# Khan of Heaven

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Khan_of_Heaven
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Khan_of_Heaven.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_of_Heaven
> Source revision: 1351102009
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Turkic title given to the Tang dynasty

**Khan of Heaven** or **Tian Kehan**, **Celestial Kha(ga)n**, **Heavenly Kha(ga)n**, **Tengri Kha(ga)n** ([Chinese](/source/Chinese_language): 天可汗; [pinyin](/source/Pinyin): *Tiān Kèhán*; [Wade–Giles](/source/Wade%E2%80%93Giles): **T'ien K'ehan**; [Old Turkic](/source/Old_Turkic): 𐱅𐰭𐰼𐰃𐰴𐰍𐰣‬) was a title addressed to the [Emperor Taizong of Tang](/source/Emperor_Taizong_of_Tang) by various Turkic nomads.[1][2] It was first mentioned in accounts on May 20, 630 and again on October 24, 646, shortly after the [Eastern Turkic Khaganate](/source/Emperor_Taizong's_campaign_against_Eastern_Tujue) and [Xueyantuo](/source/Emperor_Taizong's_campaign_against_Xueyantuo) were annihilated by the [Tang dynasty](/source/Tang_dynasty).[3][4]

The title Tengri Khagan also used to refer other [Turkic](/source/Turkic_people) rulers, both known as the Tengri Khagan (Chinese: 登里可汗 or 登利可汗) or Täŋridä qaγan (Chinese: 騰里可汗) to the Chinese, during the Second Eastern Turkic Khaganate (r. 739–741) and [Uyghur Khaganate](/source/Uyghur_Khaganate) (r. 759–779) periods.[5]

The title remained in use by Taizong's successors until 779 AD, including [Wu Zetian](/source/Wu_Zetian) who assumed the title along with also the masculine form of the title emperor ("Huangdi", rather than "Nühuang" or "Huanghou", an empress) from 685 to 705. [6]

To name a few instances of the title "Khan of Heaven" in use, two appeal letters from the Turkic hybrid rulers, Ashina Qutluγ Ton Tardu in 727, the Yabgu of [Tokharistan](/source/Tokharistan), and Yina Tudun Qule in 741, the king of [Tashkent](/source/Tashkent), addressed the [Emperor Xuanzong of Tang](/source/Emperor_Xuanzong_of_Tang) as **Tian Kehan** during the [Umayyad](/source/Umayyad) expansion.[7][8]

A later letter sent by the Tang court to the [Yenisei Kirghiz](/source/Yenisei_Kirghiz) Qaghan explained that "the peoples of the northwest" had requested Emperor Taizong of Tang to become the "Heavenly Qaghan".[9]

## See also

- [China portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:China)
- [History portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:History)
- [Asia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Asia)
- [Politics portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Politics)
- [Monarchy portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Monarchy)

- [Chinese Tributary System](/source/Chinese_Tributary_System) - *[Pax Sinica](/source/Pax_Sinica)*

- [Emperor of China](/source/Emperor_of_China) - [Emperor Taizong of Tang](/source/Emperor_Taizong_of_Tang)

- [Khan](/source/Khan_(title)) - [Khagan](/source/Khagan) (Great Khan) - [Bogda Khan](/source/Bogda_Khan)

- [Sinocentrism](/source/Sinocentrism)

- [Tang dynasty](/source/Tang_dynasty) - [Tang dynasty in Inner Asia](/source/Tang_dynasty_in_Inner_Asia)

- [Tian](/source/Tian) (***[Heaven](/source/Heaven)***) / [Shangdi](/source/Shangdi) (***[God](/source/God)***) - [Tian Xia](/source/Tian_Xia) (*[All under Heaven](/source/All_under_Heaven)*) - [Tian Chao](/source/Tian_Chao) (*[Dynasty of Heaven](/source/Dynasty_of_Heaven)*) - [Tian Ming](/source/Tian_Ming) (*[Mandate of Heaven](/source/Mandate_of_Heaven)*) - [Tian Zi](/source/Tian_Zi) (*[Son of Heaven](/source/Son_of_Heaven)*)

- [Tengri](/source/Tengri)

## References

### Citations

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Liu, 79

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Kenneth Scott Latourette (1964). [*The Chinese, their history and culture, Volumes 1-2*](https://books.google.com/books?id=MkBwAAAAMAAJ&q=heavenly+khan+ruler) (4, reprint ed.). Macmillan. p. 144. Retrieved February 8, 2012. territories within his empire. He took the title "Heavenly Khan," thus designating himself as their ruler. A little later the Western Turks, although then at the height of their power, were badly defeated, and the Uighurs, a Turkish tribe, were detached from them and became sturdy supporters of the T'ang in the Gobi. The Khitan, Mongols in Eastern Mongolia and Southern Manchuria, made their submission (630). In the Tarim basin

