Murong (;

LHC The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest and highest-energy particle collider. It was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) between 1998 and 2008 in collaboration with over 10,000 scientists and hundre ...

: *''mɑ^C-joŋ''; EMC: *''mɔ^h-juawŋ'') or Muren refers to an ethnic Xianbei tribe who are attested from the time of Tanshihuai (reigned 156–181). Different strands of evidence exist linking the Murong to the

Mongols The Mongols ( mn, Монголчууд, , , ; ; russian: Монголы) are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, Inner Mongolia in China and the Buryatia Republic of the Russian Federation. The Mongols are the principal membe ...

Таскин В. С. (1984)
Материалы по истории древних кочевых народов группы дунху.
Москва: Наука. p. 5. In Russian: ''"Мы в настоящей работе не имеем возможности из-за огромного по объему материала остановиться на монголоязычных племенах мужун и тоба."''Таскин В. С. (1992)

' Москва: Наука. p. 4. In Russian: ''"Мужуны по традиции относятся к этнической группе дунху, включавшей различные монголоязычные племена. Выбранные из достоверных исторических источников, сведения о мужунах дают ценный материал для изучения этногенеза современных монголов, их обычаев и культуры."'' p. 16: ''"Хотя сяньбийские племена мужун, цифу и туфа пользовались сюннускими титулами, около десятка слов из бытовой лексики, сохранившихся в источниках, с успехом могут быть отождествлены с соответствующими монгольскими словами. А ведь язык наиболее показательный этнический признак, и возможность отождествления говорит о том, что сяньбийцы относились к монголоязычным племенам."'' nomadic

confederation A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a union of sovereign groups or states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

Central Asia Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...

. The

Former Yan The Former Yan (; 337–370) was a dynastic state ruled by the Xianbei during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Initially, Murong Huang and his son Murong Jun claimed the Jin dynasty-created title "Prince of Yan," but subsequently, in 352, ...

(337–370),

Western Yan Yan, known in historiography as the Western Yan (; 384–394) was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Xianbei ethnicity. The dynasty existed during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms, but it is not counted among the 16. It was founded by Murong Hong i ...

(384–394), Later Yan (384–409) dynasties as well as Tuyuhun (285–670) were all founded by the Murong peoples. Murong is also a surname, predominantly used by peoples of Xianbei descent. Prominent individuals who bear the surname include the Emperors and family of

and Later Yan,

Murong Ke Murong Ke () (died 367 CE), courtesy name Xuangong (), formally Prince Huan of Taiyuan (), was a famed general and statesman of the Xianbei-led Chinese Former Yan dynasty. He was the son of Murong Huang (Prince Wenming), and later served as the ...

(慕容恪),

Murong Long Murong Long (慕容隆) (died 397), formally Prince Kang of Gaoyang (高陽康王), was a general and imperial prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan. He was a son of the founding emperor Murong Chui (Emperor Wucheng) and a brother of Muron ...

(慕容隆),

Murong Sanzang Murong (; LHC: *''mɑC-joŋ''; EMC: *''mɔh-juawŋ'') or Muren refers to an ethnic Xianbei tribe who are attested from the time of Tanshihuai (reigned 156–181). Different strands of evidence exist linking the Murong to the MongolsТаск� ...

(慕容三藏),

Murong Yanzhao Murong (; LHC: *''mɑC-joŋ''; EMC: *''mɔh-juawŋ'') or Muren refers to an ethnic Xianbei tribe who are attested from the time of Tanshihuai (reigned 156–181). Different strands of evidence exist linking the Murong to the MongolsТаск� ...

(慕容延钊), Murong Yanchao (慕容彦超), Murong Nong (慕容农),

Murong Han Murong (; LHC: *''mɑC-joŋ''; EMC: *''mɔh-juawŋ'') or Muren refers to an ethnic Xianbei tribe who are attested from the time of Tanshihuai (reigned 156–181). Different strands of evidence exist linking the Murong to the MongolsТаски ...

(慕容翰),

Murong Chuqiang Murong (; LHC: *''mɑC-joŋ''; EMC: *''mɔh-juawŋ'') or Muren refers to an ethnic Xianbei tribe who are attested from the time of Tanshihuai (reigned 156–181). Different strands of evidence exist linking the Murong to the MongolsТаск� ...

