AN ANALYSIS OF THE GRAPHICAL AND ORTHOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TONYUKUK MONUMENT

The Tonyukuk Monument occupies a distinct position among the Old Turkic inscriptions. Serving as an advisor to three khagans, the wise Tonyukuk is commemorated in one of the most extensive and well-preserved Orkhon inscriptions. Comprising 62 lines, the text provides insight into the structure of medieval Turkic states, significant historical events, and the wisdom and heroic deeds of Tonyukuk. The Tonyukuk inscription includes several characters that are not found in the Bilge Khagan and Kül Tegin inscriptions. Scholarly opinions vary regarding the interpretation of these characters, which makes a detailed analysis of each sign and its graphical characteristics an important task. Although a general orthographic system is shared among the Orkhon inscriptions, the Tonyukuk text exhibits unique spelling conventions in the representation of certain words. Identifying these orthographic features contributes to a more accurate reading of the text and facilitates the development of reliable scholarly translations and commentaries. In this study, estampages and photographs of the monument taken in different years were compared, the form and structure of the inscriptions were analyzed, and specific scribal features were identified. The estampage published in V. Radloff’s atlas was digitally enhanced using graphic analysis tools and compared with recent high-resolution images of the monument to determine character variations. The orthographic conventions typical of the Orkhon tradition were verified using the Tonyukuk text, allowing for the identification and analysis of its distinctive features. The findings of this study may be used in the teaching of Old Turkic epigraphy, historical grammar, and for direct engagement with the original monument text.