Wuhuan
Encyclopedia
The Wuhuan were a proto-Mongolic
nomadic people who inhabited northern China
, in what is now the provinces of Hebei
, Liaoning
, Shanxi
, the municipality of Beijing
and the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia
.
They were descended from the Donghu, who were defeated by the Xiongnu
. After the Donghu were defeated by Modu Chanyu around 209 BC the Xianbei
and Wuhuan survived as the main remnants of the confederation. The Hou Hanshu says that “the language and culture of the Xianbei are the same as the Wuhuan
”. Tadun of the Wuhuan (died 207 AD) was the ancestor of the proto-Mongolic Kumo Xi
(aka Tatabi). The Weishu (Description of the Khitan, Vol. 1000, 2221) records that the Kumo Xi and Khitan (descendants of the Mongolic Xianbei
) spoke the same language.
The Hou Hanshu (Ch. 120) records:
In 209 BC Modu Chanyu, founder of the Xiongnu empire, defeated the Donghu. The Wuhuan and Xianbei were remnants of the Donghu who fled east. The Xianbei, of the lateral Donghu line, resided to the north of the Wuhuan. The Wuhuan were of the direct Donghu line and got involved in many relations with the Chinese due to their more southern location (around Liaodong). Until 121 BC the Wuhuan was a tributary of the Xiongnu empire. The Hou Hanshu (Ch. 120) says: "From the time that Modu Shanyu crushed them the Wuhuan became weak. They were kept in constant subjugation to the Xiongnu and were forced to pay annual taxes of cow, horse and sheep skins. If anybody did not pay this tax his wife and children were taken from him."
In 121 BC Han dynasty general Huo Qubing
defeated the eastern wing of the Xiongnu. He then settled the Wuhuan in five districts (Shanggu, Youyang, Youbeiping, Liaoxi and Liaodong) created on the northern Chinese border in order to make them observe the movements of the Xiongnu. This began the close relationship of the Wuhuan with the Han dynasty
(206 BC - 220 AD). The chieftains of the Wuhuan paid annual visits to the Han capital Chang'an
and were given high rewards. During the reign of Zhaodi
(87-74 BC) the Wuhuan, who had become strong, looted the tombs of the Xiongnu emperors. The outraged Xiongnu rode east and defeated them. Fan Minyu was sent to aid the Wuhuan. The Xiongnu were out of his reach. Fan Minyu suddenly attacked the Wuhuan, defeated them and beheaded three of their kings. During the reign of Xuandi
74-49 BC the Wuhuan came frequently to the northern Chinese border and submitted to the Han dynasty. In 49 AD Hedan, the Wuhuan elder of the Liaoxi district, came to the Han court with 922 other chieftains and "paid tribute" to Emperor Guangwu of Han
with slaves, cattle, horses, bows and tiger, leopard and sable skins.
They were active throughout the latter half of the Han Dynasty
, often incorporated into the regular military forces of the Han armies. Unlike most major non-Chinese peoples on the frontiers of the Chinese empire, the Wuhuan were relatively cooperative with the imperial court. Around the fall of the dynasty in the 190s, however, the Wuhuan joined in many of the rebellions and internal wars of the Chinese. In the 200s, the "Wuhuan of the three commanderies", the tribes closest to the Chinese, supported Yuan Shao
, the major warlord north of the Yellow River
. In 207, Cao Cao
led a forced march deep into Wuhuan territory and decisively defeated them at the Battle of White Wolf Mountain
. Many Wuhuan's powerful horsemen joined him and became known as the "greatest cavalry under heaven". Although various Wuhuan leaders led sporadic revolts throughout the third century, by the fourth century they had largely been displaced by the Xianbei
. The remaining Kumo Xi were finally absorbed by the Khitans
in the 10th century.
Mongolic languages
The Mongolic languages are a group of languages spoken in East-Central Asia, mostly in Mongolia and surrounding areas plus in Kalmykia. The best-known member of this language family, Mongolian, is the primary language of most of the residents of Mongolia and the Mongolian residents of Inner...
nomadic people who inhabited northern China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, in what is now the provinces of Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
, Liaoning
Liaoning
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "辽" , a name taken from the Liao River that flows through the province. "Níng" means "peace"...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
, the municipality of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , 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...
and the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
.
They were descended from the Donghu, who were defeated by the Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
. After the Donghu were defeated by Modu Chanyu around 209 BC the Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
and Wuhuan survived as the main remnants of the confederation. The Hou Hanshu says that “the language and culture of the Xianbei are the same as the Wuhuan
Wuhuan
The Wuhuan were a proto-Mongolic nomadic people who inhabited northern China, in what is now the provinces of Hebei, Liaoning, Shanxi, the municipality of Beijing and the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia....
