Uwei Chanyu
Encyclopedia
Uwei Chanyu whose full title is unknown, was a Chanyu
of the Xiongnu
Huns, the successor to Ichise Chanyu
(伊稚邪 单于). Uwei Chanyu reigned during the reign of the Han
emperor Wudi Liu Che
武帝 劉徹 (r. 141–87 BC), after Wudi broke the heqin
和親 peace and kinship treaty with the Huns. His reign was marked by relative peace, with intensive diplomatic activities intended to restore the heqin peace and kinship treaty with the Han empaire on the part of the Huns, and to weaken, isolate, and bring Huns to submission on the part of the Han empaire. Neither party succeeded in their main objectives, but Chinese further undermined the Huns' situation by splitting off their Wusun
branch. Uwei Chanyu was a son of Ichise Chanyu, he raised to the throne in an agnatic succession, the Chinese annals did preserve his title before the enthronement.
Shortly before his succession, the Chinese sent Jen Chang as an envoy with an indecent proposal for the Hun Chanyu to submit to the Han Empire, the aggravated Ichise Chanyu detained him, and because the Han empaire had already detained a number of the Hun emissaries, and Huns detained an equal number of the Chinese envoys, the mutual relations were strained. The Chinese Court started again assembling an army and horses, but a commander Huo Qubing
(霍去病) died, and for a long time Chinese Court could not mount a northern campaign against the Huns. Neither the Huns from their side attacked the limits of China, after suffering devastating war losses of 300,000 military and civilian people between 124 and 119 BC.
Two years into Uwei Chanyu reign, the Chinese resumed their harassment, sending in 112 BC He Gun-sun with 15,000 cavalry and Zhao Ponu with 10,000 cavalry, which eneded without any fights.
In 110 BC Wudi assembled in Shuofang
(朔方城) a 180,000 cavalry army, and sent Go Gi to notify Shanuy about that. When Go Gi arrived to the Huns, the Chanyu's master of ceremony asked him about the purpose his arrival. Go Gi with polite evasion said that he wishes to disclose it personally to the Chanyu. Chanyu admitted him. Go Gi told him: “If the Chanyu is in a position to mount a campaign and fight with the Chinese state, the Son of Sky himself, with an army, is waiting for you at the border; and if not in a position, he should turn his face to the south and recognize himself a vassal of the House of Han.” Go Gi just finished his speech as Shanyu beheaded in strong anger the master of ceremony, detained envoy Go Gi, and sent him off to Baikal in exile. In spite of that, Shanyu was not inclined to attack the borders of China, he gave rest to the troops and horses, and went hunting.
Uwei Chanyu sent a few times envoys to the Chinese Court with polite offers about peace and kinship. The Chinese Court sent Wan Wu to spy on the condition of the Huns. The Huns took a custom to allow Chinese envoys into the Shanyu yurt if he would leave his bunchuk (his staff) in front of the door and paint his face with black ink. Wu, a native of the Bei-di province, knew well the customs of the Huns. He left the bunchuk, painted his face, and was received in the yurt. The Khan has grown fond of him. Wu, in tender words, suggested to the Shanuy to send his successor to the Chinese Court as a hostage, and by that to restore the heqin peace and kinship treaty.
But at the same time behind the scene the Chinese Court opened connections with Yuezhi
located in 110 BC in present Uzbekistan and Bactria, occupied Zu-cuan to block the Huns from Qiangs, and married a Chinese Princess for the Usun ruler (in Jeti-su), to separate the allied states in the west from the Huns. The Chinese Court sent Yan-sin to the Huns.
The Chinese state officials believed that the Huns, at their present weakness, can be swayed to submit to China. Yan Sin was a firm, direct person; and because he had a middle rank, Shanuy did not treat him nicely. Chanyu wanted to receive him in the yurt, but Sin did not agree to leave his bunchuk at the door; so Chanyu received him sitting outside of the yurt. Sin, appearing before the Chanyu, told him: “Chanyu, if you wish for peace and kinship, send the successor to the Chinese Court as a hostage”. Shanuy answered “That is contrary to the former (heqin) treaty. Under former treaty the Chinese Court as a token of the peace and kinship normally sent a Princess with silk fabrics, cottons and different provisions, the Huns on their side did not disturb the borders of China; and now you wish that I contrary to the former treaty sent a successor as a hostage”.
