Turkic History And Culture Contained In The Kultegin Inscription

More than a century has elapsed since the discovery and deciphering of The Kultegin Inscription. However, its importance in research on Turkic history and culture has never been fully appreciated in China, revelent research is still at a beginning stage. This paper focuses on The Kultegin Inscription and in tandem with Chinese and other historical material, examines Turkic history from 552 to 732. Certain information from the inscription is used to explicate certain cultural content of old Turkic people. Based on my own knowledge of old Turkish, I also advandce views on the meaning and translation of some words and expressions in The Kultegin Inscription.The introduction presents general information on The Kultegin Inscription, its current research status in China and abroad, details the significance of the work, methodology used, and research findings and shortcomings.The first chapter deals with the history of the first Turkic Khanate recorded by The Kultegin Inscription and of the Khanate attached to the Tang Dynasty from 630-680. In the history of the first Turkic Khanate, the significance and origin of the first Khan-"Buman Qaγan" is discussed, while evidence is also provided to verify that the content in lines 1 to 7 describes respectively the deeds of various khan. In the history of the Khanate attached to the Tang Dyasty, the term "Tabyac" recorded on the inscription is discussed along with military campaigns carried out for the Tang Dynasty, unrest intended to overthrow the Tang regime, and so on.In the second chapter, following records on The Kultegin Inscription, I investigate the history of the second Turkic Khanate, to which the inscription designates the largest amount of historical information. This chapter examines the first three khans of the second Turkic Khanate Ilteris Qayan,Bogu-cur Qayan,Bilge Qayan, as well as the deeds of the main character of the inscription-Kultegin. I also advance my own views on certain events recorded in Chinese historical documents that seem at variance with the inscription, for instance, discrapencies concerning the succession of Bogu-cur Qayan.The third chapter focuses on the Turkic numeral system, "Tangri" worship, and east direction system among other Turkic cultural elements contained in The Kultegin Inscription.The conclusion succinctly details characteristics of the paper, new findings, exising problems, the reasons for such deficiencies and future research prospects on ancient Turkic inscriptions.