Shizi (chanyu)

Shizi (Chinese: 尸逐; pinyin: Shīzhú) was a title used by various Xiongnu chanyus (supreme rulers). "Shizi" is generally understood to be a transcription of a Xiongnu word, the meaning of which is debated among scholars. It appears frequently as part of the full regnal names of several chanyus of the Southern Xiongnu, particularly during the Han dynasty, indicating a specific branch or lineage. The use of "Shizi" differentiated these chanyus from those of the Northern Xiongnu. Different Chinese characters were used to write this title. As such, it can be found with variant transliterations in historical texts.