Дипломатические отношения Тюркского каганата и империи Северная Чжоу в 60-70-х годах VI века
Diplomatic relations of the Turkic Khaganate and the Northern Zhou Empire in the 560s and 570s

Summary/Abstract: This article examines Chinese historical sources covering the development of contacts between the Turkic Khaganate and the Northern Zhou Empire during the 560s and 570s. The reign of Muqan Qaghan was a time of great prosperity, when the Turks reached the peak of their military power, leading the Chinese empires of Northern Zhou and Northern Qi to compete for friendly relations with the Turkic Khaganate. In order to conclude an alliance and marriage treaty with the Turks, the Northern Zhou Empire took an unprecedented step: it built a Turkic Buddhist temple in its capital, Chang’an, as evidenced by Wang Bao on the temple’s stele. At the same time, the Chinese Buddhist canon (Dazangjing) dates the spread of Buddhism among the Turks to the reign of Tabo Qaghan (573–581), following the religious persecution that began in the Northern Zhou Empire in 574 under Emperor Wu. Therefore, our findings suggest that the Turks must have become acquainted with Buddhism earlier, during the reign of Muqan Qaghan, not Tabo Qaghan.

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