Uygur Sivil Belgelerinde Geçen Ançaşi Ünvanı Üzerine
Hatice VeliÜnvanlar toplumda hiyerarşik düzeni belirleyen ve belli bir hukuk sisteminin bulunduğuna işaret eden önemli unsurlardan biridir. Bilindiği üzere Türk devletleri ilk kuruldukları dönemlerden itibaren belli bir siyasi yapılanma ve düzen içerisinde idare edilmiştir. Türk devletlerinde belli görevi ifa etmek amacıyla tesis edilmiş birtakım kurumlar ve bu kurumları temsil eden kişilerin kullandığı ünvanlar bulunmaktadır. Bu ünvanlar Türklerin idari düzenini yansıtması bakımından önem arz etmektedir. Hunlar zamanından beri Orhun ve Selenge nehri kıyılarında yaşamış olan Uygurlar, Ötüken Uygur Devleti (744-840) yıkıldıktan sonra eskiden de farklı Türk boylarına ev sahipliği yapan Hexi (Heşi) Koridorundaki ve Tarım Havzası’ndaki şehirlere yerleşerek bu bölgedeki Türk boylarıyla birlikte iki farklı Türk devleti kurmuşlardır. Moğolların Batıya doğru genişlemesiyle Uygur devletleri ardı ardına Moğolların egemenliği altına girmiştir. Nitekim Kubilay Han döneminden sonra (1271-1294) Uygur devletinin idari yapısı içerisinde Türkçe ünvanların yanı sıra Moğolca ve Çince ünvanların da kullanıldığı görülmüştür. Çalışmamızda Uygur sivil belgelerinde sadece bir kere tespit edilen ve Moğol-Yuan sülalesi döneminde Uygurcaya geçen ançaşi “denetçi, teftiş eden, müfettiş” ünvanından hareketle bu ünvanın kökeni, Çin’de kurulan hanedanlıklardaki durumu, Moğol-Yuan sülalesi dönemindeki hiyerarşik sıralanması ve yetki alanları hakkında Çince kaynaklara dayanarak bilgi verilecektir. Ayrıca ançaşi ünvanının Uygur sahasına girişi, Uygur sahasındaki kullanımı ve yetki alanları da ortaya konulacaktır.
On the Title Ançaşi in Uyghur Civil Documents
Hatice VeliTitles are one of the most significant elements that determine the hierarchical order in a society and indicate the existence of a certain legal system. Turkic states have been governed within a specific political structure and order since they were first established. In Turkic states, some institutions have been established to perform certain duties and titles used by people representing these institutions. The Uyghurs, who had lived on the banks of the Orkhon and Selenge rivers since the time of the Huns, after the collapse of the Otuken Uyghur State (744-840), they settled in the present-day Hexi Corridor, the Tarim Basin and established two different states. With the expansion of the Mongols towards the West, Uyghur states came under the rule of the Mongols one after another. In fact, after the reign of Kublai Khan (1271-1294), it was observed that Mongolian and Chinese titles were used in addition to Turkic titles within the administrative structure of the Uyghur state. In our study, we will focus on the title, ançaşi “auditor, inspector,” which is found only once in Uyghur civil documents and entered Uyghur language during the Mongol-Yuan Dynasty. Meanwhile, in this study, the origin of the ançaşi, its use in the dynasties established in China, its hierarchical organization in the Mongol-Yuan Dynasty and its areas of authority are given based on Chinese sources. Finally, our research objectives include the introduction of the title of ançaşi in the Uyghur field, its usage and areas of authority.
Titles are one of the most significant elements that determine the hierarchical order in a society and indicate the existence of a certain legal system. Since their first establishment, Turkic states have been governed by a certain political structure and order. Certain institutions are established to perform certain duties in Turkic states and the titles used by the people representing these institutions are important in terms of reflecting their cultural background. Kocho Uyghurs had a privileged position in Turkic culture. Because they were the first of the pre-Islamic Turkic states to adopt a sedentary lifestyle. They also developed an economy based on agriculture, animal husbandry and handicrafts. In addition, Kocho Uyghurs were also important in terms of Turkic cultural history as they adopted various religious beliefs, such as Buddhism, Manichaeism and Christianity. Meanwhile, they also created a literature based on translation within the framework of these beliefs. The Kocho Uyghur State came under the Mongols’ rule in 1209. However, they had a special position within the Mongol Empire and the Kocho Uyghur state continued to be ruled by the Uyghur ruler Idikut. After Kublai Khan assumed power (1260), the Mongol-Yuan state made various administrative arrangements in the Kocho region. One of these arrangements was the establishment of the Local Supervision Bureau (按察司ancha si) and the appointment of Local Supervision Officers (按察使ancha shi). The Local Supervision Bureau was responsible for overseeing administrative, judicial and agricultural affairs of regions under Mongol rule. It is known that during the Mongol-Yuan dynasty, ançaşi, which were Local Supervision Offices, were also established in the Kocho region where Uyghurs lived. According to the information in the Yuan Yearbook, which is an important source on the history of the Mongols, the Local Supervision Bureau was established in Karakoço in the 15th year of Zhiyuan (1278) by order of Kublai Khan, but this institution became dysfunctional as a result of the riots in the region and was canceled in 1281. Later, the Hexi Supervisory Bureau was established in Hexi, where the Uyghur population was predominantly Uyghur, and this temporary institution was canceled in the third month of 1283, and the supervisory bureau in the Longyou district of Hexi replaced the Hexi Regional Supervisory Bureau.
Uyghur civil documents, which constitute the primary material of our study, cannot be dated precisely because of the use of the Twelve Animal Turkic Calendars. However, the possible dating of these documents is estimated as the 9th-13th centuries. These documents cover various topics, such as buying and selling, lending and borrowing, lease documents, pledge documents, adoption, slave emancipation, and inheritance. These documents were obtained in the early 20th century due to research expeditions and archaeological excavations by archaeologists worldwide, such as Finnish, Russian, German, Japanese, and French. These facsimiles are available in Berlin, Leningrad, Kyoto, London, Paris, Helsinki, Beijing and Urumchi. A significant number of vocabulary studies and text editions have been conducted on Uyghur civil documents in Türkiye and abroad. The evaluation of the vocabulary of these documents, which provide crucial information on the political, economic and cultural life of the Uyghurs, by supporting them with historical, cultural and archaeological materials and interdisciplinary studies is very limited. The research of these documents, based on Chinese annals, is very important in terms of revealing information that has not yet been clarified in the Uyghurs’ political, economic, and cultural history of the.
In this study, the historical development of ançaşi “auditor, inspector,” found once in Uyghur civil documents, is presented by giving information about the origin of this title and its use in the dynasties established in China. In addition, the introduction of the title of ançaşi into the Uyghur field, as well as its usage and jurisdiction areas, are revealed in this research.
