Paper abstract:

This paper studies the Turkic part of a Chinese-Manchu-Mongolic-Turkic quadrilingual inscription found at the Yashilkul Lake from 1759. Its content was an essay of Emperor Qianlong to commemorating the triumphant against the fled Musulmans at Yashilkul Lake in 1759. I introduce the history of this monument together with the transcription and translation of the Turkic part of this inscription for the first time. Through analyzing the texts for its linguistic features and translate features, I argue this inscription shows an early stage of the shaping of the “Qing court vernacular Turkic”. I also argue the translators of the Turkic version were Turks from Qomul and their Bannermen pupils. Concerning the term “Yärlik” was used in this text, which is different from the term “Musulman” appeared in other similar inscriptions in the same era, I point the self-identity of these Turks in Uyghuristan region (Qomul, Turfan, Lop) is different from those Turks in Tarim region. This inscription is the second of all four quadrilingual inscriptions that established after the Qing conquest of Eastern Central Asia. It is an important clue of multilingualism of Qing court related to Islamic world. I argue these inscriptions are not only important documents for history but also for historical Turkic linguistics. This paper is based on first hand materials, including rubbing, Manchu and Chinese archives, and other published historical materials.