Murong (; LHC: *''mɑ^C-joŋ''; EMC: *''mɔ^h-juawŋ'') or Muren refers to an ethnic

Xianbei The Xianbei (; ) were a Proto-Mongolic ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. They originated from the Donghu people who splintered into th ...

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 (337–370), Western Yan (384–394),

Later Yan Yan, known in historiography as the Later Yan (; 384 – 407 or 409) was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Xianbei people, located in modern-day northeast China, during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms. All rulers of the Later Yan declared them ...

(384–409) dynasties as well as

Tuyuhun Tuyuhun (; LHC: *''tʰɑʔ-jok-guənʔ''; Wade-Giles: ''T'u-yühun''), also known as Henan () and Azha (; ), was a dynastic kingdom established by the nomadic peoples related to the Xianbei in the Qilian Mountains and upper Yellow River valle ...

(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 Former Yan and

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 (慕容隆), Murong Sanzang (慕容三藏), Murong Yanzhao (慕容延钊),

Murong Yanchao Murong Yanchao () (died June 15, 952'' Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 290.Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter), known at one point as Yan Kunlun (), was a Chinese general of the Later Tang, Later Jin, and Later Han dynasties. As a half-br ...

(慕容彦超),

Murong Nong Murong Nong (慕容農) (died 398), formally Prince Huanlie of Liaoxi (遼西桓烈王), was a general and imperial prince of the History of China, Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan. He was a son of the founding emperor Murong Chui (Emperor Wucheng ...

(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 MongolsТаск� ...

(慕容翰), Murong Chuqiang (慕容楚强),

Murong Haoran 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, Dua ...

(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, 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'' records: The

Xianbei state The Xianbei state or Xianbei confederation was a nomadic empire which existed in modern-day Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, northern Xinjiang, Northeast China, Gansu, Buryatia, Zabaykalsky Krai, Irkutsk Oblast, Tuva, Altai Republic and eastern Kaza ...

of Tanshihuai to which the Murong belonged fragmented following the fall of Budugen (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'' <

Liaoxi 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 ...

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 mos ...

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 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 Buyeo or Puyŏ ( Korean: 부여; Korean pronunciation: u.jʌ or 扶餘 ''Fúyú''), also rendered as Fuyu, was an ancient kingdom that was centered in northern Manchuria in modern-day northeast China. It is sometimes considered a Korea ...

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 distinctiv ...

settlers after Emperor Wu of Han's conquest of

Gojoseon Gojoseon () also called Joseon (), was the first kingdom on the Korean Peninsula. According to Korean mythology, the kingdom was established by the legendary founder named Dangun. Gojoseon possessed the most advanced culture in the Korean P ...

in 108 BCE. Hui founded a new capital nearby the modern-day city of Chaoyang, Liaoning 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 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 fluctuate ...

. 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 ...

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

are generally considered speakers of Mongolic languages. 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 travertin ...

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 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

, 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 is widely recognized as Mongolic. Mongolic, Turkic and Tungusic are mutually unintelligible, although they share significant loan-vocabulary. The title Khagan 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 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 The ''American Journal of Biological Anthropology''Info pages about the renaming are: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/26927691/homepage/productinformation.html and https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/26927691 (previously known as ...

'' in November 2007 examined of 17 individuals buried at the Murong Xianbei cemetery in Lamadong, Liaoning, 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 (355–398), formally Emperor Huimin of (Later) Yan *

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

(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 China, 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 ...

(d. 386), formally Emperor Wei of (Western) Yan *

Murong Chui Murong Chui (; 326–396), courtesy name Daoming (道明), Xianbei name Altun (阿六敦), formally Emperor Chengwu of (Later) Yan ((後)燕成武帝) was a great general of the Xianbei-led Chinese Former Yan dynasty who later became the foundi ...

(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 i ...

(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 Murong Jun (; 319–360), courtesy name Xuanying (宣英), formally Emperor Jingzhao of (Former) Yan ((前)燕景昭帝), was an emperor of the Former Yan. He was the dynasty's second ruler, but after first using the Jin dynasty-created title o ...

(319–360), formally Emperor Jingzhao of (Former) Yan *

(d. 367), formally Prince Huan of Taiyuan *

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 * Murong Long (d. 397), formally Prince Kang of Gaoyang *

(d. 398), formally Prince Huanlie of Liaoxi *

Murong Nuohebo Murong Nuohebo () (died 688), regnal name Wudiyebaledou Khan (烏地也拔勒豆可汗) or, in short, Ledou Khan (勒豆可汗), Tang dynasty noble title Prince of Qinghai (青海王), was the last khan of the Xianbei-ruled Tuyuhun state. He had be ...

(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 Murong Ping () was a regent of the Xianbei-led Former Yan dynasty of China during the reign of Murong Wei (Emperor You), after the death of the previous, far more capable regent Murong Ke. He, along with Murong Wei's mother Empress Dowager ...

(?–?), 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 (title), khan of the Xianbei state T ...

(d. 635), khan of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun *

Murong Wei Murong Wei (; 350–385), courtesy name Jingmao (景茂), formally Emperor You of (Former) Yan ((前)燕幽帝, posthumous name given by his uncle Murong De, emperor of Southern Yan) was the last emperor of the Xianbei-led Chinese Former Yan dyn ...

(350–385), formally Emperor You of (Former) Yan * Murong Xi (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 Murong Yong (; died 394), courtesy name Shuming (叔明), was the last emperor of the Xianbei-led Chinese Western Yan dynasty. He was the grandson of Murong Yun (慕容運), the uncle of Former Yan's founder Murong Huang. As a member of Former ...

(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 cl ...

, 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