CHRONICLES OF CHINESE HISTORY华 夏 历 史 志

31 BCE–20 BCE

Chanyu of the Xiongnu

Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu

雕陶莫皋

Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu (d. 20 BCE), personal name Diaotaomogao, was supreme ruler of the Xiongnu during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Western Han. He was the eldest son of Huhanye Chanyu by the Great Yanzhi. In 31 BCE, following Huhanye's death, Diaotaomogao succeeded to the throne in accordance with his father's succession covenant. Preserving the peaceful tributary relationship established by his father, Fuzhulei sent his…

31 BCE–20 BCEWestern Han

PROFILE

Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu (d. 20 BCE), personal name Diaotaomogao, was supreme ruler of the Xiongnu during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Western Han. He was the eldest son of Huhanye Chanyu by the Great Yanzhi. In 31 BCE, following Huhanye's death, Diaotaomogao succeeded to the throne in accordance with his father's succession covenant. Preserving the peaceful tributary relationship established by his father, Fuzhulei sent his son to serve as royal hostage in Chang'an, dispatched annual tribute missions, and personally visited the imperial court in 25 BCE. In accordance with nomadic levirate custom, he took Wang Zhaojun as his consort, fathering two daughters. Upon his death in 20 BCE, his maternal brother Qiemixu succeeded him as Souxie Ruodi Chanyu.

Title
Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu
Era
Emperor Cheng Era, Western Han
Dynasty
Xiongnu
Identity
Chanyu of the Xiongnu
Ethnicity
Xiongnu
Clan
Luandi Clan (Luandi/Xiongnu royal lineage)
Date of Birth
Unknown
Place of Birth
Unrecorded
Date of Death
20 BCE（the 1st year of Hongjia）
Reign Period
31 BCE to 20 BCE
Predecessor
Huhanye Chanyu
Successor
Souxie Ruodi Chanyu (Qiemixu)
Major Events
Sent royal hostages to Han; dispatched tribute missions and conducted personal imperial audience in Chang'an; married Wang Zhaojun

LIFE TIMELINE

Accession to Throne ｜ Succeeded Huhanye Chanyu as Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu; dispatched son to Chang'an as imperial attendant.
Diplomatic Tribute ｜ Dispatched Right Gaolin King Yixiemoyan to present tribute and gifts to Emperor Cheng.
Imperial Court Visit ｜ Traveled in person to Chang'an for an imperial audience, received lavish honors, and stayed two months before returning.
Death and Succession ｜ Passed away after eleven years on the throne; succeeded by his brother Qiemixu.

BIOGRAPHY

Biography

Lineage and Succession

Diaotaomogao was born to Huhanye Chanyu and the Great Yanzhi. Prior to his demise, Huhanye settled succession arrangements among his sons by elevating Diaotaomogao, while stipulating that the throne should pass fraternal-fashion to younger brothers rather than directly to sons. Upon Huhanye's death in 31 BCE, Diaotaomogao ascended the throne as Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu. He immediately dispatched his son, the Right Zhiluer King Xixietunu Hou, to Chang'an as an imperial attendant.

Consort Wang Zhaojun

In accordance with steppe levirate custom, Fuzhulei married Wang Zhaojun, who had previously been the consort of his father Huhanye. The couple had two daughters: the elder known as Xubu Juci and the younger as Dangyu Juci, both of whom later played prominent roles in Han-Xiongnu border diplomacy.

Tribute and Court Visit in Chang'an

In 28 BCE, Fuzhulei dispatched embassy missions under Right Gaolin King Yixiemoyan to Chang'an. In 25 BCE, he undertook a personal diplomatic journey to the Han capital. Emperor Cheng arranged high-level receptions along the frontier routes and bestowed magnificent imperial gifts. Fuzhulei resided in Chang'an for over two months before departing for the northern steppe. Fuzhulei passed away in 20 BCE and was succeeded by his brother Qiemixu, known as Souxie Ruodi Chanyu.

Major Activities

Consolidating Frontier Peace

Through royal hostage postings, tribute missions, and his 25 BCE imperial audience, Fuzhulei maintained stable peace between the Western Han and the Xiongnu confederation.

Royal Lineage and Succession

His marriage with Wang Zhaojun and adherence to fraternal succession anchored diplomatic stability across the northern frontiers for several decades.

Personal Relations

  • Huhanye Chanyu: Father and royal predecessor.
  • Great Yanzhi: Mother, principal consort of Huhanye.
  • Wang Zhaojun: Consort; mother of two daughters.
  • Xubu Juci & Dangyu Juci: Daughters by Wang Zhaojun.
  • Qiemixu: Younger brother and successor (Souxie Chanyu).
  • Emperor Cheng of Han: Contemporary imperial sovereign in Chang'an.

Historical Assessment

The Book of Han (Han Shu) documents Fuzhulei's reign as a golden era of peaceful tributary diplomacy between China and the steppe, highlighting his adherence to Huhanye's fraternal succession compact.

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Bibliography

  • Ban Gu, Book of Han (Han Shu), vol. 94B, Account of the Xiongnu.