Quanrong
Encyclopedia
The Quǎnróng literally "Dog Rong
", were an ethnic group active in the north western part of China during the Zhōu
(1046 – 221 BCE) and later dynasties. Their language is classified as part of the Tibeto-Burman
branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages
family.
Claiming ancestry from two white dogs, the Quǎnróng tribe worshipped a totem
in the form of a white dog. They are classified as a nomadic tribe of the Western Qiang people and were the sworn enemies of the Yánhuáng tribe
.
According to the Book of the Later Han:
The Discourses of Zhōu in the Guoyu
records that at the time of King Mù of Zhōu
the power of the Quǎnróng gradually increased. Conflicts during the king's reign made him consider a punitive expedition to the west against them. Zhài Gōng was against his father's plan: "this is not advisable. The illustrious former Emperors did not advocate the use of force." King Mù did not listen but won an unexpected victory in the subsequent clash, capturing the five kings of the Quǎnróng along with five white wolves and five white deer.
In 771 BCE, the Marquess of Shēn
invited the Quǎnróng to join him in an attack on King Yōu of Zhōu
. The joint force subsequently occupied the Zhōu capital Hàojīng
, killed King Yōu and captured his concubine Bāosì
. In the end, the invaders left after taking a bribe from the Zhōu and stealing the Nine Tripod Cauldrons
. Duke Xiāng of Qín sent an army to assist the Zhōu as well as troops to escort King Píng of Zhōu back to the capital. At this time, Hàojīng was in ruins so King Píng moved the capital eastwards to Chengzhou (later Luoyang
), effectively ending the Western Zhōu Dynasty and ushering in the beginning of the Eastern Zhōu Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period.
At the time of Emperor Míng of Hàn
(reigned 58-75 CE) it was said:
During the reign of Emperor Tàizōng of Táng
(reigned 626 – 649 CE), Court Academician Liǔ Kàng petitioned:
The traditional base of the Quǎnróng is around Wēiróng Town in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
, Gānsù Province
.
Xirong (people)
Xīróng or Rong was the collective name of various ancient nomadic tribal people who inhabited primarily in and around the extremities of ancient Huaxia, typically to the west of the Zhou state in the modern-day provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu and Ningxia from the Zhou Dynasty onwards, and regarded...
", were an ethnic group active in the north western part of China during the Zhōu
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
(1046 – 221 BCE) and later dynasties. Their language is classified as part of the Tibeto-Burman
Tibeto-Burman languages
The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non-Chinese members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken thoughout the highlands of southeast Asia, as well as lowland areas in Burma ....
branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages
Sino-Tibetan languages
The Sino-Tibetan languages are a language family comprising, at least, the Chinese and the Tibeto-Burman languages, including some 250 languages of East Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of South Asia. They are second only to the Indo-European languages in terms of the number of native speakers...
family.
Claiming ancestry from two white dogs, the Quǎnróng tribe worshipped a totem
Totem
A totem is a stipulated ancestor of a group of people, such as a family, clan, group, lineage, or tribe.Totems support larger groups than the individual person. In kinship and descent, if the apical ancestor of a clan is nonhuman, it is called a totem...
in the form of a white dog. They are classified as a nomadic tribe of the Western Qiang people and were the sworn enemies of the Yánhuáng tribe
Yanhuang
Yan Huang was the name of an ethnic group of ancient China who inhabited the Yellow River basin area. They claimed their descent from the two tribes led by the Yan and Yellow Emperors. Their main achievement was to join together and strengthen the basis of the two tribes and their civilized...
.
According to the Book of the Later Han:
- Former Emperor Gāo Xīn ShìEmperor KuKù , or Dì Kù , also known as Gāoxīn Shì , was a mythical Emperor of China during the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period. He was the son of Jiăo Jí , the grandson of Shăohào and the great grandson of Huáng-dì , the Yellow Emperor. According to speculative dates he is supposed to have ruled...
