Xueyantuo (???) or Syr-Tardush were an ancient Tiele people and khanate in central/northern Asia who were at one point vassals of Tujue, who later aligned with China's Tang Dynasty against Eastern Tujue. After Eastern Tujue's Jiali Khan Ashina Duobi was defeated by Tang in 630, Xueyantuo effectively took over control of Eastern Tujue's former territory, at times submissive to Tang and at times warring with Tang and the subsequent khan of Eastern Tujue that Tang supported, the Qilibi Khan Ashina Simo. Eventually, in 646, the Duomi Khan, Bazhuo, was killed by the Huihe and a Tang army led by the general Li Daozong the Prince of Jiangxia crushed Xueyantuo forces. The last khan, the Yitewushi Khan Duomozhi, surrendered. The Huihe took over former Xueyantuo territory.[1] For a (disputed) relationship with the later Shatuo Turks, see Shatuo.
The surname of Xueyantuo's khans are uncertain, although modern Chinese historian Bo Yang listed their surname as "Yishi" in his edition (also known as the Bo Yang Edition) of the Zizhi Tongjian, but Bo cited no source for his use of Yishi as a surname.[2] It is possible that Bo was influenced by the Tongdian which asserted the Xueyantuo surname as Yilitu (???, Yiliduo ??? as in Cefu Yuangui and Yilidie ??? as in New Book of Tang) or certain studies that was made. According to Cen Zhongmian the forementioned name are related to the variant of elteris.[3] Duan Lianqin asserted that the name Yishibo (Yiedie Khan) can also be read interchangeable as Yedie (??).[4] The Zizhi Tongjian, in the original, referred to one ethnic Xueyantuo general named Duomo, possibly the Yitewushi Khan (after he became a Tang general) by the family name of Xue[5] -- although the Tang Huiyao indicated that it was not the same person, as it indicated that the Yitewushi Khan died during Emperor Taizong's reign.[6] The Tang Huiyao also asserted that the rulers of Xueyantuo claimed to be originally named Xue, and that the name of the tribe was changed to Xueyantuo after the Xue defeated and merged the Yantuo into their tribe.[6]
Notes and references
Bo Yang. Modern Chinese Edition of Zizhi Tongjian (Vol. 45). Taipei: Yuan-Liou Publishing Co. Ltd ISBN 957-32-0868-7.
Duan Lianqin (1988a). Xueyantuo During the Period of Sui and Tang. Xi'an: Sanqin Press. ISBN 7-80546-024-8.
Duan Lianqin (1988b). Dingling, Gaoju and Tiele. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Press. ISBN 7-208-00110-3.
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