On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c6.s7.3

v1.c6.s7.3

The "Sheh-hu Khan" of this passage was probably a relative of that To-lu (咄陸) Khan of the West Turks who died in A. D. 635. His title is written Ye-hu (葉護), in other places also 灺護, but we are always told that the characters are to be read Sheh-hu. This term, which is of very frequent occurrence in historical works treating of the Turks, is generally interpreted as meaning ta-ch'ên (大臣) or "high official". We are told that it denoted the highest rank of Turkish officials under the Khan, and the person bearing this title was usually a son, brother, or other near relative of the Khan.¹ He was commonly the satrap or governor of a Province, but we read also of the Right and Left Shehhu at the Khan's court.² There is much probability in the supposition that the word represents the old Turkic Yabgu or Jabgu found in certain old inscriptions, and this word also denotes a viceroy or Governor.¹