# Yujiulü clan

The Yujiulü clan (Chinese: 郁久閭氏; reconstructed Middle Chinese: ʔjuk kjǝu ljwo) was the ruling clan of the Rouran Khaganate, which ruled over Northern China, the Mongolian Steppe and Southern Siberia.

## Origin

According to Book of Wei and History of the Northern Dynasties, the surname Yujiulü is of Donghu origin. The first known Yujiulü was a slave caught by Xianbei mounted raiders under the reign of Tuoba Liwei. The slave, whose hairline started at his eyebrows' level, was called Mùgúlǘ (木骨閭) - "bald-headed" in the Xianbei language. When grown-up, Mugulü was noted for his strength, emancipated and recruited as a cavalry soldier. For tarrying past the deadline, he was sentenced to death by beheading. But he fled to the mountains and ravines in the Gobi desert, where he gathered another 100 fugitives. The fugitives sought refuge under the Gaoche tribe called Hetulin (紇突隣). The descendants of Mugulü and his companions became the nucleus of the future Rouran Khaganate. Alexander Vovin proposes that Mùgúlǘ (木骨閭), in reconstructed Middle Chinese *muwk-kwot-ljo, transcribed Tuoba Xianbei *moqo-lo ~ muqo-lo 'bald head', which is analysable as 'one [who/]which has cut-off/fallen-off [hair]' and cognate with Mongolic lexical items like Written Mongolian moɣutur ~ moqutur 'blunt, hornless, bald tail' (cf. Chinese gloss: 禿尾 'bald tail'), moqu-ɣar, Middle Mongol muqular 'hornless', moqo-dag 'blunt'; all of those are from Proto-Mongolic *muqu 'to be cut off, break off, fall off', which in turn would produce the semantic variation 'blunt ~ hornless ~ hairless ~ bald'.
Later on, his dynasty was called Yujiulü, which sounded like Mugulü. Róna-Tas suggests that Yujiulü renders *ugur(i) > Uğur, a secondary form of Oğur.; Peter B. Golden additionally proposes connection with Turkic uğurluğ "feasible, opportune", later "auspicious fortunate" or oğrï "thief", an etymology more suited to the dynasty's founder's activities; additionally Yujiulü may be comparable to Middle Mongolian uğuli "owl" (> Khakha ууль uul'), as personal names based on bird names are common in Mongolic.

