Tuñuquq > Tonuquq (646 - 732). Old Turkic: Bilge: Tuňuquq. In Chinese sources: Ton-jo-gu, Tun’jugu. Serving to the Turkic El and Elteris, Qapagan, Bilge kagans, he was very wise and outstanding person. Tonuquq was born in 646 (?) along the river Tuyl (Old Turkic: Tuγula//Toγula). He was father-in-law of Bilge kagan. Chinese sources says that Tonuquq had given his daughter “Pofu or Sofu” as wife to Bilge kagan. In Old Turkic it can mean “Bubu or Sebu//Sebek”. Tonuquq died at the age of 85-86 in 731-732. The wise Tonuquq participated to military actions and was distinguished by his mind in days of Qapagan (692-716, in Chinese sources Mochjo
The name of “Bilge : Tuňuquq” was read by W.Radloff reads “Tonjukuk”, S.E.Malov, P.Aalto, J. Clauson, A.N.Kononov, V.Nasilov read “Tuηuquq”. W.Tomsen, H.N.Orhun, I.V.Kormushin - Toyuquq, K.Sartkozha “Tuj-uquq, i.e. “Tujgyn” (northern goshawk) + “oi” (thought, mind).
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| The Tunuquq memorial complex and stele | A sculpture of Tunuquq |
R.Zhiro “Tony Yuquq” (fatty fur coat), V.M.Nadeljaev “Tujuq-oq” (a hoof), Ali Eleve “Tonjuquq” (the first vizier), T.Tekin “Tunyuquq” (the first vizier), Klyashtornyi according to Chinise sources “a title yuan-chzhen” equivalent in Turkic “Tonjuquq” (the first successor). L.N.Gumilev expresses doubt on F.Hirt's to opinion, that the Ashide-yuan-chzhen and “Tunuquq”are the same person and declares, that they were two different persons, but both were brought up in China.
 | The Tunuquq inscription |
A.S.Amanzholov relying on sound conformity «-nj//-nch» assumes, that name Tonuquq means “tunuq-tunjuq-tunčuq+uq” (gloomy). See: Наделяев В.М. Чтение Орхоно-Енисейского знака «…» и этимология имени Тоньюкука. // Тюркологический исследования . М., Л., 1963. С. 197-213; Кляшторный С.Г. Тоньюкук Ашидэ Юаньчжень //Тюркологический сборник . М., 1966. С. 202-205.; Аманжолов А.С. Графика таласских енисейских и орхонских надписей. // Қазақ тiлi мен әдебиетi. КазГУ. 3, Алматы, 1973.; Аманжолов А.С. История и теория дренвнетюркского письма. Алматы, «Мектеп» . 2003. С. 56-57.
Old Turkic: Tuňuq-Uq / Tuňïq-Oq. The phoneme “ñ” is “palatal concordant”. Thus the word Tunuquq: “tunuq” (transparent, deep or faultless, pure, excellent) + “uq//oq” (understanding, thought, wisdom) forms “the owner of very deep pure mind” - the name which was given the owner of such mind, our wise ancestor by ancient custom.
