Yujiulü clan


The Yujiulü clan was the ruling clan of the Rouran Khaganate, which ruled over Northern China, the Mongolian Steppe and Southern Siberia.

Origin

According to Book of Wei and History of the Northern Dynasties, the surname Yujiulü is of Donghu origin. The first known Yujiulü was a slave caught by Xianbei leader Tuoba Liwei, who called the captive Mùgúlǘ - "bald" in the Xianbei language. When Mugulu grew up, Liwei allowed him to serve in the cavalry. For failure to comply with an order, he was sentenced to death. But he fled to the mountains where he gathered another 100 fugitives. They settled in a place called Chuntulin and became the nucleus of the future Rouran Khaganate. His dynasty was called Yujiulü because it sounded like Mugulü. Róna-Tas suggested that Yujiulü rendered *ugur > Uğur, a secondary form of Oğur.; Peter B. Golden additionally proposed connection with Turkic uğurluğ "feasible, opportune", later "auspicious fortunate" or oğrï "thief", an etymology more suited to the dynasty's founder's activities; additionally Yujiulü may be comparable to Middle Mongolian uğuli "owl", as personal names based on bird names are common in Mongolic.

Family tree

Other members

Yujiulü clan lost its dominant power in steppe to Ashina tribe in 555. Surviving members of royal clan sinicized, changing their surnames to Lǘ. Some of them even served Sui dynasty, such as Yujiulü Furen. Chinese author Wang Anyi wrote that her mother Ru Zhijuan might be descended from Rouran.