# Ongin inscription

The Ongin inscription was discovered in 1891 in Mongolia near the Ongi River, 160 km south of the Orkhon inscriptions and 402 km south-west of the Tonyukuk inscriptions.$^{:177}$ It was erected in honor of El Etmish Yabgu. Line 12 makes it clear that the author of the inscription erected a memorial to his father.$^{:183}$ According to Gerard Clauson, it must have been erected between 716 and 735, during the reign of Bilge Qaghan.$^{:191}$ According to Ercilasun it was erected in 719 or 720.

## Location

The Ongin inscription was discovered in 1891, in Outer Mongolia on the Manet mountains, near a tributary of the Ongi River, from which it takes its name, at a point a little north-east of 46° N., 102° E., that is about 100 miles south of the Orkhon Inscriptions and some 250 miles west-southwest of the inscription of Tonyukuk.

## Discovery and translation
### Region

It was found in district Maantyn Burd, the northwest coast of Ongi River in Övörkhangai Province of Mongolia.

### Complete text

Following inscription text transcription and translation derived from latest research made by Osawa Takashi in 2011.
| Transcription of original text: äčümiz apamïz: yama qaγan: tört buluŋuγ : qïsmïš # : yïgmïš : yaymïš : basmïš : ol qan : yoq : boltuqda : kesrä : elyitmiš : qačïš(mïš) : qa : ... altmïš : tägmiš : ... : elbägler : tabγač : qaγanladuq qaγanïn ïčγïnï : ïdmïš : türk bodun: öŋ # rä : kün : tuγsuqïŋa: kesrä : kün : batsïqïŋa : tägi : beriyä : tabγačqa: yïraya : yïšqa(tä)g(i) : ... : qazγantuq : üčün : ol qïz oγlïn körti : alp ärin : balbal : qïšdï : türk bodun : atï yoq : bolu : barmïš : ärti : türk bodun : yitmäzün : teyin : yulïr ärmäzün : teyin : üzä : täŋri : temiš : ärig : ... nt a : ... : qapγan : elteriš : qaγan : eliŋä : qïlïntïm: eletmïš yabγu: oγlï # : ïšbara : tamγan čor : yoγa : inisi : bilgä : ïšbara : tamγan : tarqan : yoγa : atï : beš : yetmiš : äčim atïm : at... : sü : äsiŋ : oγlï : tamγan bu : tabγačda : yïriyä : täg oγuz : ara : yeti ärin : yaγï : # bolmïš : qaŋïm baγa : täŋrikän : yanïnta : yorïmïš : išig : küčin : bermiš : ärtmiš : (käl)[miš)... : tarduš : boltuqda : täŋrikänkä išig bertiŋ : teyin : yarlïqamïš : šad atïγ : ant # a : bermiš : boltuqda : toquz : oγuz : täg : yaγï : ärmiš : bädük : är(miš :) qaγan : täg(miš) ... : biz bädük biz : biz bat biz : biz : yavïz bat biz : azïγ üküšüg : körtüg : irti : sülätim # : ter ärmiš : amtï bäglärïm a : ter : ärmiš : biz : az biz : teyin al # qïnur : (ärtimiz) : ... : yorïyïn : sü : süläyïn : qaŋïm : š(ad) : anča : ötünmiš : täŋrikän : almazïn teyin # : ... : bodun : anta bermäziŋ ä : tusul är ... : (atačïm a) ... d ... qamuq balïqqa : (tägdim) : qonuldïm : altïm : süsi : kälti : arqasï#n : yaγdïm : bägi : qačdï : / š / γ ärti : tabγač bodunï : ... : toqïdtïm : yaγdïm : bas(dïm : yaydïm :) ... buzuq anča : ... : ...mäz : ärïnč : išig küčig bert(im) : ... kälir : ärtimiz : ekin ara : täg yaγï : bolmïš : tägmäči # män teyin : saqïntïm : täŋri bilgä : qaγanqa : ančaqïŋa : išig küčüg : bersägim : bar : ärmiš : ärinč : tägdük(in) (üčün) ... # äbimä tägdüküm : ur elï qaŋ elï : adrïlmalïm : täyin : qaγanda : adrïlmaz : teyin : tägdim : tägip : inima : oγlïma : anča : ötlädim : qaŋ : yorïp : elteriš qaγanqa # : adrïlmaduq : yaŋïlmaduq : täŋri : bilgä : qaγanta : adrïlmalïm : azmalïm : teyin : anča : ötlädim : ilgärü barïγma : bardï # : bilgä qaγan : bodunï ... : bardï # : ölügin : atqa : išig küčig : bertim : adrïlmaz : teyin : tägdim : üzä : täŋri : qan : lüi : yïlqa : yetinč: ay küčlüg : alp är : qaγanïmda : adrïlu : bardïŋïz : bilgä : atačïm : yoγuŋ : qorïγïŋïn : qazγantïm : el yetti : täŋri : üzä : täŋrikän : ... (tabγa)č körür : ärtim : ädgü : atačïm : ... : toqïdïmïz : äčim boyla : ... girtim : ... basatïp ärig : udušuru : sančdïm : ... išig : küčig: kü... ičün : ...dim : ... atačïm : ... : ...n : täg : ïšbara : tarqanïγ : ... # elteriš : qaγan : ... Transcription of the text in south side of the headstone: atačïmqa : bitig : tašï qïldïm : bäŋigü qaγanïm : atačïm bilgä : atačïm : lü yïlqa : bilgä : uluγ : alp är : ädgü qan: atačïm : ölti Transcription of text on balbal: Ïsbara Tamγan balbalï | English translation: It was said that our ancestor, our forefather Yama Qaγan compressed, assembled, enlarged and made a surprise attack on the four corners (of the world). It was