's (father of Yáo Dì) enemies were the Quǎnróng. The Emperor suffered violent invasion at their hands but did not retaliate.
The Discourses of Zhōu in the Guoyu
Guoyu (book)
The Discourses of the States or Guoyu is a classical Chinese history book that collected the historical records of numerous states from Western Zhou to 453 BC. Its author is unknown, but it is sometimes attributed to Zuo Qiuming, a contemporary of Confucius...
records that at the time of King Mù of Zhōu
King Mu of Zhou
King Mu of Zhou or King Mu of Chou or Mu Wang or Mu Wang was the fifth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty. The dates of his reign are 976-922 BC or 956-918 BC.-Life:...
the power of the Quǎnróng gradually increased. Conflicts during the king's reign made him consider a punitive expedition to the west against them. Zhài Gōng was against his father's plan: "this is not advisable. The illustrious former Emperors did not advocate the use of force." King Mù did not listen but won an unexpected victory in the subsequent clash, capturing the five kings of the Quǎnróng along with five white wolves and five white deer.
In 771 BCE, the Marquess of Shēn
Shen (state)
The State of Shen was a Chinese vassal state during the Zhou Dynasty ruled by the Jiāng family as an earldom. At the beginning of the Spring and Autumn Period the State of Shen was annexed by the State of Chu and became one of its counties.-Territory:Located around the states of Chén and Zhèng,...
invited the Quǎnróng to join him in an attack on King Yōu of Zhōu
King You of Zhou
King You of Zhou was the twelfth sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty and the last of Western Zhou Dynasty. He reigned from 781 to 771 BCE.In 780 BCE, a major earthquake hit Guanzhong...
. The joint force subsequently occupied the Zhōu capital Hàojīng
Haojing
This article is about the ancient Zhou Dynasty capital, for Haojing'ao see MacauHaojing was one of the two settlements comprising the capital of the Western Zhou Dynasty , the other of which was Fēngjīng . Together they were known as Fēnghào and stood on opposite banks of the Feng River with...
, killed King Yōu and captured his concubine Bāosì
Baosi
Baosi was the concubine of the Ancient Chinese sovereign King You of Zhou. She was considered one of the most beautiful Chinese women ever.-Life:...
. In the end, the invaders left after taking a bribe from the Zhōu and stealing the Nine Tripod Cauldrons
Nine Tripod Cauldrons
According to legend the Nine Tripod Cauldrons were created following the foundation of the Xia Dynasty by Yu the Great, using tribute metal presented by the governors of the Nine Provinces of ancient China....
. Duke Xiāng of Qín sent an army to assist the Zhōu as well as troops to escort King Píng of Zhōu back to the capital. At this time, Hàojīng was in ruins so King Píng moved the capital eastwards to Chengzhou (later Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
), effectively ending the Western Zhōu Dynasty and ushering in the beginning of the Eastern Zhōu Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period.
At the time of Emperor Míng of Hàn
Emperor Ming of Han
Emperor Ming of Han, , was second emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty.He was the second son of Emperor Guangwu. It was during Emperor Ming's reign that Buddhism began to spread into China. One night, he is said to have dreamed of a golden man or golden men...
(reigned 58-75 CE) it was said:
- More than 1.3 million households, roughly six million people, offer tribute to the White Wolves and other clans.
During the reign of Emperor Tàizōng of Táng
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
(reigned 626 – 649 CE), Court Academician Liǔ Kàng petitioned:
- The Quǎnróng violate the mountain passes of GansuGansu' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
and enter (our capital) JīngshīBeijingBeijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
without bloodshed...
The traditional base of the Quǎnróng is around Wēiróng Town in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
Ningxia
Ningxia, formerly transliterated as Ningsia, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. Located in Northwest China, on the Loess Plateau, the Yellow River flows through this vast area of land. The Great Wall of China runs along its northeastern boundary...
, Gānsù Province
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
.