## Family tree

Yujiulü clan :
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mugulü 木骨闾 | Mugulü 木骨闾 | Mugulü 木骨闾 | Mugulü 木骨闾 | Mugulü 木骨闾 | Mugulü 木骨闾 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Cheluhui 车鹿会 | Cheluhui 车鹿会 | Cheluhui 车鹿会 | Cheluhui 车鹿会 | Cheluhui 车鹿会 | Cheluhui 车鹿会 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tunugui 吐奴傀 | Tunugui 吐奴傀 | Tunugui 吐奴傀 | Tunugui 吐奴傀 | Tunugui 吐奴傀 | Tunugui 吐奴傀 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Bati 跋提 | Bati 跋提 | Bati 跋提 | Bati 跋提 | Bati 跋提 | Bati 跋提 | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Disuyuan 地粟袁 | Disuyuan 地粟袁 | Disuyuan 地粟袁 | Disuyuan 地粟袁 | Disuyuan 地粟袁 | Disuyuan 地粟袁 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Wenheti 缊纥提 | Wenheti 缊纥提 | Wenheti 缊纥提 | Wenheti 缊纥提 | Wenheti 缊纥提 | Wenheti 缊纥提 | | | Pihouba 匹候跋 | Pihouba 匹候跋 | Pihouba 匹候跋 | Pihouba 匹候跋 | Pihouba 匹候跋 | Pihouba 匹候跋 | | | | | | | | | Puhun 僕渾 | Puhun 僕渾 | Puhun 僕渾 | Puhun 僕渾 | Puhun 僕渾 | Puhun 僕渾 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | Jiguizhi 诘归之 | Jiguizhi 诘归之 | Jiguizhi 诘归之 | Jiguizhi 诘归之 | Jiguizhi 诘归之 | Jiguizhi 诘归之 | Shelun 社崘 ?-402–410 | Shelun 社崘 ?-402–410 | Shelun 社崘 ?-402–410 | Shelun 社崘 ?-402–410 | Shelun 社崘 ?-402–410 | Shelun 社崘 ?-402–410 | Hulü 斛律 ?-410–414 | Hulü 斛律 ?-410–414 | Hulü 斛律 ?-410–414 | Hulü 斛律 ?-410–414 | Hulü 斛律 ?-410–414 | Hulü 斛律 ?-410–414 | | | Héduōhàn 曷多汗 ?-?–402 | Héduōhàn 曷多汗 ?-?–402 | Héduōhàn 曷多汗 ?-?–402 | Héduōhàn 曷多汗 ?-?–402 | Héduōhàn 曷多汗 ?-?–402 | Héduōhàn 曷多汗 ?-?–402 | | | Qiba 启拔 | Qiba 启拔 | Qiba 启拔 | Qiba 启拔 | Qiba 启拔 | Qiba 启拔 | Wujie 吴颉 | Wujie 吴颉 | Wujie 吴颉 | Wujie 吴颉 | Wujie 吴颉 | Wujie 吴颉 | | | | | | | | | | | Lü Dafei 闾大肥 | Lü Dafei 闾大肥 | Lü Dafei 闾大肥 | Lü Dafei 闾大肥 | Lü Dafei 闾大肥 | Lü Dafei 闾大肥 | | | Lu Dàníbèiyí 闾大埿倍颐 | Lu Dàníbèiyí 闾大埿倍颐 | Lu Dàníbèiyí 闾大埿倍颐 | Lu Dàníbèiyí 闾大埿倍颐 | Lu Dàníbèiyí 闾大埿倍颐 | Lu Dàníbèiyí 闾大埿倍颐 | | | Lu Lín 闾驎 | Lu Lín 闾驎 | Lu Lín 闾驎 | Lu Lín 闾驎 | Lu Lín 闾驎 | Lu Lín 闾驎 |
| Buluzhen 步鹿真 ?–414 | Buluzhen 步鹿真 ?–414 | Buluzhen 步鹿真 ?–414 | Buluzhen 步鹿真 ?–414 | Buluzhen 步鹿真 ?–414 | Buluzhen 步鹿真 ?–414 | Duba 度拔 | Duba 度拔 | Duba 度拔 | Duba 度拔 | Duba 度拔 | Duba 度拔 | Shèba 社拔 ?–414 | Shèba 社拔 ?–414 | Shèba 社拔 ?–414 | Shèba 社拔 ?–414 | Shèba 社拔 ?–414 | Shèba 社拔 ?–414 | Zhāoyí 昭仪 | Zhāoyí 昭仪 | Zhāoyí 昭仪 | Zhāoyí 昭仪 | Zhāoyí 昭仪 | Zhāoyí 昭仪 | | | Feng Ba 馮跋 (d. 430) | Feng Ba 馮跋 (d. 430) | Feng Ba 馮跋 (d. 430) | Feng Ba 馮跋 (d. 430) | Feng Ba 馮跋 (d. 430) | Feng Ba 馮跋 (d. 430) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Datan 大檀 ?-414–429 | Datan 大檀 ?-414–429 | Datan 大檀 ?-414–429 | Datan 大檀 ?-414–429 | Datan 大檀 ?-414–429 | Datan 大檀 ?-414–429 | | | Tāw Wúluhú 他吾无鹿胡 | Tāw Wúluhú 他吾无鹿胡 | Tāw Wúluhú 他吾无鹿胡 | Tāw Wúluhú 他吾无鹿胡 | Tāw Wúluhú 他吾无鹿胡 | Tāw Wúluhú 他吾无鹿胡 | | | Pili 匹黎 | Pili 匹黎 | Pili 匹黎 | Pili 匹黎 | Pili 匹黎 | Pili 匹黎 | | | Lu Fèng 闾凤 | Lu Fèng 闾凤 | Lu Fèng 闾凤 | Lu Fèng 闾凤 | Lu Fèng 闾凤 | Lu Fèng 闾凤 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Princess Xihai 西海公主 | Princess Xihai 西海公主 | Princess Xihai 西海公主 | Princess Xihai 西海公主 | Princess Xihai 西海公主 | Princess Xihai 西海公主 | Wuti 吴提 ?