(慕容楚强),

Murong Haoran Murong (; LHC The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the world's largest and highest-energy particle collider. It was built by the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) between 1998 and 2008 in collaboration with over 10,000 sc ...

(慕容浩然), and the fictional character

Murong Fu The following is a list of characters from the wuxia novel ''Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'' by Jin Yong. There are over 230 characters in the novel, including those who are only mentioned by name. Some characters such as Duan Yu, Duan Zhengchun, Duan ...

(慕容復). When Han peoples during the reign of

Yuwen Tai Yuwen Tai () (505 – 21 November 556According to Yuwen Tai's biography in ''Book of Zhou'', he died aged 52 (by East Asian reckoning) on the ''yihai'' day of the 10th month of the 3rd year of the reign of Emperor Gong of Western Wei. This corre ...

were forced to change their surnames, Murong was one of three officially mandated Xianbei surnames. This policy was reversed by

Emperor Wen of Sui The Emperor Wen of Sui (; 21 July 541 – 13 August 604), personal name Yang Jian (), Xianbei name Puliuru Jian (), alias Narayana () deriving from Buddhist terms, was the founder and the first emperor of the Chinese Sui dynasty. The ''Book of ...

, but some Han peoples retained the Murong surname.

Origins

The chieftain Murong was the first ancestor of the Murong tribe, which was named after him. He was a ''daren'' (chieftain noble) of the Middle Section during the rule of Tanshihuai (reigned 156–181). The ''

Records of the Three Kingdoms The ''Records or History of the Three Kingdoms'', also known by its Chinese name as the Sanguo Zhi, is a Chinese historical text which covers the history of the late Eastern Han dynasty (c. 184–220 AD) and the Three Kingdoms period (220– ...

'' records: The Xianbei state of Tanshihuai to which the Murong belonged fragmented following the fall of

Budugen Budugen (died 233) was a Xianbei chieftain who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of China. He retained his independence by pledging allegiance to the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period and sending t ...

(187–234), who was the younger brother of Kuitoi (reigned 185–187). Kuitou was the nephew of Tanshihuai's incapable son and successor Helian (reigned 181–185). The Murong consequently broke off and submitted to the

Cao Wei Wei ( Hanzi: 魏; pinyin: ''Wèi'' <

Middle Chinese

: *''ŋjwei^C'' <

dynasty, settling in the

Liaoxi Liaoxi () was a former province in Northeast China, located in what is now part of Liaoning and Jilin provinces. It existed from 1949 to 1954, and its capital was Jinzhou Jinzhou (, ), formerly Chinchow, is a coastal prefecture-level city ...

area. The Murong ruler at this time was Murong Mohuba (莫护跋), a descendant of the chieftain Murong. Murong Mohuba actively supported

Sima Yi's Liaodong campaign Sima Yi's Liaodong campaign occurred in 238 CE during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Sima Yi, a general of the state of Cao Wei, led a force of 40,000 troops to attack the kingdom of Yan led by warlord Gongsun Yuan, whose clan h ...

in 238, leading an auxiliary Murong force. Mohuba was succeeded in 246 by his son Muyan (木延) who also aided the Cao Wei campaign against the

Goguryeo Goguryeo (37 BC–668 AD) ( ) also called Goryeo (), was a Korean kingdom located in the northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula and the southern and central parts of Northeast China. At its peak of power, Goguryeo controlled most ...

that same year. Muyan's son Shegui (涉歸), however, fought against the

Jin dynasty (266–420) The Jin dynasty (; ) or the Jin Empire, sometimes distinguished as the (司馬晉) or the (兩晉), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed from 266 to 420. It was founded by Sima Yan (Emperor Wu), eldest son of Sima Zhao, who had pr ...

, and was pushed back to the upper

Liao River The Liao River () is the principal river in southern Northeast China, and one of the seven main river systems in China. Its name derived from the Liao region, a historical name for southern Manchuria, from which the Liaoning province, Liaodong P ...

region. Shegui died in 283, and his younger brother Shan (刪) usurped the leadership. Murong Shan was killed in 285, and the people proclaimed Shegui's son

Murong Hui Murong Hui (慕容廆, 269 – 4 June 333), courtesy name Yiluo (弈洛), was an Xianbei chief, formally known as Duke Xiang of Liaodong, posthumously honored as Emperor Wuxuan (武宣皇帝). In the Book of Jin, Murong Hui was described as ...

