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Chanyu (simplified Chinese: 单于; traditional Chinese: 單于; pinyin: Chányú) or Shanyu (Chinese: 善于), short for Chengli Gutu Chanyu (Chinese: 撐犁孤塗單于; pinyin: Chēnglí Gūtu Chányú), was the title used by the supreme rulers of Inner Asian nomads for eight centuries until superseded by the title "Khagan" in 402 CE.^[3] The title was most famously used by the ruling Luandi clan of the Xiongnu during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE) and Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). It was later also used infrequently by the Chinese as a reference to Tujue leaders.

Etymology

According to the Book of Han, "the Xiongnu called the Heaven (天) 'Chēnglí' (撐犁) and they called a child (子) gūtú (孤塗). As for Chányú (單于), it is a "vast [and] great appearance" (廣大之貌).".^[4]

L. Rogers and Edwin G. Pulleyblank argue that the title chanyu may be equivalent to the later attested title tarkhan, suggesting that the Chinese pronunciation was originally dān-ĥwāĥ, an approximation for *darxan.^[5] Linguist Alexander Vovin tentatively proposes a Yeniseian etymology for 撐犁孤塗單于, in Old Chinese pronunciation *treng-ri k^wa-la dar-ɢ^wā, from four roots: **tɨŋgɨr- "heaven",^[6]^[7] *k^wala- "son, child", *dar "lower reaches of the Yenisei" or "north", and *qʌ̄j ~ *χʌ̄j "prince"; as a whole "Son of Heaven, Ruler of the North".^[8]^[9]

List of Xiongnu Chanyus

Title	Reconstructed Han period's late Old Chinese and Later Han Chinese pronunciations^[10]	Personal Name	Reign

Touman (頭曼單于/头曼单于)	*do-mɑnᴬ		220–209 BC
