Shi Danai


Shi Danai, also known by his former name Ashina Danai, was a Turkic prince and the first foreigner to be a general in the Tang army.

Early years

His birth date is unknown. The New Book of Tang merely mentions him as "Western Turkic tegin". Text on his death stele was found in Dunhuang Manuscript S.2078, part of a student writing practice sample. According to this text, his father was Shiduo Gongmi Shad, himself a son of Mohe Qaghan. Zhu Zhenhong identified Mohe Qaghan with Bagha Qaghan. His father was identified with Ashina Tong through a grandson's stele - Shi Siguang. According to same stele, Ashina Tong served as Grand Master of the Palace. His father's title under Bagha Qaghan was a shad. However, after disintegration of the united khaganate, Tong and his sons fled from Tulan Qaghan's domain to service of Tardu. Following deaths of Tardu in 603 and Niri Qaghan in 604, Tong was also likely killed during fights against the Tiele.
Ashina Danai was styled tegin during the reign of Nijue Chuluo Khagan, who probably aimed at stripping him of independent command over troops and tacitly reducing his political standing. Ashina Danai fled to Sui dynasty after fall of Chuluo at the hands of Shegui Khagan in 611 alongside former khagan and khagan's brother Kuta Shad.

In China

Under Sui

After fleeing to Emperor Yang of Sui in January 611, both Danai and former khagan joined emperor's army. Former khagan was newly granted the title Heshana Qaghan and was given in marriage a princess of the imperial clan, Princess Xinyi, together with ten brocade robes and 10,000 bolts of coloured silks. Ashina Danai on the other hand was appointed Grand Master of Splendour with Gold and Purple, and awarded one thousand bolts of goods. This title was a san’guan of subordinate second rank. Afterwards, Emperor Yang stationed the troops under Danai’s command in newly-established Loufan Commandery on the Sui northern frontier. He took part in the Goguryeo–Sui War from 612 to 614 as well.
These appointments by Emperor Yang soon enraged Shibi Qaghan. In the fall of 615, when Emperor Yang was visiting Yanmen Commandery on the northern frontier, Shibi launched a surprise attack on the area, overrunning most of its Chinese settlements. Warned by Shibi's wife Princess Yicheng — a member of the imperial family who had been well treated by Empress Xiao during an earlier visit — the Emperor, Empress, and their entourage escaped to the commandery seat at present-day Daixian. During this time Ashina Danai moved his forces to Jinyang where he served together with Li Yuan.

Under Tang

He later joined Li Yuan in his rebellion against the Sui dynasty's region of Guanzhong in July 617. His 500-strong Turkic cavalry was instrumental in defeating Sui general Sang Xianhe alongside Chai Shao during the Battle of Yinma Spring from an attack on his rear, for which he was rewarded with the honorific title Grand Master for Splendid Happiness. He was bestowed a Chinese surname Shi after Li Yuan entered Chang'an same year.
He was granted Senior Pillar of State title and was enfeoffed Duke of Kang with 3,000 households by the new emperor Gaozu of Tang, after defeat of Xue Ju in 618. In 620 he was commissioned Right Assisting Guard General; first substantive office in the palace guards. He was instrumental in capturing Dou Jiande and destroying Wang Shichong in 621. In 623, Shi Danai accompanied the Crown Prince Li Jiancheng in defeating Liu Heita. In 629, he was promoted to Grand General of the Right Martial Guard when Ashina Xichun's son Ashina Momo surrendered to Tang. Next year, following the fall of Illig Qaghan in May 630, he was appoint as acting governor of Feng Prefecture, overseeing surrendered Eastern Türk households while his ennoblement retitled to Duke of Dou.
After serving as governor of Feng until its abolishment in 637 and died on 14 December 638, buried in the Zhao Mausoleum.

Family

He had two sons:
  • Shi Renbiao married Princess Pu'an, the eighth daughter of Taizong of Tang.
  • Shi Renji — served as general of the Jinwu Guards, appointed prefect of Mianzhou, Huazhou and Ningzhou. Enfeoffed Marquis of Leling
  • * Shi Siguang — served as Chamberlain for Petitions and Director of the Imperial Stables Bureau ; later as county magistrate of Yang’an in Jianzhou, Zhengping in Jiangzhou, and Jincheng in Jingzhao-fu ; he held Left Guard Commandant and Vice-Commander of the Left Palace Guard, and was appointed Deputy Prefect of Hangzhou and of the Anzhou Governor-General’s Office ; he bore the honorary rank Senior Grand Master of the Palace, with honours Senior Pillar of State ; 2nd Marquis of Leling. Married Lady Pang, sixth daughter of Pang Tongshan, Right Jinwu Grand General and heir to Duke Puguo with whom he had:
  • ** Shi Yuanyi — Assistant Director at the Court of State Ceremonies
  • ** Shi Fu — Chamberlain for Petitions and designated heir

In literature and media