Orhun Inscriptions

Orhun Inscriptions, which are the first Turkish writing that we know of, were in fact monuments erected to Bilge (716-734) snf Kul-Tigin (685-731), the sons of Kutlugh Ilteris Kaghan (661/2-690/1) of the second Eastern Gokturk Kaghans. There is also an inscription to Tonyukuk, the vizier of these two sons.

"When the blue sky was made above and the dark earth below, man was set between them. Over man sat Bunun Kaghan and Istemi Kaghan my ancestors, and gave shape to the Turkish people's homeland and their way. On all sides there were enemies; he sent the army against them and subjected the people on all sides. Those with the heads bowed their heads, those with the knees knelt down to him. Thus it was as far as the Kadirkan Forest on the east, and the Iron Gate on the west. Between them dwelt the Gok Turks, poorly organized. There was a wise, bold kaghan. Of course his command was wise and bold. His chieftains and his people were right thus had he maintained the homeland. He had maintained the homeland given the people a way. Then he died. Mourners came from the place of the dawn, the people of Bokli Desert, of China, Tibet, Avars, Byzantium, Khirgiz, the Three Kurikans, the Thirty Tartars, Cathay and Tatabi; all these peoples came to weep and mourn, such was this kaghan's fame.

Then of course his younger brother became kaghan and his sons of course became kaghans. But the younger brother must not have been made like the older brother, the son must not have been made like the father. An unwise kaghan ruled, a bad kaghan ruled, and of course his command was bad, it was unwise. Because his chieftains and his people lost their harmony, because the Chinese were treacherous and false and deceiving, because they set brother against brother, and because chieftain and people were at strife: the Turkish people lost the control of their homeland, the kaghan has lost the kaghan he had made.The sons that should have been the chieftains became the slaves, the girls that should have been ladies became concubines to the Chinese. The Turkish Chieftains left off the name of the Turk, the Chinese chieftains took up the name Chinese and bowed to the Chinese kaghan.For fifty years he strove. On the east he sent an army as as the Bokli Kaghan, and on the west as far as the Iron Gate. He took the homeland and the way for the Chinese Kaghan."

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