Han dynasty Chinese records transcribe the Xiongnu word for heaven as chengli, which scholars link to the Turkic and Mongolic deity name Tengri.

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SUPPORTED

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1 source for · 0 against

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Is it true that Han dynasty Chinese records transcribe the Xiongnu word for heaven as chengli, which scholars link to the Turkic and Mongolic deity name Tengri?

Yes. A Wikipedia article on Tengri states that the oldest form of the name is recorded in Chinese annals describing the Xiongnu, taking the form 撑犁/Cheng-li, hypothesized to be a Chinese transcription of Tängri. This single source directly covers both the transcription and the scholarly link to Tengri.

Verdict: SUPPORTED · 1 source for, 0 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

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Evidence for · 1

Tengri - Wikipedia

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Tengri - Wikipedia. (n.d.). en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tengri

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