Chinese sources on early medieval history of Kazakhstan: repertoire and traits of information

Research аrticle

Abstract

For the study of the early medieval history of Kazakhstan, information from Chinese historical and geographical works is of great importance. For some periods, Chinese accounts are the only source of information about events and processes taking place in the steppes. This article examines the repertoire of Chinese writings on the early medieval history of Kazakhstan, which covers the period from the appearance of the Turks on the historical scene, led by the Ashina royal clan, and the proclamation of the First Turkic Khaganate in 552 to the establishment of Mongol rule in Eurasia in the 13th century. Chinese information is of great importance for the reconstruction of the political history of the ancient Turkic states, the study of the power structure in the khaganates, the genealogy of the rulers, the military, political and economic relations of the Turkic states and tribes with neighboring countries, the study of the inner life of the ancient Turkic society, for the study of the social and intellectual history of the ancient Turks, their cultural life, including folk customs, traditions, and religious beliefs. Throughout the history of the Middle Kingdom, since the reign of the Han Dynasty (III BC - III A.D.) up to the collapse of the last Manchu Qing Empire (1911), twenty-four dynastic histories were compiled. In all dynastic histories, at the end of the “Biographies” section, narrations about alien peoples who lived outside the Central State were placed. Narratives about foreign peoples have become important source of information on the ancient inhabitants of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan. The article examines the features of not only dynastic histories, but also other genres of official Chinese historiography, as well as unofficial works containing information about the history of the Turkic states and peoples on the territory of Kazakhstan. The article examines the composition of Chinese sources on the history of early medieval period of Kazakhstan, which expanded significantly during the reign of the Tang Empire (618-907) due to the development of new genres of official historiography, such as chronicles, encyclopedias, surveys, as well as due to appearance of unofficial writings (epitaphs, poetic works, etc.) containing information about the Turkic peoples. The revealed features of Chinese news about the peoples and states on the territory of the Kazakh steppes in the early Middle Ages include factual accuracy and dating. At the same time, the narrative in Chinese sources is biased: events and processes are interpreted within the framework of traditional Chinese political philosophy, which was based on a sinocentric view of the world, in which China occupies a central and leading place, while outside it, the periphery of the universe is populated by the “barbarians”. The relations of the Celestial Empire with foreigners are considered in the sources from the point of view of the concept of the world-building function of the Chinese Emperor - the Son of Heaven, and the civilizational mission of China, designed to subjugate other peoples and bring them into the bosom of Chinese civilization.