(廆 b. 268, r. 285–333) as their chieftain. Hui attacked the Buyeo kingdom in the very year he became the chieftain of the Murong tribe, capturing ten thousand prisoners. He launched an attack on the agricultural area of the Liao River basin in 286 that had been occupied by

Han Chinese The Han Chinese () or Han people (), are an East Asian ethnic group native to China. They constitute the world's largest ethnic group, making up about 18% of the global population and consisting of various subgroups speaking distinctive va ...

settlers after

Emperor Wu of Han Emperor Wu of Han (156 – 29 March 87BC), formally enshrined as Emperor Wu the Filial (), born Liu Che (劉徹) and courtesy name Tong (通), was the seventh emperor of the Han dynasty of ancient China, ruling from 141 to 87 BC. His reign la ...

's conquest of Gojoseon in 108 BCE. Hui founded a new capital nearby the modern-day city of

Chaoyang, Liaoning Chaoyang () is a prefecture-level city in western Liaoning province, People's Republic of China. With a vast land area of almost , it is by area the largest prefecture-level city in Liaoning, and borders on Hebei province and the Inner Mongolia ...

in 294. In 284, an internal feud developed between

and his older brother, Tuyuhun, which folktales explained as being caused by a horse race but which was in fact caused by disputes over the position of Khan. As a result of the dispute, Murong Tuyuhun led his people and undertook a long westward journey passing through the

Ordos Loop The Ordos Plateau, also known as the Ordos Basin or simply the Ordos, is a highland sedimentary basin in northwest China with an elevation of , and consisting mostly of land enclosed by the Ordos Loop, a large northerly rectangular bend of the Y ...

all the way to

Qinghai Lake Qinghai Lake or Ch'inghai Lake, also known by other names, is the largest lake in China. Located in an endorheic basin in Qinghai Province, to which it gave its name, Qinghai Lake is classified as an alkaline salt lake. The lake has fluctuat ...

. Some Murong members live in a town in Guangdong.

Zhaoqing Zhaoqing (), alternately romanized as Shiuhing, is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province, China. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,113,594, with 1,553,109 living in the built-up (or metro) area made of Duanzhou, Dinghu a ...

is the area where they lived since they moved from north to south. They practice no aspect of Xianbei culture or identity. The move to southern China from the north is described in their genealogical records. They are descended from Murong Bao. They moved to southern China after the foundation of the Ming dynasty.

Language

The Xianbei are generally considered speakers of

Mongolic languages The Mongolic languages are a language family spoken by the Mongolic peoples in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, North Asia and East Asia, mostly in Mongolia and surrounding areas and in Kalmykia and Buryatia. The best-known member of this language ...

. Some tribes such as the Duan, Qifu and

Tufa Tufa is a variety of limestone formed when carbonate minerals precipitate out of water in unheated rivers or lakes. Geothermally heated hot springs sometimes produce similar (but less porous) carbonate deposits, which are known as travertine. ...

have not left sufficient evidence to prove that they, as sub-tribes, were in fact Mongolic, although most scholars assume that they were Mongolic based on some indications. There is no doubt, however, regarding the Khitan and

Shiwei Shiwei may refer to: *Shiwei people, a historic Mongolic people *Shiwei, Inner Mongolia, a township in Ergun City, Inner Mongolia Given names *Che Shiwei (born 1996), Chinese footballer *Chen Shiwei, Chinese track and field athlete *Pan Shiwei (bo ...

sub-tribes being Mongolic (in their case there is strong evidence). As far as the Murong are concerned, the evidence pointing in the Mongolic direction is relatively convincing. Shimunek (2017) identifies the language of the Murong as Tuyuhun, or at least a linguistic variety closely related to it. The Dunhuang Documents, P. 1283 (in Tibetan) records a very important piece of information about the Khitan and Murong: The

Khitan language Khitan or Kitan ( in large script or in small, ''Khitai''; , ''Qìdānyǔ''), also known as Liao, is a now-extinct language once spoken in Northeast Asia by the Khitan people (4th to 13th century). It was the official language of the Liao Empir ...

is widely recognized as Mongolic. Mongolic, Turkic and Tungusic are mutually unintelligible, although they share significant loan-vocabulary. The title

