Anthology of Tonyukuk Inscription            

        I am Bilge Tonyukuk and I was born in the State of China. The Turkish nation was subject to China. When the Turkish nation could not find its khan, it got separated from China and attained a khan. It left its Khan and got submissive to China again. The God ordered, I endowed you a Khan; however, you left your khan and surrendered. Since you surrendered, the God had killed you. The Turkish nation died, and it was totally destroyed and it vanished. There has not been any tribe left within the region of Turkish Sir State.

 

        Those who remained among the rocks in the forest collected together and the number of these people was seven hundred. The two sections of these people were cavalrymen, and one section was composed of infantrymen. Their leaders that commanded Seven hundreds of people was Şad. He ordered me to join. I, Bilge Tonyukuk joined them. When Iltiris became the Kagan (Ruler), Bilge Tonyukuk annihilated a lot of Chinese people in the south, Kitay people in the east and Oguz people in the north together with Boyla Baga Tarkan. We dwelled in the northern skirts of Çogay and in Kara Kum.

 

        We would eat deer and rabbits. The people were not hungry. Our enemies were like kilns within our environs and we were fires. While we were living in these conditions, our spy came from Oguz people. The words that the spy declared were as follows: Kagan (ruler) ascended the throne for the domination over Nine Oguz communities. He sent Ku'yu as general to China and Tongra Esim to Kitay State. He also sent some messages to them stating that: A little group of Turkish nation were advancing; their ruler was brave; their counsellor was a wise person; I say that if that person survives, he would kill you, and China. I also say that he will abolish the Kitay State; I also say that he will kill Oguz people and me. China, attack from the southern direction; Kitay, attack from the eastern direction; I shall attack from the northern direction; Let's prevent the advance of the Turkish Sir nation; and if possible, let's annihilate them.

 

        When I heard of this news, I could not sleep at night and I was disturbed all day long. Then, I entered the presence of my ruler. I told him the situation as follows: If China, Oguz and Kitay States collaborated, we will be left alone. We are surrounded by interior and exterior sources. It is easy to pierce the thin sheet of though and it is east to break it into pieces if it is thin. If the plough sheet is thick, it is difficult to pierce it and if it is thin but concentrated, it is also difficult to break it into pieces. I wonder if our three thousands of soldier will arrive for our future when we will have been besieged by the Kitay people in the east, China in the south, and Oguz people in the north. I told him the situation as I stated above. My ruler listened to what I, Bilge Tonyukuk told him in person. He ordered me to manage the situation under my own discretion.

 

        We were composed of two thousands of people. We had two armies. There had not been any people who had reached to the city of Şanturg and the sea since the foundation of the Turkish nation and the enthronement of the Turkish ruler. I informed my ruler about the situation and sent an army. I had them to reach to the city of Şantung and the sea. This army captured twenty-three cities. They would forsake their sleep and stay in the homeland.

 

        The ruler of China was our enemy. The ruler of On Ok (Ten Arrows) was our enemy. The powerful khan of the Khirghiz people who were very crowded became also our enemy, too. These three khans collaborated and resolved, Let's meet in the region over the Golden forest. They had resolved the following plan: Let's send an army against the Turkish ruler in the east. If we did not send an army against him, they - their khan is a hero, and their counsellor is a wise scholar- will kill us under any circumstances no matter what happens. Let's unite together and send an army and totally defeat and annihilate them. Then, Turgis ruler said, My nation is there, he said. Turkish nation is in a civil turmoil again, he said. Oguz people are under difficult conditions, he said.

 

        We advanced at full speed all days and nights. We busted the Khirghiz people in the sleep. We woke them up with spears. Their khan and army got arranged. We fought with them and speared those people. We killed their khan. The Khirghiz tribe gave in and surrendered to the domination of Ka-gan (ruler). We returned and we got wound and tangled around Kogmen forest.

 

        We returned from Khirghiz country. Our spy came from the Turgis ruler. His statements are as follows: Let's send an army against the khan in the east, he said. If we would not do this, they - their khan is a hero, and their counsellor is a wise scholar- will kill us under any circumstances no matter what happens, he said. The Turgis khan had departed, he said. On Ok nation left their country without any absent person, he said. Furthermore, the Chinese army enjoyed them.

 

        Bögü Kagan (Ruler) had sent some news about me. He had sent a confidential message to Apa Tarkan: Bilge Tonyukuk is an evil person, he is envious and he would get astonished. He will order to move the army, do not accept it. When I heard of these statements, I moved the army. We passed through the Golden forest despite the lack of any tracks. We passed over the Irtish River despite the lack of any passage or board. We spent our nights in the course of our advance and we reached to Bolçu in the daybreak.

 

        A messenger was brought. His statements were as follows: One hundred thousands of soldiers are collected in the savanna of Yariş, he said. Upon hearing this news, all of the beys said, Let's return, and it is beneficial to remain clean and well mannered, they said. I say that, I Bilge Tonyukuk say, We passed through the Golden forest, We passed over the Irtish River. Those who came to this place are braves, you did not hear. The God, Holy Umay, the sacred ground and water must have given way. Why are we running away? Why are we afraid of them due to their crowded number? Why will we despise ourselves due to our little number? Let's attack, I said.

 

         Since Iltiriş Ruler was a wise person and a brave leader, he fought against China for seventeen times and against the Kitay State for seven times and against Oguz people for five times. In the course of these wars, I was his counsellor in person, I was also his commander in person. I was the counsellor of Ilteris Ruler, Turk Bogu Ruler and Turk Bilge Ruler. I grew old and became an aged person. What kind of a problem can arouse within any nation with such a ruler, if any? I dictated these statements in the country of Turk Bilge Kağan (Ruler). I am Bilge Tonyukuk.