The Orkhon Inscriptions: Examining Turk Attitudes Towards Chinese in 8th Century
Abstract
The Orkhon Inscriptions provide a captivating insight into the relationship between the Turks of the Second Turkic Khaganate and the Chinese following increased interaction between the two states. In particular, the Orkhon Inscriptions record the complex attitude of the Khagan towards Chinese influences. This paper therefore aims to explore instances and reasons for the Turk Khagan’s acceptation or rejection of Chinese commodities, regime, and people in the Turk setting of Chinese gift giving, Chinese subjugation of Turks, and Chinese officials and artists. The author concludes that the Khagan’s attitude towards features of the Chinese are largely dependent on their political and social effects, with those that pose harm to his authority and military power of the Khaganate rejected, and those that consolidate the elite’s power accepted.
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