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Liu, 74-76

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Skaff 2012](https://books.google.com/books?id=qTm6Yka5GigC&pg=PA120), pp. 120-121.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Liu, 81-83

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** 朱振宏《唐代“皇帝·天可汗”释义》，《汉学研究》第21卷第1期，2003年

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Bai, 230

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Xue, 674-675

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Michael Robert Drompp (2005). [*Tang China and the collapse of the Uighur Empire: a documentary history*](https://books.google.com/books?id=NB6DEdAxLOsC&dq=li+ling+kirghiz&pg=PA126). Vol. 13 of Brill's Inner Asian library (illustrated ed.). BRILL. p. 126. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [90-04-14129-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/90-04-14129-4). Retrieved February 8, 2012. the successes of Emperor Taizong of Tang and to his taking the title of "Heavenly Qaghan" at the request of "the peoples of the northwest" in 630/631. The letter goes on to describe how Taizong's envoy was sent to pacify the Kirghiz in 632/633 and how in 647/648 a Kirghiz chieftain came to the Tang court where he was granted titles, including commander-in-chief of the Kirghiz (Jian-kun). All of this implied Kirghiz subordination to Tang authority, at least in Chinese eyes. According to the letter, Kirghiz tribute had come to the Tang court "uninterruptedly" until the end of the Tianbao reign period (742-756) when Kirghiz contact with the Tang state was cut off by the rise of Uighur power in Mongolia.

### Sources

- [Bai, Shouyi](/source/Bai_Shouyi) et al. (2003). *A History of Chinese Muslim (Vol. 2)*. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [7-101-02890-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/7-101-02890-X).

- Liu, Yitang (1997). *Studies of Chinese Western Regions*. Taipei: Cheng Chung Book Company. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [957-09-1119-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/957-09-1119-0).

- [Xue, Zongzheng](/source/Xue_Zongzheng) (1992). *A History of Turks*. Beijing: Chinese Social Sciences Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [7-5004-0432-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/7-5004-0432-8).

