Collection of Information about the Peoples Inhabiting Central Asia in Ancient Times

Chinese Written Sources

The first historical information about the Kyrgyz appears in the early Chinese source "Shiji" ("Historical Records," compiled in the 1st century BC) by Sima Qian, where it discusses the expansion of the Xiongnu chanyu Maodun's state borders to the east up to Korea and to the west up to modern Xinjiang, around 201 BC.

The text states: "Later, when (Maodun) conquered the northern territories of the Xiongnu, the Duyishe, Dinlins, Geguney (1), and Xinli, all the noble people and officials of the Xiongnu submitted to him and began to consider the chanyu Maodun wise" (Materials on the History of the Xiongnu. Preface, translation, and notes by V. S. Taskin. Moscow, 1968. p. 41).

Chronologically, the second mention of the Kyrgyz is found in the source "Qian Han Shu" ("History of the Early Han Dynasty," compiled in the 1st century BC) by Ban Gu, which also mentions their subjugation by the Xiongnu chanyu Zhizhi around 48 BC.

The text reads: "Seeing that there were many troops of the Usun, and that his envoy had not returned, Zhizhi advanced, attacked the Usun, and inflicted a defeat upon them. Then in the north, he attacked the Wuzhe, and they submitted to his authority. Following this, (Zhizhi) sent troops westward, defeated the Jiangguney, and in the north forced the Dinlins to surrender. (Thus Zhizhi) annexed three territories to himself. He repeatedly sent troops to attack the Usun and always achieved victory over them. The lands of the Jiangguney were located 7,000 li (2) west of the chanyu's camp and 5,000 li north of the territory of Cheshi (3). There Zhizhi remained to live" (4) (Materials on the History of the Xiongnu... Vol. II. 1973. p. 37).