Diplomatic Marriages Between the Tang and Uyghur Dynasties

This paper explores the practice of heqin (marriage alliance) in Chinese history, a diplomatic strategy used to establish relations between different ethnic groups through marriage. Originating in the 3rd century BCE, heqin became widespread during the Han Dynasty and continued through the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, reaching its peak in the Tang Dynasty. While 13 heqin agreements were made during the Han Dynasty, 23 such marriages occurred during the Tang period. A notable feature of Tang heqin practices is the establishment of marriage alliances with two Turkic qaghanates, the Köktürks and the Uyghurs, providing a comparative framework for analyzing Chinese-Turkic relations. This article focuses on the heqin marriages between the Tang and Uyghur dynasties, examining the historical context and the role of princesses in heqin diplomacy. It shows that the selection of princesses was influenced by the nature of diplomatic relations and strategic priorities, interpreting heqin as a reflection of the power dynamics and cultural exchanges between the two societies. The first section of this paper will outline the heqin practices between the Western Wei, Sui, Tang, and Köktürk dynasties to provide historical context. The subsequent section will focus on the heqin practices between the Tang and Uyghur dynasties.