said that when that qaγan died, his people lost their way and they were scattered. And it is said that he organized the peoples and attacked to ... It is said that leaders (Begs) of the Turkic country completely lost the qaγan whom the Tabγač (i. e. Chinese) had made their ruler. Up to the front (eastern) side where sun rises, up to the black (western) side where sun sets, up to the right (southern) side where the Tabgach existed, up to the left (northern) side where the wooden Mountains existed, Turkic peoples were victorious (against the ... and ...) His daughters and sons (i. e. Turkic daughters and sons) served him (literally, he saw his daughters and sons). They constructed brave warriors as Balbal stones. "The fame of the Turkic peoples has vanished. You, Turkic peoples, don't go to ruin!" and "You, Turkic peoples, don't scatter", the God Täŋri said above. They ... warriors ... there ... I was born in the country of Qapγan, Elteriš Qaγan. I was a son of Eletmiš Yabγu, and the younger brother of Ïšbara Tamγan Čor Yoγa, and I had the name of Bilgä Ïšbara Tamγan Tarqan Yoγa. (I and) my 65 uncles younger than my father and nephews (or grandsons), ... , "Make the military go ahead in a hurry!". It was said that his son Tamγan became the enemy with the seven warriors among Oγuz tribes up to the northern regions of this Tabγač (China). It was narrated that my father went to march taking side with Baγa Täŋrikän, and he served (Baγa Täŋrikän) and he has passed. ... , when he became Tarduš, "You served the Täŋrikän" it was said that (Täŋrikän) told and appointed him a title of Šad at that time. It was said when he became Šad, he opposed up to the Toquz Oγuz. It was said (the enemy) was strong. It was said that Qaγan went ahead. ... "We are strong. We don't have advantage. We are in a bad way and worthy very little. You have seen how few we are and how many they are. They were annoyed. We marched", he had said. "Now, my lords (begs), ah!" he had said. "We are small forth, aren't we" he said and "We were exhausted ... , I want to march, I want our army to march" said he. And my father Šad addressed as follows, "Don't let Täŋrikän plunder!" said he. ... And "My peoples, you don't give him something from here, ah. Please be useful! ... My dear father, you, ah" I attacked all cities, and I settled down. His army came (against me). Then i attacked from behind, the lord (beg) escaped, and they were ... The Tabγač people did ... , I made (my army) attack and I attacked (them). I overwhelmed and broke into pieces. (They) fell into ... , then it is certain that they did not ... I served (him) ... , We came and we became enemies against them as far as to the location between the two groups. "I am not willing to attack (them)" I thought. I have a desire to serve Täŋri Bilgä Qaγan at least, certainly. They attacked me ... I went to my house. "The people of sons' generation and fathers' generation (of my family), you, don't be apart" said and "Let us not be apart from the Qaγan" said and I marched. I attacked, and I advised my little brothers and my sons as follows: "My father marched ahead and he did not make a mistake against Elteriš Qaγan". "Let us not be apart from Täŋri Bilgä Qaγan and not leave him." said I and also said as follows: "Ones who went ahead went. The peoples of Bilgä Qaγan went away, ... Regarding death in battle as an honour, I served him. Let us not be apart (from him)", I marched ahead. Over, Täŋri Qan, you went away separating from my Qaγan that was strong and brave warrior in June of the Lüi (Dragon) year, my dear and wise father! I could hold funeral services for you and I got your pasture. He organized his country. Over the sky Täŋrikän and the China were subjugated. ... I subjugated the China. My dear and good father! ... We attacked. My uncle, Boyla ... He entered (or He was subjugated) ... I made attack (the enemy ?), and then ran after him and speared him. ... (I) served ... I did ... my dear father ... ïsbara tarqan such as ... elteriš qaγan ... Translation of the text in south side of the headstone: For my dear father, stone epitaph i constructed. Eternal, my qaγan, my dear father, wise and my dear father, in the lü (dragon) year, wise, great and brave warrior, good qan, my dear father died. Translation of text on balbal: Balbal of Ïsbara Tamγan |