Khagan Khagan or Qaghan (Mongolian:; or ''Khagan''; otk, 𐰴𐰍𐰣 ), or , tr, Kağan or ; ug, قاغان, Qaghan, Mongolian Script: ; or ; fa, خاقان ''Khāqān'', alternatively spelled Kağan, Kagan, Khaghan, Kaghan, Khakan, Khakhan ...

was first seen in a speech between 283 and 289, when the Xianbei chief Murong Tuyuhun (son of Murong Shegui by an illegitimate wife) tried to escape from his younger stepbrother

, and began his route from Liaodong to the areas of Ordos Desert. One of Murong's generals called Yinalou addressed him as (, later ), some sources suggests that Tuyuhun might also have used the title after settling at Koko Nor in the 3rd century. Some suggest that the titles Khan and Khagan were originally Mongolic. The

Song of the Xianbei Brother The ''Song of the Xianbei Brother'' () is a popular song of the Xianbei people composed by Murong Hui in 285 AD. It is preserved in Chinese translation and is about the Xianbei chief's regrets for having sent his brother away to the West. The or ...

is a popular song of the Xianbei people composed by

in 285 AD. It is preserved in Chinese translation and is about the Xianbei chief's regrets for having sent his brother Tuyuhun away to the West. The original Chinese translation left the Xianbei word for elder brother (A-kan) in the title, which is identical to the Mongolic word for elder brother (Aqan or Aghan). The same word exists in Turkic and Tungusic languages, but the Xianbei are generally considered Mongolic peoples. This would make the song one of the earliest attestations of a Mongolic language. The modern day minority of ''White Mongols'' or

Monguor Mongour, formerly also known by various names including Tu and Dchiahour, may refer to: * Monguor people * Monguor language The Monguor language (; also written Mongour and Mongor) is a Mongolic language of its Shirongolic branch and is part of ...

are regarded as the culturally and ethnically-distinct descendants of the Murong.Hu, Alex J.(2010) 'An overview of the history and culture of the Xianbei ('Monguor'/'Tu')', Asian Ethnicity, 11: 1, 95–164.

Genetics

A genetic study published in the '' American Journal of Physical Anthropology'' in November 2007 examined of 17 individuals buried at the Murong Xianbei cemetery in Lamadong,

Liaoning Liaoning () is a coastal province in Northeast China that is the smallest, southernmost, and most populous province in the region. With its capital at Shenyang, it is located on the northern shore of the Yellow Sea, and is the northernmost ...

, China ca. 300 AD. They were determined to be carriers of the maternal haplogroups B, C, D, F, G2a, Z, M, and J1b1. These haplogroups are common among East Asians, and to a lesser extent Siberians. The maternal haplogroups of the Murong Xianbei were noticeably different from those of the Huns and Tuoba Xianbei.

Rulers

*Murong Mohuba (238) *Murong Muyan (246) *Murong Shegui (died 283) *Murong Shan (died 285) *Murong Hui (285–333)

People

Murong Bao Murong Bao (; 355–398), courtesy name Daoyou (道佑), Xianbei name Kugou (庫勾), formally Emperor Huimin of (Later) Yan ((後)燕惠愍帝), temple name Liezong (烈宗) or Liezu (烈祖), was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Chinese Later Yan ...

(355–398), formally Emperor Huimin of (Later) Yan *

Murong Chao Murong Chao (; 385–410), courtesy name Zuming (祖明), was the last emperor of the Xianbei-led Chinese Southern Yan dynasty. He was the nephew of the founding emperor Murong De (Emperor Xianwu) who was trapped under the rule of Later Qin, but ...

(385–410), last emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Southern Yan *

Murong Chong Murong Chong (; 359–386), formally Emperor Wei of (Western) Yan ((西)燕威帝), was an emperor of the Western Yan. He was a son of the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun and a younger brother of Former Yan emperor Murong Wei. It is not known when ...

(d. 386), formally Emperor Wei of (Western) Yan * Murong Chui (326–396), formally Emperor Wucheng of (Later) Yan *

Murong De Murong De (; 336–405), name changed in 400 to Murong Beide (慕容備德), courtesy name Xuanming (玄明), formally Emperor Xianwu of (Southern) Yan ((南)燕獻武帝), was the founding emperor of the Xianbei-led Southern Yan dynasty of Chin ...