-429–444 | Wuti 吴提 ?-429–444 | Wuti 吴提 ?-429–444 | Wuti 吴提 ?-429–444 | Wuti 吴提 ?-429–444 | Wuti 吴提 ?-429–444 | | | Tulugui 秃鹿傀 | Tulugui 秃鹿傀 | Tulugui 秃鹿傀 | Tulugui 秃鹿傀 | Tulugui 秃鹿傀 | Tulugui 秃鹿傀 | | | Qǐlièguī 乞列归 | Qǐlièguī 乞列归 | Qǐlièguī 乞列归 | Qǐlièguī 乞列归 | Qǐlièguī 乞列归 | Qǐlièguī 乞列归 | | | Qilifu 俟力弗 | Qilifu 俟力弗 | Qilifu 俟力弗 | Qilifu 俟力弗 | Qilifu 俟力弗 | Qilifu 俟力弗 | | | Lu Zuǒzhāoyí 闾左昭仪 | Lu Zuǒzhāoyí 闾左昭仪 | Lu Zuǒzhāoyí 闾左昭仪 | Lu Zuǒzhāoyí 闾左昭仪 | Lu Zuǒzhāoyí 闾左昭仪 | Lu Zuǒzhāoyí 闾左昭仪 | | | Emperor Taiwu 北魏太武帝 408–452 | Emperor Taiwu 北魏太武帝 408–452 | Emperor Taiwu 北魏太武帝 408–452 | Emperor Taiwu 北魏太武帝 408–452 | Emperor Taiwu 北魏太武帝 408–452 | Emperor Taiwu 北魏太武帝 408–452 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tuhezhen 吐贺真 ?-444–464 | Tuhezhen 吐贺真 ?-444–464 | Tuhezhen 吐贺真 ?-444–464 | Tuhezhen 吐贺真 ?-444–464 | Tuhezhen 吐贺真 ?-444–464 | Tuhezhen 吐贺真 ?-444–464 | Emperor Tuoba Yu 拓拔余 | Emperor Tuoba Yu 拓拔余 | Emperor Tuoba Yu 拓拔余 | Emperor Tuoba Yu 拓拔余 | Emperor Tuoba Yu 拓拔余 | Emperor Tuoba Yu 拓拔余 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Yucheng 予成 ?-464–485 | Yucheng 予成 ?-464–485 | Yucheng 予成 ?-464–485 | Yucheng 予成 ?-464–485 | Yucheng 予成 ?-464–485 | Yucheng 予成 ?-464–485 | | | | | | | | | Nagai 那盖 ?-492–506 | Nagai 那盖 ?-492–506 | Nagai 那盖 ?-492–506 | Nagai 那盖 ?-492–506 | Nagai 那盖 ?-492–506 | Nagai 那盖 ?-492–506 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Doulun 豆仑 ?-485–492 | Doulun 豆仑 ?-485–492 | Doulun 豆仑 ?-485–492 | Doulun 豆仑 ?-485–492 | Doulun 豆仑 ?-485–492 | Doulun 豆仑 ?-485–492 | | | Dengshuzi 邓叔子 ?-553–555 | Dengshuzi 邓叔子 ?-553–555 | Dengshuzi 邓叔子 ?-553–555 | Dengshuzi 邓叔子 ?-553–555 | Dengshuzi 邓叔子 ?-553–555 | Dengshuzi 邓叔子 ?-553–555 | Futu 伏图 ?-506–508 | Futu 伏图 ?-506–508 | Futu 伏图 ?-506–508 | Futu 伏图 ?-506–508 | Futu 伏图 ?-506–508 | Futu 伏图 ?-506–508 | | | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | | | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chounu 丑奴 ?-508–520 | Chounu 丑奴 ?-508–520 | Chounu 丑奴 ?-508–520 | Chounu 丑奴 ?-508–520 | Chounu 丑奴 ?-508–520 | Chounu 丑奴 ?-508–520 | Qínifa 俟匿伐 | Qínifa 俟匿伐 | Qínifa 俟匿伐 | Qínifa 俟匿伐 | Qínifa 俟匿伐 | Qínifa 俟匿伐 | Anagui 阿那瓌 ?-520–552 | Anagui 阿那瓌 ?-520–552 | Anagui 阿那瓌 ?-520–552 | Anagui 阿那瓌 ?-520–552 | Anagui 阿那瓌 ?-520–552 | Anagui 阿那瓌 ?-520–552 | Zuhui 祖惠 | Zuhui 祖惠 | Zuhui 祖惠 | Zuhui 祖惠 | Zuhui 祖惠 | Zuhui 祖惠 | | | Yǐjufa 乙居伐 ?–520 | Yǐjufa 乙居伐 ?–520 | Yǐjufa 乙居伐 ?–520 | Yǐjufa 乙居伐 ?–520 | Yǐjufa 乙居伐 ?–520 | Yǐjufa 乙居伐 ?–520 | | | Tahan 塔寒 | Tahan 塔寒 | Tahan 塔寒 | Tahan 塔寒 | Tahan 塔寒 | Tahan 塔寒 | Tutujiā 秃突佳 | Tutujiā 秃突佳 | Tutujiā 秃突佳 | Tutujiā 秃突佳 | Tutujiā 秃突佳 | Tutujiā 秃突佳 | | | Poluomen 婆羅門 ?-521–525 | Poluomen 婆羅門 ?-521–525 | Poluomen 婆羅門 ?-521–525 | Poluomen 婆羅門 ?-521–525 | Poluomen 婆羅門 ?-521–525 | Poluomen 婆羅門 ?-521–525 | | | Dengzhu 登注俟利 ?-552–553 | Dengzhu 登注俟利 ?-552–553 | Dengzhu 登注俟利 ?-552–553 | Dengzhu 登注俟利 ?-552–553 | Dengzhu 登注俟利 ?