Xiongnu

The Xiongnu ({{zh-cpw|c=??|p=Xi?ngnú|w=Hsiung-nü}}) were a nomadic pastoral people of Central Asia, generally based in present day Mongolia. From the 3rd century BC they controlled a vast steppe empire extending west as far as the Caucasus. They were active in the areas of southern Siberia, western Manchuria and the modern Chinese provinces of Inner Mongolia, Gansu and Xinjiang. Nevertheless their origins and ethnic composition remain unclear.

Related Topics:
Central Asia - Mongolia - 3rd century BC - Steppe - Caucasus - Siberia - Manchuria - Inner Mongolia - Gansu - Xinjiang

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Relations between the Chinese and the Xiongnu were complicated and included military conflict, exchanges in tribute and trade, as well as marriage treaties.

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The overwhelming amount of information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources. There is no way of reconstructing any substantial part of the Xiongnu language. What little we know of their titles and names come from Chinese transliterations. The Chinese terms for the people - "Xiongnu" - or its leaders - "chanyu" (??) - presumably reflects the sound of the foreign tongue.

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