Modu Chanyu (冒頓單于/冒顿单于)	mouᴴ-tuən/mək-tuən < mûh-tûn/mə̂k-tûn^[a]		209–174 BC
Laoshang Chanyu (老上單于/老上单于)	*lou^B-dźaŋ^C	Jiyu (稽鬻)	174–161 BC
Junchen Chanyu (軍臣單于/军臣单于)	*kun-gin		161–126 BC
Yizhixie Chanyu (伊稚斜單于/伊稚斜单于)	*ʔi-ḍiᴴ-ja		126–114 BC
Wuwei Chanyu (烏維/乌维)	*ʔɑ-wi		114–105 BC
Er Chanyu (兒^[b]單于/儿单于)	*ńe	Wushilu (烏師廬/乌师庐)	105–102/101 BC
Xulihu Chanyu (呴犛湖/呴犁湖) / Goulihu (句犁湖)	hɨo-li-gɑ / ko-li-ga		102/101–101/100 BC
Qiedihou (且鞮侯)^[c]	*tsiɑ-te-go		101/100–96 BC
Hulugu Chanyu (狐鹿姑單于/狐鹿姑单于)	*ɣuɑ-lok-kɑ		96–85 BC
Huyandi Chanyu (壺衍鞮單于/壺衍鞮单于)	*ɣɑ-jan^B/H-te		85–68 BC
Xulüquanqu Chanyu (虛閭權渠單于/虚闾权渠单于)	*hɨɑ-liɑ-gyan-gɨɑ		68–60 BC
Woyanqudi Chanyu (握衍朐鞮單于/握衍朐鞮单于)	*ʔɔk-jan^B/H-hɨo-te	Tuqitang (屠耆堂/ 屠耆堂)	60–58 BC
Huhanye Chanyu (呼韓邪單于/呼韩邪单于)	*hɑ-gɑn-ja	Jihoushan^[12]^: 59 ( 稽侯狦)	58 – 31 BC Tuqi 屠耆單于, 58–56 BC Hujie 呼揭單于, 57 BC Juli 車犂單于, 57–56 BC Wuji 烏籍單于, 57 BC Runzhen 閏振單于, 56–54 BC Zhizhi Chanyu 郅支單于, 55 – 36 BC Yilimu 伊利目單于, 49 BC
Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu^[12]^: 86 (復株纍若鞮^[d]單于/复株累若鞮单于)	*ńak-te	Diaotaomogao (彫陶莫皋/雕陶莫皋)^[12]^: 86	31–20 BC
Souxie Chanyu^[12]^: 86 (搜諧若鞮單于/搜谐若鞮单于)	so-gɛi / ṣu-gɛi	Jumixu^[12]^: 86 (且麋胥)	20–12 BC
Juya Chanyu^[12]^: 87 (車牙若鞮單于/车牙若鞮单于)	*kɨɑ-ŋa	Jumoju^[12]^: 87 (且莫車/攣鞮且莫車)	12–8 BC
Wuzhuliu Chanyu^[12]^{: p. 87} (烏珠留若鞮單于/乌珠留若鞮单于)	*ʔɑ-tśo-liu	Nangzhiyasi/Zhi ^[14]^{[page needed]} (囊知牙斯)	8 BC – 13 AD
Wulei Chanyu^[12]^{: 105–107} (烏累若鞮單于/乌累若鞮单于)	*ʔɑ-lui	Xian (鹹/挛鞮咸)	13–18 AD
Huduershidaogao Chanyu^[12]^{: 108–109} (呼都而屍道皋若鞮單于/呼都而尸道皋若鞮单于)	*hɑ-tɑ-ńɨ-śi-dou^H-kou	Yu (輿/挛鞮舆)	18–46 AD
Wudadihou (烏達鞮侯/乌达鞮侯)^[14]^: 878	*ʔɑ-dɑt-te-ɡo		46 AD

