The Restoration of zpγw in the Legends on the Western Turkic Coins: Also on Magha Shad’s Pedigree

Authors : Ken Chen

Pages : 24-56

Doi:10.35236/jots.1382795

View : 112 | Download : 98

Publication Date : 2024-02-23

Article Type : Research

Abstract :The Sogdian word zpγw in the legends on the Western Turkic coins is not the variant spelling form of cpγw (Jabghu), and its reading should be revised to zwγw/ žwγw, the Chinese transcription of which may be Shegui 射匱, and the etymology of which is related to Sogdian žwγ-/žγw/jwγ-/jγw/δrγw, which means “hard, cruel, harsh, severe”. There are two kinds of žwγw coin, each casted by Shegui, grandson of Tardu, son of Dulu, and by Yipi Shegui, grandson of Dielishi. They had different tamgas deriving from different branches within the Tardu line. The tamga of the second kind of žwγw coin i.e. Yipi Shegui coin belonged to the Magha Shad line, and the other tamga that appeared along with it came from the Hephthalite, indicating that the line was closely related to Hephthalite-Tokharistan. From the perspective of the relationship between basic tamga and derived tamga, the possibility that Magha Shad came from the Dulu line can be ruled out, and Magha Shad might be the grandson of Tardu and son of Ton Shad instead. The joint appearance of the two tamgas on the Yipi Shegui coin suggest a marriage relationship between the Magha Shad line and the Hephthalite, which might be a continuation of the earlier tradition of marriage relationship between Tardu and Hephthalite.
Keywords : Western Turkic Qaghanate, Sogdian, Chinese, transcription, Old Turkic titles, epithet, coin, legend, tamga, pedigree, ton, Jabghu, Magha Shad, Hephthalite