-552–553 | Dengzhu 登注俟利 ?-552–553 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | Wen of Western Wei 507–535–551 | Wen of Western Wei 507–535–551 | Wen of Western Wei 507–535–551 | Wen of Western Wei 507–535–551 | Wen of Western Wei 507–535–551 | Wen of Western Wei 507–535–551 | Empress Dao 悼皇后 525–540 | Empress Dao 悼皇后 525–540 | Empress Dao 悼皇后 525–540 | Empress Dao 悼皇后 525–540 | Empress Dao 悼皇后 525–540 | Empress Dao 悼皇后 525–540 | Anluochen 庵罗辰 ?-553–554 | Anluochen 庵罗辰 ?-553–554 | Anluochen 庵罗辰 ?-553–554 | Anluochen 庵罗辰 ?-553–554 | Anluochen 庵罗辰 ?-553–554 | Anluochen 庵罗辰 ?-553–554 | | | Lanling of Eastern Wei 乐安公主 | Lanling of Eastern Wei 乐安公主 | Lanling of Eastern Wei 乐安公主 | Lanling of Eastern Wei 乐安公主 | Lanling of Eastern Wei 乐安公主 | Lanling of Eastern Wei 乐安公主 | | | Princess Ruru 蠕蠕公主 | Princess Ruru 蠕蠕公主 | Princess Ruru 蠕蠕公主 | Princess Ruru 蠕蠕公主 | Princess Ruru 蠕蠕公主 | Princess Ruru 蠕蠕公主 | Gao Cheng 高澄 (521–549) | Gao Cheng 高澄 (521–549) | Gao Cheng 高澄 (521–549) | Gao Cheng 高澄 (521–549) | Gao Cheng 高澄 (521–549) | Gao Cheng 高澄 (521–549) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kangti 库提 ?–553 | Kangti 库提 ?–553 | Kangti 库提 ?–553 | Kangti 库提 ?–553 | Kangti 库提 ?–553 | Kangti 库提 ?–553 | | | Tiefa 铁伐 ?-552–553 | Tiefa 铁伐 ?-552–553 | Tiefa 铁伐 ?-552–553 | Tiefa 铁伐 ?-552–553 | Tiefa 铁伐 ?-552–553 | Tiefa 铁伐 ?-552–553 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Lu Chidelian 郁久閭叱地連 537–550 | Lu Chidelian 郁久閭叱地連 537–550 | Lu Chidelian 郁久閭叱地連 537–550 | Lu Chidelian 郁久閭叱地連 537–550 | Lu Chidelian 郁久閭叱地連 537–550 | Lu Chidelian 郁久閭叱地連 537–550 | Wucheng of Northern Qi 537–569 | Wucheng of Northern Qi 537–569 | Wucheng of Northern Qi 537–569 | Wucheng of Northern Qi 537–569 | Wucheng of Northern Qi 537–569 | Wucheng of Northern Qi 537–569 | | | | | | | Gao Shi 高氏 | Gao Shi 高氏 | Gao Shi 高氏 | Gao Shi 高氏 | Gao Shi 高氏 | Gao Shi 高氏 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Yujiulü Furen Died on 29 November 586 | Yujiulü Furen Died on 29 November 586 | Yujiulü Furen Died on 29 November 586 | Yujiulü Furen Died on 29 November 586 | Yujiulü Furen Died on 29 November 586 | Yujiulü Furen Died on 29 November 586 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Other members

* Consort Yujiulü (died 452), formally Empress Gong, a consort of Tuoba Huang, a crown prince of the Northern Wei, and the mother of Emperor Wencheng.
* Lü Pi (闾毗) - Duke of Hedong (河东王), d. April 461.
* Yujiulü Ruowen (郁久閭若文) - Prince of Puyang, senior official at court of Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei.
* Empress Yujiulü (525–540), formally Empress Dao (悼皇后), consort of Emperor Wen of Western Wei.

## Dissolution and legacy

Yujiulü clan lost its dominant power in steppe to Ashina tribe in 555. Surviving members of royal clan sinicized, changing their surnames to Lǘ (闾). Some of them even served Sui dynasty, such as Yujiulü Furen (d. 29 November 586). Chinese author Wang Anyi wrote that her mother Ru Zhijuan might be descended from Rouran.