Notes

^ a.k.a. Batur < Baγatur ^[11]
^ "underage"^[12]
^ a.k.a. Chedihou
^ 若鞮 (pinyin ruòdī), glossed as "respectful to parents;^[12]^: 107 filial piety"^[13] in Hànshū; Pulleyblank reconstructs 若鞮's Early Middle Chinese pronunciation as *njak-tei & instead compares this to Tocharian A ñäkci or Toch. B ñäkc(i)ye "godly, heavenly"

Northern Xiongnu (北匈奴)

Chinese name	Reign	Note

Punu Chanyu (蒲奴)	46–? AD
Youliu^[14]^{[page needed]} (優留)	?–87 AD
Northern Chanyu (北單于)	88–? AD
Yuchujian^[14]^{[page needed]} (於除鞬單于)	91–93 AD
Feng-hou (逢侯)	94–118 AD

Southern Xiongnu (南匈奴)

Chinese name	Data	Reign

Sutuhu/Bi (蘇屠胡/比) Huhanxie the Second (呼韓邪第二) Xiluo Shizhu Ti (醯落尸逐鞮)	brought the southern Xiongnu into tributary relations with Han China in AD 50	48–56/55 AD
Qiufu Youti/Mo (丘浮尤提)		55/56–56/57 AD
Yifa Yulüti/Han (伊伐於慮提)		56/57–59 AD
Xitong Shizhu Houti/Shi (醯僮尸逐侯提)		59–63 AD
Qiuchu Julinti/Su 丘除車林提		63 AD
Huxie Shizhu Houti/Chang (湖邪尸逐侯提)		63–85 AD
Yitu Yulüti/Xuan (伊屠於閭提/宣)		85–88 AD
Tuntuhe^[14]^{[page needed]} Shulan^[12]^{: 130–134} Xiulan Shizhu Houti (休蘭尸逐侯提)		88–93 AD
Anguo^[14]^{[page needed]} (安國)	started a large scale rebellion against the Han	93–94 AD
Shizi^[14]^{[page needed]} (師子) Tingdu Shizhu Houti (亭獨尸逐侯提)		94–98 AD
Wanshishizhudi/Tan (萬氏尸逐侯提/檀)	opposed by... ...Feng Shanyu	98-124AD 98–118 AD
Wujihoushizhudi/Ba (烏稽尸逐侯提/拔)	???	124–127/128 AD
Xiuli (休利) Qute Ruoshi Zhujiu (去特若尸逐就)^[14]^{[page needed]}	committed suicide under Chinese pressure	127/128–140/142?
Cheniu^[14]^{[page needed]}	Popularly elected	140–143 AD
Toulouchu (兜樓儲)^[12]^: 144 Hulan Ruoshi Zhujiu(呼蘭若尸逐就)	appointed puppet at the Chinese court	143–147 AD
Jucheer (居車兒)^[14]^{[page needed]} Yiling Ruoshi Zhujiu (伊陵若尸逐就)	puppet Chinese appointee that escaped Chinese control; incarcerated by Chinese in 158 AD	147–158 AD (d. 172 AD)
Tute Ruoshi Zhujiu (屠特若尸逐就)^[12]^: 145 (True name unknown; the Chinese moniker has negative connotation; confirmed by Chinese Court as Chanyu in 172 AD)		158–178 AD
Huzheng^[12]^: 145 (呼徵)		178–179 AD
Qiangqu (羌渠)	Jiangqu;^[14]^{[page needed]} killed in Xiuchuge Xiongnu rebellion	179–188 AD
Yufuluo (於扶羅)	a.k.a. Chizhi Shizhuhou (特至尸逐侯)^{[citation needed]}. Homeless puppet Chanyu, overthrown in the Ordos by the Southern Xiongnu rebels led by the Xiuchuge 屠各 and Xiluo 醯落 clans. Led dozens of refugee Xiongnu tribes to Pingyang (平阳) in Shanxi.	188–195 AD
Marquis of Xubu (須卜骨都侯) (True name unknown)	Installed by the Xiuchuge and rebel faction after they ousted Yufuluo. After his death, his followers abolished the chanyu title and replaced him with a nominal king, but Yufuluo continued to claim the chanyu title in exile.	188–189 AD
Huchuquan (呼廚泉)	Yufuluo's brother,^[14]^{[page needed]} he ruled over the Pingyang Xiongnu after Yufuluo died. After he was detained at Ye in 216, the Chinese court formally abolished the chanyu office.	195–216 AD

Da Chanyu (大單于)

Chinese name	Data	Personal Name	Reign

Liu Yuan (劉淵)	Founder of the Han-Zhao state, a.k.a. Emperor Guangwen (光文)^[15]	Yuanhai (元海)	304–?
Liu Cong (劉聰)	Han-Zhao state, a.k.a. Emperor Zhaowu (昭武)	Xuanming (玄明)	310–?
Liu Can (劉粲)	Han-Zhao state, a.k.a. Emperor Yin (隱)	Shiguang (士光)	?–?
Liu Yin (劉胤)	Han-Zhao state imperial prince	Yisun (義孫)	325–?
Helian Bobo (赫連勃勃)	Founder of the Helian Xia state, a.k.a. Emperor Wulie (武烈)	Qujie (屈孑)	407–?

