Said to be a sideline of the Xianbei 鮮卑, the Tuyuhun (special pronunciation instead of Tuguhun) were one of the mightiest tribes roaming the area of modern Qinghai and Gansu from the 4th to the 7th century. The empire founded by the first Tuyuhun chieftain was called Henanguo 河南國 by the Chinese, and Azha 阿柴 by the Tibetians (Tubo 吐蕃). The tent-living Tuyuhun were experts in horse breeding but also conducted agriculture. As a realm just between the Chinese empires in the east (Northern Wei, Beiwei 北魏, and the Southern Dynasties, Nanchao 南朝 and the other steppe tribes like the Rouran 柔然 and the Gaoche 高車, the Tuyuhun acted as envoys and traders, and many Buddhist missionaries and travelers crossed their country. In the 6th century, chieftain Kualü 夸呂 adopted the title of Qaghan (Kehan 可汗) and challenged the armies of the Chinese empires. The Tang 唐 rulers were finally able to control their territory and installed Qaghans on their own will. In 663 the Tibetian empire of Tubo destroyed the capital Fuqi 伏俟 (west of Qinghai Lake 青海湖), the Tuyuhun escaped to the north and were resettled by the Tang government in the area of modern Ninghai and northern Shaanxi. Some scholars suggest to identify the descendants of the Qinghai-Tuyuhun with the modern Tuzu 土族 ethnic.

Chieftains and Qaγans of the Tuyuhun 300-688 "Tuyuhun 吐谷渾" d. 317 "Tuyan 吐延" 317-329 "Yeyan 葉延" 329-351 "Suixi 碎奚" 351-375 "Shilian 視連" 375-390 "Shipi 視羆" 390-400 "Wugeti 烏紇提" 400-405 "Shuluogan 樹洛干" 405-417 "Achai 阿豺" 417-426 "Mugui 慕璝" 426-436 "Muliyan 慕利延" 436-452 "Shiyin 拾寅" 452-481 "Duyihou 度易侯" 481-490 "Fulianchou 伏連籌" 490-529 "Heluozhen 呵羅真" 529-530 "Fofu 佛輔" 530-534 "Ketazhen 可沓振" 534-535 "Kualü 夸呂" 535-591 "Shifu 世伏" 591-603 "Fuyun 伏允" 603-635 "Murong Shun 慕容順" 635 "Nuohebo 諾曷鉢" (635-688)