A Han Heqin bride by unknown artist
A summary of the rise and fall of the Indo-European Wusun:
As Han Emperor Wu's offensive campaign against the Xiongnu began to falter (and eventually fail), he sought out the Wusun as allies. The Wusun were said to be the strongest nation in the Western Regions. Though the Xiongnu were overall more formidable, the Han believed that with Han and Wusun combined they could finally defeat the Huns. Han repeatedly offered financial incentives to purchase the Wusun's influence, "Emperor Wu then ordered Qian to take on an envoy mission to Wusun, bringing with him much gold and money." (116 BCE, Book of Han Volume 96 Number 66 Part B).
Emperor Wu also offered a Han princess to the Wusun khan/kunmo as a 'heqin' marriage alliance. And when the Wusun envoys visited the Han kingdom, they were swayed by the wealth and appearance, "The envoy learned that Han was a populous and prosperous Kingdom, upon his return he reported what he saw, ever since Wusun began to place emphasis on Han." (116 BCE, Book of Han Volume 96 Number 66 Part B).
In 108 BCE the Wusun king/kunmo agreed to diplomatic marriage with Han, and the following year a Han princess arrived. A few years later the Wusun king asked this Han princess to marry his grandson, essentially transferring their marriage to his descendant as was custom. The Han princess originally refused and petitioned the Han Emperor, but he replied: "Please abide by the custom of the State; I intend to ally with Wusun to annihilate the Hu (Xiongnu)". (101 BCE, Book of Han Volume 96 Number 66 Part B).
In 71 BCE the Wusun and Han attacked the Xiongnu because they observed the Xiongnu farming at Jushi in alliance with the people of Jushi (in the Tarim Basin): "The Han court rallied 150,000 cavalrymen led by five generals to take different routes to march forth. The Kunmi personally led 50,000 mounted men under the Marquises Xi to attack the Xiongnu forces from the west. The army penetrated the court of Right (You) Luli King and captured the father generation of the Chanyu, the sisters-in-law, the wives of the Xiongnu leaders, petty kings, Liwu Commanders, 1,000 men regiment officers, and cavalrymen numbering over 40,000 people. 700,000 heads of horses, cattle, goats, donkeys, and camels were also captured. It was the 3rd year of Benshi (71 BCE)." (71 BCE, Book of Han Volume 96 Number 66 Part B).
A few years later the Wusun submitted completely to the Han Dynasty, promising to make the Han prince the heir of Wusun: "I intend to make Han's grandson, Yuanguimi, my heir. It is hoped that he could marry a Han Princess to strengthen our tie. We intend to sever the connection with Xiongnu entirely. We will present 1,000 heads of horses and 1,000 heads of donkeys as dowry". (64 BCE, Book of Han Volume 96 Number 66 Part B).
In 53 BCE the female attendant, Feng Liao, of the Han princess reorganized the Wusun state. She split it into two, with the minor state led by the Wusun king's son (Wujiuchu) by a Xiongnu woman and the major state led by the Wusun king's son (Yuanguimi) by Han princess Jieyou. Han oversaw both states: "Lady Feng Installs Major and Minor Kunmi (53 BCE): The Princess of Chu had a personal woman attendant, Feng Liao, who could read and write. The Regional Protectorate Governor, Zheng Ji, sent Lady Feng to see Wujiuchu and relate to him that the approaching Han forces would have him annihilated easily, and he should consider surrendering. Wujiuchu was terrified and pleaded, "I merely wish to retain a minor Kunmi title". In the city, the Lady designated Yuangimi as the Major Da-Kunmi of Wusun, and Wujiuchu was made Minor Xiao-Kunmi of Wusun." (53 BCE, Book of Han Volume 96 Number 66 Part B).
According to ancient Chinese historians, the Xiongnu Chanyu had saved the Wusun prince Liejiaomi, employed him as a Xiongnu general, and helped revive his nation in the 2nd C. BCE. Whereas the Huns had helped the Wusun reach the climax of their power by teaching them the Hun's art of war and giving them the technologically superior Hunnic bow that allowed the Wusun to take their revenge on the Yuezhi and reclaim their home, the Han had left the Wusun split into two kingdoms of "Major and Minor Kunmi" and trapped in an eternal civil war until they largely vanished from the history books. Han had manipulated the Wusun into a state of ruin: "Later at the time of the regnal years of Yuanshi (1-5 CE), Beiyuanzhi killed Wuriling (the Wusun noble who killed Cilimi) and surrendered to Han and was enfeoffed as Marquis Guiyi (Return to Righteousness). At this stage, both states had become weak and enfeebled. Beiyuanzhi repeatedly attacked the Major and Minor Kunmi. The Western Regional Protectorate Governor, Sun Jiang, attacked Beiyuanzhi and killed him. Ever since the Kingdom was divided into two states of Major Kunmi and Minor Kunmi the Han court had to resort to intermittent pacification and suppression; there was hardly a year of peace." (1-5 CE, Book of Han Volume 96 Number 66 Part B).
-The Hanshu (Book of Han) Xiyu Zhuan Volume 96 Number 66 Part B. Translation and notes by Joseph P. Yap: The Western Regions, Xiongnu, and Han.
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| A Han Heqin bride by unknown artist. Special Exhibit: Xiongnu, Henan Provincial Museum, Zhengzhou. Image credit: Gary Todd's flickr. |
Source:
Quote:
The Hanshu (Book of Han) Xiyu Zhuan Volume 96 Number 66 Part B. Translation and notes by Joseph P. Yap: The Western Regions, Xiongnu, and Han
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