CHRONICLES OF CHINESE HISTORY华 夏 历 史 志

20 BCE–12 BCE

Wise King of the LeftChanyu of the Xiongnu

Souxie Ruodi Chanyu

且麋胥

Souxie Ruodi Chanyu (d. 12 BCE), personal name Qiemixu, was supreme ruler of the Xiongnu during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Western Han. He was a son of Huhanye Chanyu by the Great Yanzhi and the younger brother of Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu (Diaotaomogao). During his elder brother's reign, he held the senior rank of Wise King of the Left. In 20 BCE, following Fuzhulei's death, Qiemixu ascended the throne as Souxie Ruodi Chanyu.…

20 BCE–12 BCEWestern Han

PROFILE

Souxie Ruodi Chanyu (d. 12 BCE), personal name Qiemixu, was supreme ruler of the Xiongnu during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Western Han. He was a son of Huhanye Chanyu by the Great Yanzhi and the younger brother of Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu (Diaotaomogao). During his elder brother's reign, he held the senior rank of Wise King of the Left. In 20 BCE, following Fuzhulei's death, Qiemixu ascended the throne as Souxie Ruodi Chanyu. He dispatched his son Quliusi Hou to serve as imperial attendant in Chang'an, while appointing his younger brother Qiemoche as Wise King of the Left. In 12 BCE, while traveling south toward the Great Wall to attend the imperial New Year court audience in Chang'an, Souxie fell ill and died before crossing the frontier. He was succeeded by his brother Qiemoche.

Title
Souxie Ruodi Chanyu
Era
Emperor Cheng Era, Western Han
Dynasty
Xiongnu
Identity
Wise King of the Left, Chanyu of the Xiongnu
Ethnicity
Xiongnu
Date of Birth
Unknown
Date of Death
12 BCE（the 1st year of Yuanyan）
Reign Period
20 BCE to 12 BCE
Predecessor
Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu
Successor
Cheya Ruodi Chanyu (Qiemoche)
Major Events
Succeeded Fuzhulei Ruodi; sent son Quliusi Hou as royal hostage; died en route to Chang'an imperial audience

LIFE TIMELINE

Ascension to Throne ｜ Succeeded Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu; dispatched son Quliusi Hou to Chang'an as royal hostage.
Journey and Death ｜ Fell mortally ill en route to an imperial audience in Chang'an and died before entering the pass; succeeded by Qiemoche.

BIOGRAPHY

Biography

Succession to the Chanyuship

Qiemixu was born to Huhanye Chanyu and the Great Yanzhi. In accordance with the fraternal succession pact established by Huhanye, he served as Wise King of the Left throughout the reign of his elder brother Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu. In 20 BCE, upon Fuzhulei's demise, Qiemixu assumed the supreme title of Souxie Ruodi Chanyu. Dynastic annals in the Book of Han record his peaceful reign spanning eight years from 20 BCE to 12 BCE.

Hostage Diplomacy and Demise en Route to Court

Upon ascending the throne, Souxie dispatched his son, Left Zhuduhan King Quliusi Hou, to serve as imperial attendant in Chang'an, maintaining traditional hostage diplomacy. He also invested his younger brother Qiemoche as Wise King of the Left, formalizing the next tier of fraternal succession. In 12 BCE, Souxie set out with an imperial retinue to attend the New Year tributary reception in Chang'an. However, before his caravan could cross the Han frontier garrisons, he fell fatally ill and died. His brother Qiemoche immediately took command and ascended the throne as Cheya Ruodi Chanyu.

Major Activities

Upholding Tributary Peace

Souxie maintained uninterrupted tributary stability with the Western Han through hostage diplomacy and scheduled imperial audiences.

Personal Relations

  • Huhanye Chanyu: Father.
  • Fuzhulei Ruodi Chanyu: Elder brother and predecessor.
  • Qiemoche: Younger brother and successor (Cheya Ruodi Chanyu).
  • Quliusi Hou: Son, dispatched as royal hostage to Chang'an.

Historical Assessment

The Book of Han (Han Shu) records Souxie's reign as a brief, peaceful continuation of fraternal succession, demonstrating the enduring stability of the Huhanye tributary framework.

LOCAL NETWORK

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Bibliography

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