His parentage is uncertain as he was either son of Bagha Qaghan[10]orIshbara Qaghan.[11] He was a subordinate khagan under Tulan Qaghan with title of Tolis Qaghan, ruling eastern tribes.
He sent an ambassador to Sui dynasty in 597, requesting to marry to a Chinese princess. Pei Ju saw this as opportunity and told him to kill Tulan Qaghan's Zhou origin khatun Princess Qianjin (who was styled as Princess Dayi by Sui dynasty). Princess was murdered and emperor fulfilled his promise, sending Princess Anyi (安义公主) to marry him.
However, Tolis' ambitious behaviour caused outrage to khagan. Tulan started to gather invasion party to attack Sui repeatedly in 597 and 599, only to be reported to emperor beforehand by Tolis every occasion. As a reaction, Tulan approached to Tardu to combine forces and attack Tolis. Attack was a success and Tolis had to flee to China after his brothers and nephews getting killed during invasion.
In winter 599, he was created Qimin Khagan by Emperor Wen. Meanwhile Princess Anyi died and he was married to Princess Yicheng this time, a daughter of Yang Xie (杨谐). Emperor also commissioned Zhangsun Sheng to build the city of Dali (大利, in modern Hohhot) to house Qimin's people, and also sent an army to protect Qimin.
Meanwhile Tulan was killed by his men causing Tardu to assume throne and claim title Bilge Khagan in 599/600.
In winter 601, Emperor Wen commissioned Yang Su to command an army, in association with Qimin Khan as to attack Tardu.
After Tardu's subsequent defeat in 603, he fled to Tuyuhun. Having a cleared way Qimin assumed Turkic throne, definitely starting division between Western and Eastern wings of khaganate.
In spring 607, he went to Luoyang to pay a visit to Emperor Yang. In the summer, he was visited back by Yang. Khagan's display of submission and loyalty caused Emperor Yang to bestow much honor and wealth on him. When the senior officials Gao Jiong, Yuwen Bi (宇文弼), and Heruo Bi privately expressed disapproval, Emperor Yang discovered their criticism and put all of them to death, while removing Su Wei, who also discouraged him from giving excessive rewards to khagan, from his post.[12]
In spring 609, Qimin made another visit to Emperor Yang and was rewarded with much treasure. He died later from an illness.
He was married to Princess Anyi (安义公主) at first and later her death to Princess Yicheng (義成公主). He also had a Tuyuhun concubine or wife.[13] He had several issues:
^This first qaghan of the Eastern Turks is identified with Jamï Qağan on Ongin inscription[4] Meanwhile W. Radloff, basing on similarities of letters "b" and "y", identifies Ongin inscription's Yiamy kagan as Bumyn kagan (d. 552 AD)), the founder of the First Turkic Khaganate (H.N.Orkhun); Bumyn kagan (S.E Malov),[5] G.Aidarov,[6] Yamï qaγan (T.Tekin),[7] Yamï qaγan (L.Bold), according I. Markwart, Yiamy kagan is Bumyn/Tumen.[8] Ünal (2014) proposes that Ongin's Yama Qaghan corresponds to Chinese 射摩 Shè-mó (< MC *ʑia-ma) and Old Tibetan transcription Zhama[9]
^薛宗正, 突厥史, 中国社会科学出版社, 北京 (Xue Zongzheng, Tujie Shi, Chinese Social Sciences Press, Beijing, 1992, ISBN7-5004-0432-8 / K-49 (精), p. 265.
^Zhenping Wang, Ambassadors from the islands of immortals: China-Japan relations in the Han-Tang period, University of Hawaii Press, 2005, ISBN978-0-8248-2871-4, p. 140.
^Zhu Zhenhong, "Taohuashi and Tiankehan (Tangri Qaghan)", Eurasian History朱振宏,「桃花石」與「天可汗」, 欧亚学研究
^S.E. Malov Onginsky monument; Monuments of ancient Türkic writing of Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, M., L., 1959, p. 7-11
^G. Aydarov On the language of the Kutlug Kagan monument; News of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, Series of social sciences, 1963, issue-6. p. 81-88
^Orhun H.N. Eski turk yazitlarі. Turk Tarih Kurumu basimevi, Ankara, 1986, p.127-132
^Ünal, Orçun. (2014) "Extended Summary" p. 3 of『Once Again on the Etymology of the Old Turkic Yaŋa ~ Yaŋan ~ Yagan 'Elephant'』Hacettepe University Journal of Turkish Studies Vol. 11 Issue 21, pp. 229-249.
^Ahmet., Taşağil (1995–2004). Gök-Türkler. Atatürk Kültür, Dil, ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu (Turkey). Ankara: Türk Tarih Kurumu Basımevi. ISBN975161113X. OCLC33892575.
^ abcMau-tsai, Liu (1958). Die chinesischen Nachrichten zur Geschichte der Ost-Türken (T'u-küe). Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz.