Chanyu family trees

Chanyu Xiongnu rulers family trees

Southern Xiongnu 南匈奴

Northern Xiongnu 北匈奴

Touman
头曼单于
r.220–209BC

Modu Chanyu
冒顿单于
r.209–174BC

Laoshang
老上单于
r.174–161BC

Junchen
军臣单于
r.161-126BC

daughter
Wife of
Zhao Xin
赵信

Yizhixie
伊稚斜单于
r.126-114BC

涉安侯
於單

Wuwei Chanyu
烏維单于
r.114-105BC

Xulihu
呴犁湖单于
r.102/101–
101/100 BC

Qiedihou
且鞮侯
r.101-96/99?BC

Er
儿单于
r.104-102/101BC

Hulugu
狐鹿姑单于
r.96-85BC

daughter
Wife of
Li Ling 李陵
d.74 BC

左大将

左大都尉

右谷蠡王

Huyandi
壺衍鞮单于
r.85-68BC

左谷蠡王

Xulüquanqu
虚闾权渠单于
r.68-60BC

daughter
Wife of
Li Guangli 李廣利
d.88BC

daughter
Wife of
乌禅幕

Cheli
車犂單于
r.57-56BC

先贤掸

Zhizhi
郅支单于
r.56-36BC

Huhanye
呼韩邪单于
r.58-31BC

右谷蠡王

驹于利受

Fuzhulei Ruoti
搜谐若鞮单于
r.31–20BC

Souxie
搜谐若鞮单于
r.20-12BC

Juya
车牙若鞮单于
r.12-8BC

右贤王
卢浑

Wuzhuliu
乌珠留若鞮单于
r.8-13AD

右贤王
铢娄渠堂

右谷蠡王
伊屠智牙师

Wulei
乌累若鞮单于
r.13-18AD

左贤王
乐

Huduershidaogao
呼都而尸道皋若鞮單于
r.18-46AD

醯諧屠奴侯

须卜居次
云

须卜单于
当
r.18-21AD

当于居次

左祝都韩王
朐留斯侯

右於塗仇撣王
乌夷当

左日逐王
都

右大且
方

左於駼仇掸王
稽留昆

斩将王

Shun
顺单于登
r.11–12

Shun
顺单于助
r.11

角

Wudadihou
乌达鞮侯
r.46

Punu Chanyu
蒲奴
r.46-?

Sutuhu/Huhanxie
呼韓邪
r.48-56/55

右股奴王
乌鞮牙斯

Qiufu Youti
丘浮尤提
r.55/56-56/57

Yifa Yulüti 伊伐於慮提
r.56/57-59

Xitong Shizhu Houti
醢僮尸逐侯提
r.59–63

Huxie Shizhu Houti
湖邪尸逐侯提
r.63–85

Tuntuhe/ Siuan
休兰尸逐侯鞮单于
r.88–93

Qiuchu Julinti
丘除车林鞮单于
r.63

Yitu Yulüti
伊屠於閭鞮單于
r.85–88

Anguo
安国
r.93–94

Shizi
尸逐
r.94–98'

Wanshishizhudi
萬氏尸逐侯提
r.98–124

Wujihoushizhudi
烏稽尸逐侯提
r.124–128

Xiuli
去特若尸逐就
r.127/128–
140/142?

左贤王

Feng-hou
逢侯
r.94–118

□

Tuqi Chanyu
屠耆單于
r.58–56BC

Yilimu Chanyu
伊利目單于
r.49BC

Runzhen Chanyu
閏振單于
r.56-54BC

Huyan Qudi
握衍朐鞮單于
r.60-58BC

Shengzhi
胜之

You Xian wáng
右贤王

都涂吾西

姑瞀楼头

Aojian wang
奥鞬王

□

Northern Chanyu
北單于
r.89–91AD?