The Huns came up with a custom: if a Chinese envoy has no high rank, and is a scholar, interrupt his eloquence; and if he is young, egg his quick temper with caustic remarks. Each embassy sent by the Chinese Court to the Huns, the Huns reciprocated with an embassy. If the Chinese Court detained the Hun envoys, the Huns also detained an equal number of Chinese envoys.
As soon as Sin returned from the Huns, Chinese Court sent Wan Wu again. Chanyu even expressed a desire to go to Chinese Court to be introduced to the Son of Sky, and personally agree to be brothers. After his return, Wu notified the Court, and the Court ordered to build in Chang'an
an estate for the Chanyu.
A Hunnu envoy of noble origin arrived to the Chinese Court, fell ill and died. The Court appointed Lu Chun-go as an envoy to the Huns, gave him a seal with cords, 2,000 salary bags, and assigned to him bring along the deceased and to richly bury him, for which was given a few thousand lans (approx. 80-110 kg) of silver. Chanyu said: “The Chinese Court exterminated our noble envoy. And the ambassador is a Chinese noble.” He detained Lu Chun-go.
In 105 BC Uwei Chanyu died on the 10th year of his reign. His son Ushylu was proclaimed a Shanuy in agnatic succession, and as minor, was named Err Shanuy, possibly there were no elder eligible candidates.
Chanyu
Chanyu , was the title used by the nomadic supreme rulers of Middle and Central Asia for 8 centuries, starting...
of the Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
Huns, the successor to Ichise Chanyu
Ichise Chanyu
Ichise Chanyu , whose full title is unknown, was a Chanyu of the Xiongnu, the successor to Gunchen Chanyu . Ichise Chanyu reigned during the reign of the Han emperor Wudi Liu Che 武帝 劉徹 Ichise Chanyu (aka Yizhixie Chinese: 伊稚邪; r. 126–114 BCE), whose full title is unknown, was a Chanyu of the...
(伊稚邪 单于). Uwei Chanyu reigned during the reign of the Han
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
emperor Wudi Liu Che
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
武帝 劉徹 (r. 141–87 BC), after Wudi broke the heqin
Heqin
Heqin was a term used in ancient China for an alliance by marriage. It usually referred to the Chinese Emperor marrying off a "princess" to an aggressive "barbarian" chieftain or ruler. The theory was that in exchange for the marriage, the chieftain would cease all aggressive actions toward China...
和親 peace and kinship treaty with the Huns. His reign was marked by relative peace, with intensive diplomatic activities intended to restore the heqin peace and kinship treaty with the Han empaire on the part of the Huns, and to weaken, isolate, and bring Huns to submission on the part of the Han empaire. Neither party succeeded in their main objectives, but Chinese further undermined the Huns' situation by splitting off their Wusun
Wusun
The Wūsūn were a nomadic steppe people who, according to the Chinese histories, originally lived in western Gansu in northwest China west of the Yuezhi people...
branch. Uwei Chanyu was a son of Ichise Chanyu, he raised to the throne in an agnatic succession, the Chinese annals did preserve his title before the enthronement.
Shortly before his succession, the Chinese sent Jen Chang as an envoy with an indecent proposal for the Hun Chanyu to submit to the Han Empire, the aggravated Ichise Chanyu detained him, and because the Han empaire had already detained a number of the Hun emissaries, and Huns detained an equal number of the Chinese envoys, the mutual relations were strained. The Chinese Court started again assembling an army and horses, but a commander Huo Qubing
Huo Qubing
Huo Qubing , born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general of the western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu. Being the illegitimate son of Wei Shaoer, he was the nephew of Wei Qing and Empress Wei Zifu....
(霍去病) died, and for a long time Chinese Court could not mount a northern campaign against the Huns. Neither the Huns from their side attacked the limits of China, after suffering devastating war losses of 300,000 military and civilian people between 124 and 119 BC.
Two years into Uwei Chanyu reign, the Chinese resumed their harassment, sending in 112 BC He Gun-sun with 15,000 cavalry and Zhao Ponu with 10,000 cavalry, which eneded without any fights.