”. Tadun of the Wuhuan (died 207 AD) was the ancestor of the proto-Mongolic Kumo Xi
Kumo Xi
The Kumo Xi ) were a Mongolic steppe people located in current Manchuria from 207 AD to 907 AD. After the death of their ancestor Tadun in 207 they were no longer called Wuhuan but joined the Khitan Xianbei in submitting to the Yuwen Xianbei. Their history is widely linked to the more famous Khitan...
(aka Tatabi). The Weishu (Description of the Khitan, Vol. 1000, 2221) records that the Kumo Xi and Khitan (descendants of the Mongolic Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
) spoke the same language.
The Hou Hanshu (Ch. 120) records:
In 209 BC Modu Chanyu, founder of the Xiongnu empire, defeated the Donghu. The Wuhuan and Xianbei were remnants of the Donghu who fled east. The Xianbei, of the lateral Donghu line, resided to the north of the Wuhuan. The Wuhuan were of the direct Donghu line and got involved in many relations with the Chinese due to their more southern location (around Liaodong). Until 121 BC the Wuhuan was a tributary of the Xiongnu empire. The Hou Hanshu (Ch. 120) says: "From the time that Modu Shanyu crushed them the Wuhuan became weak. They were kept in constant subjugation to the Xiongnu and were forced to pay annual taxes of cow, horse and sheep skins. If anybody did not pay this tax his wife and children were taken from him."
In 121 BC Han dynasty general Huo Qubing
Huo Qubing
Huo Qubing , born in Linfen, Shanxi, was a general of the western Han dynasty under Emperor Wu. Being the illegitimate son of Wei Shaoer, he was the nephew of Wei Qing and Empress Wei Zifu....
defeated the eastern wing of the Xiongnu. He then settled the Wuhuan in five districts (Shanggu, Youyang, Youbeiping, Liaoxi and Liaodong) created on the northern Chinese border in order to make them observe the movements of the Xiongnu. This began the close relationship of the Wuhuan with the Han dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
(206 BC - 220 AD). The chieftains of the Wuhuan paid annual visits to the Han capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
and were given high rewards. During the reign of Zhaodi
Emperor Zhao of Han
Emperor Zhao of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 87 BC to 74 BC.Emperor Zhao was the youngest son of Emperor Wu of Han. By the time Zhao was born, Emperor Wu was already 62. Zhao ascended the throne after the death of Emperor Wu in 87 BC. He was only 8 years old...
(87-74 BC) the Wuhuan, who had become strong, looted the tombs of the Xiongnu emperors. The outraged Xiongnu rode east and defeated them. Fan Minyu was sent to aid the Wuhuan. The Xiongnu were out of his reach. Fan Minyu suddenly attacked the Wuhuan, defeated them and beheaded three of their kings. During the reign of Xuandi
Emperor Xuan of Han
Emperor Xuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 74 BC to 49 BC. His life story was a riches-to-rags-to-riches story.Emperor Xuan was the great grandson of Emperor Wu...
74-49 BC the Wuhuan came frequently to the northern Chinese border and submitted to the Han dynasty. In 49 AD Hedan, the Wuhuan elder of the Liaoxi district, came to the Han court with 922 other chieftains and "paid tribute" to Emperor Guangwu of Han
Emperor Guangwu of Han
Emperor Guangwu , born Liu Xiu, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, restorer of the dynasty in AD 25 and thus founder of the Later Han or Eastern Han...
with slaves, cattle, horses, bows and tiger, leopard and sable skins.
They were active throughout the latter half of the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
, often incorporated into the regular military forces of the Han armies. Unlike most major non-Chinese peoples on the frontiers of the Chinese empire, the Wuhuan were relatively cooperative with the imperial court. Around the fall of the dynasty in the 190s, however, the Wuhuan joined in many of the rebellions and internal wars of the Chinese. In the 200s, the "Wuhuan of the three commanderies", the tribes closest to the Chinese, supported Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
, the major warlord north of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
. In 207, Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
led a forced march deep into Wuhuan territory and decisively defeated them at the Battle of White Wolf Mountain
Battle of White Wolf Mountain
The Battle of White Wolf Mountain was a battle fought in 207 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle took place in northern China, beyond the frontiers of the ruling Later Han Dynasty. It was fought between the warlord Cao Cao and the nomadic Wuhuan tribes,...
. Many Wuhuan's powerful horsemen joined him and became known as the "greatest cavalry under heaven". Although various Wuhuan leaders led sporadic revolts throughout the third century, by the fourth century they had largely been displaced by the Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
. The remaining Kumo Xi were finally absorbed by the Khitans
Khitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
in the 10th century.