Orhon inscriptions

Orhon (or Orkhon) inscriptions are the oldest known Turkic writings, which were erected near the Orhon River between 732 and 735 in honour of two Kokturk princes named Kul and Bilge.

They have been carved on two monuments by old Turkic runes (see Old Turkic alphabet), which were deciphered by the Danish philologist Vilhelm Thomsen in 1893. Compared with monuments left by Tu-jue (突厥 pinyin tu2 jue2) in China during Tang Dynasty, the inscription was the fundamental proof of the equivalence of Gokturks and Tu-jue (突厥 pinyin tu2 jue2) as the alphabets are equivalent.

See also: Gokturk Runes

External links

See texts of Orhon:

• http://www.turcoman.btinternet.co.uk/orkhon-inscription.htm
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/turkishlearner/messages/459
• http://altaica.narod.ru/links.htm
• http://users.pandora.be/orientaal/turkcestan.html
• http://www.cossackweb.com/gumilev/introd.htm
• http://www.eurasianet.org/resource/cenasia/hypermail/200005/0047.html
• http://www.angelfire.com/on/paksoy/islam4.html
• http://www.doncroner.com/Mongolia/Chingis/Secret/SecretHistory.html
• http://www.metu.edu.tr/~eas/linksmain.htm
• http://sophistikatedkids.com/turkic/13%20Oguz%20and%20Ogur/OguzesEn.htm
• http://eurasia-research.com/erc/000cam.htm
• http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/53/128.html