Shuluogan

Biography

Succession and Proclamation as Khagan

Shuluogan (died 417), formally Murong Shuluogan, was the eighth ruler of Tuyuhun and son of Shibi. Orphaned at nine, he succeeded at sixteen. In 405 (the first year of Yixi), Shuluogan led his several thousand households to the Mohe River, proclaiming himself Grand Commander, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Grand Shanyu, and King of Tuyuhun, with the additional title Khagan Wuyin. As a result, "his transformative influence spread through his people, and the multitude dwelt in contentment," and the Sha, Qiang, and other Rong tribes submitted one after another.

Revival and Campaigns

Shuluogan pursued the policy of "light corvée and taxes; keep faith in rewards and be unfailing in punishment," and Tuyuhun revived; the Sha, Qiang, and other Rong tribes all submitted, and his power stretched at its height from Diechuan in the east to Khotan in the west, from Gaochang in the north to the Qinling in the south, dominating the Western Rong.

In the second month of 411 (the seventh year of Yixi), Shuluogan campaigned north against Southern Liang, defeating Crown Prince Tufa Hutai (or Tufa Wutai) and seizing the Jiaohe region.

In 412 (the eighth year of Yixi), Shuluogan was defeated at Chishui by Qifu Gangui of Western Qin, submitted to Western Qin, and was invested as General Who Pacifies the Di and Protector of Chishui. In 413 (the ninth year of Yixi), he was defeated at Jiaohe by the Western Qin generals Qifu Zhida and Songshou, losing the general Hana Wuti and more than three thousand households.

Defeat and the Entrustment of the State

In 417 (the thirteenth year of Yixi), the Western Qin General of the Peaceful East Mu Yigan attacked Shuluogan and defeated his brother Achai (Apin) at Yaoganchuan, taking more than five thousand captives. Shuluogan withdrew to Mount Bailan and fell ill from shame and indignation. On his deathbed he said to Achai: "My son Shuqian is young and weak; I now entrust the great enterprise to you." Shuluogan died after a reign of about nine years, at the age of twenty-four, with the posthumous title King Wu. Achai succeeded, proclaiming himself General of Agile Cavalry and Governor of Shazhou.

Shuluogan once declared: "Now my soldiers and horses are mighty and my bowmen number in the tens of thousands. I shall shake Liang and Yi with my might, dominate the Western Rong, parade my arms before the Three Qins, and from afar pay homage to the Son of Heaven—what say you, gentlemen?"

According to the Zizhi Tongjian, on his deathbed Shuluogan said to Achai: "My son Shuqian is young and weak; I now entrust the great enterprise to you."

Major Activities

After succeeding, Shuluogan led his several thousand households to the Mohe River, proclaiming himself Grand Commander, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Grand Shanyu, and King of Tuyuhun, with the title Khagan Wuyin; in economics and military administration he practiced "light corvée and taxes, faithful rewards and unfailing punishments," by which Tuyuhun revived.

The rise and fall of his power can be set out by year: in 405 (first year of the Yixi era, Eastern Jin) he moved several thousand households of his people to Mohe River and styled himself King of Tuyuhun, Great Chanyu and Qaghan Wuyin; in 411 (seventh year of Yixi) he attacked Southern Liang, defeated Tufa Hutai and took Jiaohe; in 412 (eighth year of Yixi) he was defeated at Chishui by Qifu Qiangui of the Western Qin and, after submitting, was appointed general pacifying the Di and protector of Chishui, another account describing the fighting and its commanders differently; in 413 (ninth year of Yixi) he was again defeated at Jiaohe by the Western Qin commanders Qifu Zhida and others; in 417 (thirteenth year of Yixi), after Achai's troops were beaten by the Western Qin army, Shuluogan withdrew to Bailan and, before dying of illness, entrusted the affairs of state to Achai. The continuous fighting with the Western Qin in his later years marks the key phase in Tuyuhun's turn from strength to decline.

His family and titles stand in a clear relation: Shuluogan was a son of Shipi and a nephew of Wugeti; after Wugeti's defeat and death he gathered the people, placed his centre of rule at Mohe River and styled himself King of Tuyuhun, Great Chanyu and Qaghan Wuyin, titles that continue the earlier khanal style of Tuyuhun, his sons Mugui and Muliyan afterwards leading the people in turn.

The reversal of strength with the Western Qin during his reign also shaped the range of Tuyuhun's activity for decades afterwards.

The centre of his activity throughout lay along the line of Jiaohe, Chishui and Mohe River, his titles and choice of pastures both pointing to the transport corridor of eastern Qinghai and the upper Yellow River.

Personal Relations

• | Relation | Person | Notes |
• |---| --- |---|
• | Father | Shibi | Ruler of Tuyuhun |
• | Uncle | Wuhedi (Wuheti) | Previous King of Tuyuhun; married Shuluogan's mother after succeeding |
• | Brother | Apin (Achai) | Succeeded as King of Tuyuhun, posthumous title King Wei |
• | Son | Shuqian | Not eligible to succeed due to his youth |
• | Cousins | Mugui, Mulianyan | Sons of Wuhedi, successively rulers of Tuyuhun |

Historical Assessment

Shuluogan is regarded as the restorer of Tuyuhun. He led his people to the Mohe River to rebuild the polity, lightened burdens and enforced rewards and punishments faithfully so that the Sha and Qiang Rong all submitted; he defeated Southern Liang's crown prince Hutai and seized the Jiaohe region; and on his deathbed, because his son Shuqian was still young, he passed the throne to his brother Apin, ensuring a smooth transition of power.

Regarded as Tuyuhun's restorer—light burdens, faithful rewards, the tribes flocking to him—yet he died young with his ambition unfulfilled.