Cited by 109Eurasian Exchange NetworksChinese history and philosophyIndian and Buddhist Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; none of the 211 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Documents sur les Tou-Kiue (turcs) occidentaux

Open access
Chavannes, Edouard, .·2006·Classiques des sciences sociales

Abstract

Une bibliothèque numérique unique et originale dans le monde francophone en sciences sociales et humaines, développée en collaboration avec l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, fondée et dirigée par Jean-Marie Tremblay, bénévole, professeur de sociologie au département des sciences humaines du Cégep de Chicoutimi.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from a shortened version of the paper’s full text (it is longer than we read).

TL;DR

This is a source-based historical reconstruction of the Western Turks (Tou-kiue occidentaux) from the mid-sixth to mid-eighth centuries, built from Chinese dynastic histories, geographic chapters, diplomatic documents, and pilgrim accounts. It argues that the Western Turks were a loose confederation rather than a centralized state, and that their independent power was destroyed by China in 657–659 before being replaced by the Turgäch and later the Karluks.

Key findings

  • The Western Turks traced their line to Istämi, while the Eastern Turks descended from Boumin/Tou-men; the definitive split followed Ta-lo-pien’s conflict with Cha-po-lio and his flight to Ta-t’eou, with Chinese intrigue from 581 and Ta-lo-pien’s capture in 587.
  • The Western Turks were organized as ten tribes or “arrows”: five Tulu (left) east of Sujab/Tokmak and five Nu-shipi (right) west of it; they remained a federation with recurring internal rivalry rather than a unified kingdom.
  • Under Tong Che-hou, Western Turk power reached Persia and Kapiça and was said to have several hundred thousand archers; later Ho-lou controlled the ten tribes, but Chinese forces defeated him in 657 and captured him in 658, after which his territory was divided into the protectorates of Koen-ling and Mong-tch’e and numerous administrative units.
  • After the Chinese conquest, the Turgäch leader Ou-tche-le established twenty commanders each over 7,000 soldiers; Sou-lou later had 200,000–300,000 people, allied with Tibet and the Northern Turks, and was killed in 738. The Karluks replaced Western Turk power, occupying Tokmak and Talas around 766.

Methods

  • A philological and historical source compilation: the author translates and comments on Chinese dynastic histories (Soei chou, Kieou T’ang chou, T’ang chou), geographic chapters, the Tch’e fou yuen koei, and accounts by Buddhist pilgrims such as Hiuen-tsang and Ou-k’ong.
  • The study reconstructs genealogies and chronology of Western Turk rulers and reconstructs two main routes from Turfan to Tokmak/Aulie-ata using T’ang geographic texts, modern European maps, and travel reports.
  • It cross-checks Chinese materials against Turkish inscriptions, Byzantine and Arabic notices, and other secondary scholarship; no quantitative sample or statistical analysis is used.

Limitations

  • The paper repeatedly states that the sources are insufficient: it says it cannot follow the later struggles of the “yellow” and “black” tribes to the end, and many geographic identifications remain uncertain or undetermined.
  • The author notes chronological conflicts and textual errors, such as disagreements over Tong Che-hou’s death date, Ni-li’s death, and several names or readings that require correction; the addenda and corrigenda explicitly revise earlier claims.
  • Evident from the text: the reconstruction depends heavily on Chinese official historiography and later encyclopedic compilations, with limited independent archaeological or non-Chinese documentation, so some conclusions rest on contested readings and inference.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1522/24885129

Cites

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

0 of 211 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

Show all 166 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 191
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 87
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 6
237 of 237
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Chinese historical texts used are reliable enough to support the historical reconstruction.

    “D'après le Kieou T'ang chou (chap. V, p. 6, v°), P'ei Hing-kien revint le neuvième mois de l'année 679 avec A-che-na Tou-tche et Li Tche-fou qu'il amenait captifs.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The civil war between Ali and Muawiya from 657 to 661 interrupted the progress of the Arab conquest.

    “La guerre civile entre Ali et Mouawia, de 657 à 661, avait”
    “rrompu les progrès de la conquête arabe ; les armées des caliphes ne”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Arab armies resumed a resolutely aggressive attitude in Central Asia only when Qotaiba's campaigns began in 705.

    “reprirent une attitude résolument agressive dans l'Asie centrale que lorsque”
    “commencèrent en 705 les campagnes du célèbre général Qotaïba ben Moslim ;”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    From 661 to 705, the principalities of Sogdiana and south of the Oxus enjoyed relative tranquility and did not have to ask China for help.

    “de 661 à 705, les principautés de la Sogdiane et du sud de l'Oxus jouirent donc”
    “d'une tranquillité relative et n'eurent pas à réclamer le secours de la Chine.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Empress Wu's reign from 684 to 705 was too occupied with maintaining her usurped authority to pay much attention to foreign policy.

    “D'autre part, en Chine même, c'est de 684 à 705 que régna l'impératrice Ou, et”
    “cette femme ambitieuse et cruelle fut trop occupée à maintenir par de”
    “sanglantes intrigues son autorité usurpée pour pouvoir prêter beaucoup”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The Tibetans occupied Kashgaria from 670 to 692 and thereby cut all Chinese routes to the west through the Pamirs.

    “Enfin, il faut se rappeler que, de 670 à 692,”
    “les Tibétains occupaient la Kachgarie et coupaient ainsi aux Chinois toutes les”
    “routes qui mènent en Occident à travers les Pamirs.”
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Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • A marriage is dated after the groom's death

    Minor

    The addendum dates Sou-lou's marriage to 742, but the paper says he was killed in 738. Elsewhere it dates the marriage to 722.

  • The Ta-ye period is assigned incompatible dates

    Minor

    One passage dates the Ta-ye period to 705-716, while another dates its first year to 605. Both cannot describe the same period.

  • An eighth regnal year falls outside its stated period

    Minor

    The addendum calls 770 the eighth year of K'ai-yuen, although the paper dates that period to 713-741.

  • Two kagans' identifying numbers are reversed

    Minor

    The chronological summary assigns [18] to Che-koei and [25] to Tou-lou. Elsewhere the paper identifies Tou-lou as [18] and I-p'i che-koei as [25].

4 of 4

Citations

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Metadata

Authors
Chavannes, E., & .
Venue
Classiques des sciences sociales
Published
2006
OpenAlex
W2495844055
Cited by
109
References
0
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 37 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 2
FWCI
1.21
Type
book
Language
fr
Open access
Locations
Classiques des sciences sociales. (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Eurasian Exchange Networks
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Chinese history and philosophy
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Indian and Buddhist Studies
Keywords
Tang dynasty, Western Turkic Khaganate

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