Youliu 優留
r.?–87 AD

Yuchujian 於除鞬單于
r.91–93AD

Jucheer 伊陵尸逐就單于 r.147-158/172; d.172



Tute Ruoshi Zhujiu 屠特若尸逐就單于 r.158/172–178AD



Huzheng 呼徵 r.178–179

Qiangqu
羌渠
r.179–188CE

Qubei
去卑

Panliuxi
潘六奚

Liu Meng
劉猛

Liu Gaoshengyuan
劉誥升爰

Chizhi Shizhu Hou
持至尸逐侯单于
b.150–d.196; r.188–195

Huchuquan
呼厨泉
r.195–216

Tiefu/Xia
state

Liu Bao
劉豹

Liu Hu
劉虎

Han-Zhao
state

Tiefu/Xia state
rulers family tree

Liu Yuan 劉淵 d.310
Guangwen of Han (Zhao)
漢(趙)光文帝 r.304–310

Han-Zhao rulers
family tree

References

^ Museum notice
^ Kradin, Nikolay N. (23 January 2020). "Some Aspects of Xiongnu History in Archaeological Perspective". Competing Narratives between Nomadic People and their Sedentary Neighbours. Vol. 53. pp. 149–165. doi:10.14232/sua.2019.53.149-165. ISBN 978-963-306-708-6. Nonetheless, among archaeologists, there are many supporters of the Xiongnu migration to the West. In recent years, S. Botalov (2009) constructed a broad picture of the migration of the Xiongnu to the Urals, and then Europe. In Kazakhstan, A.N. Podushkin discovered the Arysskaya culture with a distinct stage of Xiongnu influence (2009). Russian archaeologists are actively studying the Hun sites in the Caucasus (Gmyrya 1993; 1995)
Podushkin, A.A. 2009. Xiongnu v Yuznom Kazakhstane. In: Nomady kazakhstanskikh stepey: etnosociokulturnye protsessy i kontakty v Evrazii skifo sakskoy epokhi: Edited by Z. Samashev, Astana: Ministry of Culture and Information of the Kazakhstan Republic: 147‒154 {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
^ Taskin V.S. "Materials on history of Dunhu group nomadic tribes", Moscow, 1984, p. 305,306, (Таскин В.С. "Mатериалы по истории древних кочевых народов группы Дунху") (in Russian)
^ Book of Han, Vol. 94-I, 匈奴謂天為「撐犁」，謂子為「孤塗」，單于者，廣大之貌也.
^ Universität Bonn. Seminar für Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaft Zentralasiens: Zentralasiatische Studien, Vol. 24–26, p.21
^ Georg, Stefan (2001): Türkisch/Mongolisch tengri "Himmel/Gott" und seine Herkunft. Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia 6: 83–100.
^ Starostin, Sergei A., and Merritt Ruhlen. (1994). Proto-Yeniseian Reconstructions, with Extra-Yeniseian Comparisons. In M. Ruhlen, On the Origin of Languages: Studies in Linguistic Taxonomy. Stanford: Stanford University Press. pp. 70–92. [Partial translation of Starostin 1982, with additional comparisons by Ruhlen.]
^ "Once again on the Etymology of the title qaɣan", in Studia Etyologica Crocoviensia, (2007) vol. 12, p. 177-185
^ "Did the Xiongnu speak a Yeniseian language? Part 2: Vocabulary", in Altaica Budapestinensia MMII, Proceedings of the 45th Permanent International Altaistic Conference, Budapest, June 23–28, pp. 389–394.
^ Schuessler, Axel (2014). "Phonological Notes on Hàn Period Transcriptions of Foreign Names and Words". Studies in Chinese and Sino-Tibetan Linguistics: Dialect, Phonology, Transcription and Text. Language and Linguistics Monograph Series. Taipei, Taiwan: Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica (53).
^ Hirth F. Sinologische Beitrage zur Geschichte der Turk-Volker. Die Ahnentafel Attila's nach Johannes von Thurocz. Bull. Imp. Acad, series V, vol. XIII, 1900, No 2, pp. 221–261.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Bichurin N.Ya. (1851). Collection of information on peoples in Central Asia in ancient times. Vol. 1. p. 46
^ Pulleyblank, E. G. "Chinese and Indo-Europeans." Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, no. 1/2 (1966): 9–39. www.jstor.org/stable/25202896.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l R. de Crespigny, "Northern Frontier: the policies and strategy of the Later Han empire", Australian National University Faculty of Asian Studies Monographs, New Series No.4, Canberra 1984, "The Division and Destruction of the Xiongnu Confederacy, Rafe de Crespigny, Publications, Faculty of Asian Studies, ANU". Archived from the original on 2011-01-01. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
^ [1] Archived 2011-11-30 at the Wayback Machine note 208