Ulaanbaatar
The 1300-year-old Stele of Tonyukuk the Wise
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A
memorial complex consisting of the stele of Tonyukuk the Wise, who served as an
advisor to three successive khans of the Turkic Khaganate, and a place of
sacrifice is located northwest of Bayantsogt Mountain in Erdene soum, Tuv
aimag, and 66 km southeast of Ulaanbaatar city. The complex is put under
special protection.
Alongside
two inscriptions, there is an engraved stone platform, a kurgan stelae with its
top part broken, small standing stones, pottery, bricks, and an irrigation
system located at the site.
Due to
being worn down by years of exposure to the wind and sun as well as damages,
some parts are noticeably darker. There are 62-rowed inscriptions on 8 sides of
the two monuments. For instance, while the 217-cm-tall first inscription
monument has 37 rows of inscription, the second one that stands 243 cm tall has
rows 38 to 62.
With the
inscription saying, “But should a people, ruled by a kagan in any land
whatever, have only worthless men [at its head]
what misfortune would it not be for it. For the Turkish Bilge kagan’s
people, I have had this written. I the wise Tonyukuk,” it proves that the
inscriptions were made when he was still alive. Researchers have also found
that the inscription tells about the social situation of that time from
Tonyukuk’s viewpoint.
Born of
the Ashina noble family from which most powerful aristocrats and noblemen of
the Turkic Khaganate were originated, Tonyukuk the Wise lived between the years
of 646 to 732. After serving as an advisor for Qapaghan Khan and Kutulug Khan,
he continued to work under Bilge Khan until his death at the age of 86. The
Turkic Khaganate (or the Gokturk Khaganate) was a ruling Empire in Central Asia
in 552-745.
Researchers
have been conducting studies on the stele of Tonyukuk since 1897. It is
believed that the monument was erected between 720 and 734.
In the
framework of a TIKA project on the protection and restoration of Turkic
monuments in Mongolia, fences have been constructed for the 1300-year-old
stele’s complex, providing protection.
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