In 110 BC Wudi assembled in Shuofang
Shuofang
Shuofang was a fort built in the land of nomadic horse hasbandry tribes at the dawn of the Chinese written history. According to Bamboo Annals, Shuofang was built by the Emperor Di Yi of Shang state on the third year of his reign in 1098 BC in the midst of the Kun Barbarians territory in the...
(朔方城) a 180,000 cavalry army, and sent Go Gi to notify Shanuy about that. When Go Gi arrived to the Huns, the Chanyu's master of ceremony asked him about the purpose his arrival. Go Gi with polite evasion said that he wishes to disclose it personally to the Chanyu. Chanyu admitted him. Go Gi told him: “If the Chanyu is in a position to mount a campaign and fight with the Chinese state, the Son of Sky himself, with an army, is waiting for you at the border; and if not in a position, he should turn his face to the south and recognize himself a vassal of the House of Han.” Go Gi just finished his speech as Shanyu beheaded in strong anger the master of ceremony, detained envoy Go Gi, and sent him off to Baikal in exile. In spite of that, Shanyu was not inclined to attack the borders of China, he gave rest to the troops and horses, and went hunting.
Uwei Chanyu sent a few times envoys to the Chinese Court with polite offers about peace and kinship. The Chinese Court sent Wan Wu to spy on the condition of the Huns. The Huns took a custom to allow Chinese envoys into the Shanyu yurt if he would leave his bunchuk (his staff) in front of the door and paint his face with black ink. Wu, a native of the Bei-di province, knew well the customs of the Huns. He left the bunchuk, painted his face, and was received in the yurt. The Khan has grown fond of him. Wu, in tender words, suggested to the Shanuy to send his successor to the Chinese Court as a hostage, and by that to restore the heqin peace and kinship treaty.
But at the same time behind the scene the Chinese Court opened connections with Yuezhi
Yuezhi
The Yuezhi, or Rouzhi , also known as the Da Yuezhi or Da Rouzhi , were an ancient Central Asian people....
located in 110 BC in present Uzbekistan and Bactria, occupied Zu-cuan to block the Huns from Qiangs, and married a Chinese Princess for the Usun ruler (in Jeti-su), to separate the allied states in the west from the Huns. The Chinese Court sent Yan-sin to the Huns.
The Chinese state officials believed that the Huns, at their present weakness, can be swayed to submit to China. Yan Sin was a firm, direct person; and because he had a middle rank, Shanuy did not treat him nicely. Chanyu wanted to receive him in the yurt, but Sin did not agree to leave his bunchuk at the door; so Chanyu received him sitting outside of the yurt. Sin, appearing before the Chanyu, told him: “Chanyu, if you wish for peace and kinship, send the successor to the Chinese Court as a hostage”. Shanuy answered “That is contrary to the former (heqin) treaty. Under former treaty the Chinese Court as a token of the peace and kinship normally sent a Princess with silk fabrics, cottons and different provisions, the Huns on their side did not disturb the borders of China; and now you wish that I contrary to the former treaty sent a successor as a hostage”.
The Huns came up with a custom: if a Chinese envoy has no high rank, and is a scholar, interrupt his eloquence; and if he is young, egg his quick temper with caustic remarks. Each embassy sent by the Chinese Court to the Huns, the Huns reciprocated with an embassy. If the Chinese Court detained the Hun envoys, the Huns also detained an equal number of Chinese envoys.
As soon as Sin returned from the Huns, Chinese Court sent Wan Wu again. Chanyu even expressed a desire to go to Chinese Court to be introduced to the Son of Sky, and personally agree to be brothers. After his return, Wu notified the Court, and the Court ordered to build in Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
an estate for the Chanyu.
A Hunnu envoy of noble origin arrived to the Chinese Court, fell ill and died. The Court appointed Lu Chun-go as an envoy to the Huns, gave him a seal with cords, 2,000 salary bags, and assigned to him bring along the deceased and to richly bury him, for which was given a few thousand lans (approx. 80-110 kg) of silver. Chanyu said: “The Chinese Court exterminated our noble envoy. And the ambassador is a Chinese noble.” He detained Lu Chun-go.
In 105 BC Uwei Chanyu died on the 10th year of his reign. His son Ushylu was proclaimed a Shanuy in agnatic succession, and as minor, was named Err Shanuy, possibly there were no elder eligible candidates.