v t e Tang dynasty topics History (Timeline) Transition from Sui to Tang Xuanwu Gate Incident Tang–Eastern Turks War Tang–Xueyantuo War Goguryeo–Tang War Battle of Chabuheluo Baekje–Tang War Silla–Tang War Tang–Tibet relations Tang–Western Turks War Oasis states Karakhoja Karasahr Kucha Conquest Battle of Aksu Tianbao War Battle of Talas An Lushan rebellion Qingshui Treaty Niu–Li factional strife Changqing Treaty Sweet Dew incident Tang-Nanzhao conflicts Annan Songping Huang Chao Rebellion Government Emperor List House Family tree Chancellor Administrative divisions Jimi system Fanzhen Hebei Imperial examinations Official headwear Military Jiedushi Imperial guards Shence Army Shumiyuan Turkic generals Three Departments Department of State Affairs Secretariat Chancellery (Secretariat-Chancellery) Six Ministries Ministry of Personnel Ministry of Revenue Ministry of Rites Ministry of War Ministry of Justice Ministry of Works Protectorates Tang dynasty in Inner Asia Protectorate General to Pacify the West Four Garrisons of Anxi Persia Governorate Beiting Protectorate Protectorate General to Pacify the North Protectorate General to Pacify the South Protectorate General to Pacify the East Ungjin Commandery Gyerim Territory Area Command Warlords Chengde Weibo Youzhou Zhaoyi Pinglu Bian-song Huaixi Culture Art Sancai Poetry Three Hundred Tang Poems Playing card A Palace Concert Emperor Taizong Receiving the Tibetan Envoy Huaisu's Autobiography Night-Shining White Kashyapa & Ananda Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum Autumn Dew Dazu Rock Carvings Leshan Giant Buddha Rongxian Giant Buddha Thousand-Buddha Cliff Writers Daoxuan (596–667) Standard Design for Buddhist Temple Construction Empress Zhangsun (601–636) Bianji (7th c.) Great Tang Records on the Western Regions Du Huan (751–762) Bai Xingjian (776–826) The Tale of Li Wa Lu Yu (733–804) The Classic of Tea Du Guangting (850–933) Yang Yunsong (9th c.) Green Satchel Classic Poets Luo Binwang (619–684) Du Shenyan (645–708) Wang Bo (650–676) Chen Zi'ang (656–702) He Zhizhang (659–744) Zhang Jiuling (673–740) Meng Haoran (689–740) Li Qi (690–751) Wang Changling (698–756) Wang Wei (699–759) Li Bai (701–762) Gao Shi (704–765) Liu Zhangqing (709–785) Du Fu (712–770) Zhang Ji (712–779) Cen Shen (715–770) Li Bi (722–789) Wei Yingwu (737–792) Lu Lun (739–799) Han Yu (768–824) Liu Yuxi (772–842) Bai Juyi (772–846) Liu Zongyuan (773–819) Yuan Zhen (779–831) Li Ye (d. 784) Li He (790–817) Niu Yingzhen (8th c.) Zhang Xu (8th c.) Du Mu (803–852) Wen Tingyun (812–866) Li Shangyin (813–858) Mo Xuanqing (834-?) Yu Xuanji (840–868) Du Qiuniang (9th c.) Liêu Hữu Phương (9th c.) Painters Yan Liben (600–673) Wu Daozi (680–760) Wang Wei (699–759) Viśa Īrasangä (7th c.) Han Gan (706–783) Zhang Xuan (713–755) Han Huang (723–787) Zhou Fang (730–780) Guanxiu (832–912) Jing Hao (855–915) Sun Wei (9th c.) Religion Buddhism Jizang (549–623) Daochuo (562–645) Shandao (613–681) Xuanzang (fl 602–664) Kuiji (632–682) Yijing (635–713) Faru (638–689) Vajrabodhi (671–741) Jianzhen (688–763) Amoghavajra (705–774) Mazu Daoyi (709–788) Baizhang Huaihai (720–814) Wukong (730–790) Yaoshan Weiyan (745–827) Huiguo (746–805) Puhua (770–860) Zhaozhou Congshen (778–897) Zhisheng (8th c.) Dongshan Liangjie (807–869) Yunmen Wenyan (862–949) Gikū (9th c.) Taoism Cheng Xuanying (fl 631–655) Lü Dongbin (796-?) Confucianism Neo-Confucianism Han Yu (768–824) Li Ao (772–841) Kong Yingda (574–648) Other Church of the East Xi'an Stele Islam during the Tang dynasty Chinese Manichaeism Science and technology Wang Xiaotong (580–640) Jigu Suanjing Xu Jingzong (592–672) Liang Lingzan The Five-Planet and Twenty-eight Constellation Deities Li Chunfeng (602–670) Ten Computational Canons Su Jing Xinxiu bencao Sun Simiao (d. 682) Yi Xing (683–727) Gautama Siddha (fl 714–724) Treatise on Astrology of the Kaiyuan Era Jia Dan (730–805) Toothbrush Woodblock printing Economy Diwu Qi (712–782) Liu Yan (715–780) Kaiyuan Tongbao Salt Commission Flying cash

v t e Inner Asia (incl. Central Asia) history series Inner Asian empires and entities Xiongnu Xianbei Rouran Göktürks First Turkic Khaganate Eastern Turkic Khaganate Western Turkic Khaganate Second Turkic Khaganate Uyghur Kyrgyz Kara-Khanid Seljuk Khwarazmia Mongol Empire Jochi Chagatai Yuan Timurid Mughal Moghulistan Nogai Kazakh Uzbek Shaybanids Janids Khanate of Bukhara Khiva Kokand Dzungar Afghan Chinese Empires Han against Xiongnu Protectorate of the Western Regions Chief Official Tang against Western Turks / Eastern Turks against Tibet Mongolian Plateau Beiting Tarim Basin Liao Western Liao Northern Liao Eastern Liao Later Liao Tangut Western Xia Eastern Xia Song against Mongols Yuan against Northwest khanates Manchuria Mongolia Tibet Northern Yuan Ming against Mongols against Turpan Manchuria Tibet Qing against Dzungars genocide against Kazakhs against Gurkhas against Sikhs Lifan Yuan Amban relations with Afghanistan Manchuria Mongolia Tibet Xinjiang Indian Empires Maurya against Seleucid Gupta Campaigns of Samudragupta against Balkh Delhi against Mongols against Timurids Mughal against Safavid against Kashmiris against Afghans invasion of Central Asia against Afsharids against Durranis Raj against Afghans Great Game Russian Empires Ruthenia against Mongols Muscovy-Tver-Smolensk Great Troubles Tsardom against Kazan against Astrakhan against Sibir Imperial conquest of Central Asia Great Game Soviet Urkun Basmachi revolt famine Related topics The Cambridge History of Inner Asia Greater Central Asia Central Asia Eurasian nomads Tartary Chinese Tartary Western Regions (Chinese Turkestan) China proper Sinosphere Greater China Indosphere Greater India Russosphere Greater Russia Russian Turkestan Soviet Turkestan

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Khan of Heaven](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_of_Heaven) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khan_of_Heaven?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.