Ashina

Ashina (Chinese: 阿史那; pinyin: Āshǐnà; Wade–Giles: A-shih-na; Middle Chinese: (Guangyun) [ʔɑʃi̯ə˥nɑ˩]), also spelled Asen, Asena, or Açina, was a tribe and the ruling dynasty of the ancient Turks who rose to prominence in the mid-6th century when their leader, Bumin Khan, revolted against the Rouran. The two main branches of the family, one descended from Bumin and the other from his brother Istemi, ruled over the eastern and western parts of the Göktürk empire, respectively.

Origin

Some researchers, such as H.W. Haussig, S.G. Kljyashtorny, A.N. Bernstamm, Yu.A. Zuev, D.G. Savinov, S.P. Guschin, Rona-Tas, R.N. Frye, C. V. Findley and others who point out the origin of the Ashina from Saka-Wusun, put forward in favor of this version of the following arguments:

Name

The recent re-reading of the Bugut inscription, the oldest inscription of the Ashina dynasty, written in Sogdian, by a Japanese team of philologists has suggested that the name, known only in the Chinese transcription of Ashina, was in fact Ashinas. It is in fact known in later Arabic sources under this form.