(336–405), formally Emperor Xianwu of (Southern) Yan *

Murong Fuyun Murong Fuyun () (597–635), regnal name Busabo Khan (), was a ruler of the Xianbei-led dynastic state of Tuyuhun. He first became ruler when his brother Murong Shifu was assassinated in 597, and became one of the longest-ruling monarchs of Tuyuhun ...

(597–635), ruler of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun *

Murong Huang Murong Huang (; 297–348), courtesy name Yuanzhen (元真), formally Prince Wenming of (Former) Yan ((前)燕文明王) was the founding monarch of the Xianbei-led Former Yan dynasty of China. When he first succeeded his father Murong Hui in 3 ...

(297–348), formally Prince Wenming of (Former) Yan *

Murong Hong Murong Hong (; died 384) was the founder of the Xianbei-led Western Yan dynasty of China. He was a son of the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun and a younger brother of Former Yan emperor Murong Wei. It is not known when Murong Hong was born. In 35 ...

(d. 384), founder of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan *

(269–333), Xianbei chief and Duke Xiang of Liaodong, posthumously honored as Prince Wuxuan of Yan * Murong Jun (319–360), formally Emperor Jingzhao of (Former) Yan *

(d. 367), formally Prince Huan of

Taiyuan Taiyuan (; ; ; Mandarin pronunciation: ; also known as (), ()) is the capital and largest city of Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. Taiyuan is the political, economic, cultural and international exchange center of Shanxi Province. ...

Murong Lin Murong Lin (; died 398), Xianbei name Helin (賀驎), was a general and imperial prince of the Xianbei-led Later Yan dynasty of China. He was a son of the founding emperor Murong Chui (Emperor Wucheng) and a brother of Murong Bao (Emperor Huimin) ...

(d. 398), general and imperial prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan *

(d. 397), formally Prince Kang of Gaoyang * Murong Nong (d. 398), formally Prince Huanlie of

* Murong Nuohebo (d. 688), last khan of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun *

Murong Sheng Murong Sheng (; 373–401), courtesy name Daoyun (道運), formally Emperor Zhaowu of (Later) Yan ((後)燕昭武帝), was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Later Yan dynasty of China. He was the oldest son of Murong Bao (Emperor Huimin), and after ...

(373–401), an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan * Murong Ping (?–?), regent of the Chinese/Xianbei state Former Yan during the reign of Murong Wei (Emperor You) *

Murong Shun Murong Shun (慕容順) (died 635), regal title Zhugulüwugandou Khan (趉故呂烏甘豆可汗) or, in short, Gandou Khan (甘豆可汗), Tang Dynasty noble title Prince of Xiping (西平王), was briefly a khan of the Xianbei state Tuyuhun. He wou ...

(d. 635), khan of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun * Murong Wei (350–385), formally Emperor You of (Former) Yan *

Murong Xi Murong Xi (; 385–407; r. 401–407), courtesy name Daowen (道文), formally Emperor Zhaowen of (Later) Yan ((後)燕昭文帝), was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Later Yan dynasty of China. He was one of the youngest sons of Murong Chui (Empe ...

(385–407), emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan *

Murong Yao Murong Yao (; died 386), also known as Murong Wang (慕容望), was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Western Yan dynasty of China. He was the son of Murong Chong (Emperor Wei), the son of the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun. Murong Chong was killed i ...

(d. 386) was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan *

Murong Yi Murong Yi (; died 386) was a ruler of the Xianbei-led Chinese Western Yan dynasty. He was a son of the Former Yan Prince of Yidu, Murong Huan (慕容桓), a son of the founder of Former Yan, Murong Huang. In 386, after the temporary ruler Duan S ...

(d. 386) was a ruler of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan * Murong Yong (d. 394), last emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan *

Murong Zhong Murong Zhong (; died 386) was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Western Yan dynasty of China. He was the son of Western Yan's founder, Murong Hong the Prince of Jibei, a son of the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun. In 386, a year that had already seen ...

(d. 386) emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan *

Princess Murong Princess Murong (, personal name unknown) was a princess and queen consort of the Chinese state Northern Yan. Her husband was the last emperor, Feng Hong (Emperor Zhaocheng), of that dynasty. Presumably, she was from the Murong imperial clan ...

, princess of Northern Yan, wife of Feng Hong

References

Sources

* {{Mongolic ethnic groups , state=expanded History of China History of Mongolia Sixteen Kingdoms Xianbei Individual Chinese surnames zh:慕容部