “Nuzhat al
-
mushtak” it is mentioned
that to the south of the Kimaks there are Tokuzaguz, to
the southwest of it after Tibet there are Karluks, to the
west there are Khalajs, and to the east there is an
ocean [6].
Fergana, which was part of the Western Turkic
Khaganate, and Tibet began to anger neighboring
China, the growing issue of the Turgash also put the
Fergana people in a difficult situation. To overcome
this difficult situation, they chose to reach an
agreement with the Tibetans.
Tibetan rulers are known to have used the Ashina tribe
to establish their power in the western regions.[7] In
his struggle against the Chinese, Ashina Tuji, who
declared himself the "Khagan of the Ten Arrows",
began to organize attacks on the Chinese military
department of An-si.[8] The Tibetans supported the
Turks' struggle against China.
When information about the relations between the
Turkic Khaganate and Tibet is presented, the Western
Turkic Khaganate is given under the name “ Durgu Yol” .
It is clear that this term refers to the entire land of the
Turks. L. Petch, who conducted research on Tibetan
sources, analyzed the events of the 7th century and
concluded that “Durgu Yol” was Fergana, and that
Ashina Tuyszi, who fought against the Chinese , was the
same person mentioned in Tibetan sources as Ton ya-
bgo khagan (Tun yabgu-khagan), who expressed his
gratitude to the Tibetan ruler in the winters of 694
–
695
and 699
–
700, and was sent to Drugu Yol in 700.
According to a number of researchers, Ashina Tuyszi -
Tun yabgu-khagan ruled Fergana for a short time
starting from 700 [9]. Based on the analysis of the above
information, it can be concluded that Ton Yabgu-Khakan
appears in Tibetan sources under the name Ashina
Tuyszi.
It is recorded that Tun-yabgu Khagan seized control of
Fergana and fought against the Chinese, using the help
of Tibetans in this struggle. On this issue, G. Boboyorov,
based on Tibetan sources and Chinese chronicles, stated
that Tun-yabgu Khagan seized control of Fergana for a
certain period of time and conducted military
operations against China in agreement with the
Tibetans [10]. Tun-yabgu Khagan, with the support of
Tibet, led the operations aimed at capturing the "Four
Garrisons" belonging to China in East Turkestan and the
Seven Seas [11].
In Tibet's foreign policy, it fought with the Tang Dynasty
for territories in eastern China. The rapprochement
between the Tibetans and the Turks was due to the
Tibetans falling under Chinese influence.
The Tibetans gradually conquered Khotan and then the
regions around the Tarim River, establishing a large
state. Lhasa was chosen as the capital. As a result, Tibet
expanded to include the Pamir Mountains, the Tarim
Oasis, the Chinese provinces of Gansu and Yunnan in the
east, and the Bengal and Himalayas in the south.[12]
As a result of the agreement between the Western
Turkic Khaganate and Tibet, an alliance was formed to
fight against the Turgesh Khaganate, which was growing
stronger at the same time, and the Chinese. Not only
Fergana, but also Tokharistan established relations with
Tibet. In particular, in 704, Tokharistan received help
from the Tibetans in the fight against the Arab
Caliphate. Tibetans and Turks conducted joint military
operations against the Arabs [13]. R. Gibb's work also
contains information about the struggle of the "Turk-
Khaital" Tibetans who fought against the Arabs [14].
In the early Middle Ages, the Western Turkic Khaganate
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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fundamentals
played a significant role in the international trade
relations between Tibet and China. In particular, the
routes from Uzgen to East Turkestan through the
mountain passes in the Tien Shan were effectively
used. During this period, the route from Uzgen to the
Arpa Valley, the valleys of the Karakayin, Atbash and
Naryn rivers was a 6-day journey from the city of
Atbash to the Fergana Valley. Along this route,
merchants covered the same distance from Atbash to
Tibet [15].
Tibetans were no less active in international trade than
other peoples. In particular, the author of the work
"Tarihi Rashidi" provides interesting information about
how in the Middle Ages Tibetan nomads (who were
called janpas) carried special bags of goods on the
shoulders of sheep and transported goods to China and
India.[16]
In general, it is also known that the Western Turkic
Khaganate was sometimes friendly or hostile towards
Tibet. Since the territory of Tibet consists mainly of
mountains, it contributed to the formation of a unique
ethno-culture of the region. It can be concluded that
the establishment of mutual relations between the
Western Turkic Khaganate and Tibet was beneficial for
both countries.
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