His personal name was recorded as Ashina Chuluohou (阿史那处罗侯) in Chinese sources, which was probably rendering of the Turkic name Čoluq (crippled or lame).

[3] He was created Töli shad (Chinese: 突利設) by his elder brother Ishbara Qaghan in 581, thus receiving viceroyalty over eastern wing of the empire.

During this time, Emperor Wen of Sui used Zhangsun Sheng (長孫晟), a companion of Princess to sow discord among Turks.

However, Chuluohou stated that in recent generations, the Göktürks had not adhered to the lateral succession system, and it would not be in accordance with tradition for him to take the throne while Ishbara Khagan's son was still alive.

[6] According to Josef Markwart and Denis Sinor, he may have been the 'great kaghan' that was killed with an arrow by Persian commander Bahrām Chobin during the First Perso-Turkic War which happened in not before August 589[2] (date by Gumilev).