Xianbei: Map & History
The Xianbei were an ancient nomadic people who inhabited parts of present-day northeastern China, Inner Mongolia, and the eastern Eurasian steppe.
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The Xianbei were an ancient nomadic people who inhabited parts of present-day northeastern China, Inner Mongolia, and the eastern Eurasian steppe. The Xianbei were likely not of a single ethnicity, but rather a multilingual, multi-ethnic confederation consisting of mainly Proto-Mongols, and, to a minor degree, Tungusic and Turkic peoples. They originated from the Donghu people who splintered into the Wuhuan and Xianbei when they were defeated by the Xiongnu at the end of the 3rd century BC. In the 1st century BC, the Xianbei began engaging in the conflict between the Han dynasty and the Xiongnu, culminating in the Xianbei replacing the Xiongnu on the Mongolian Plateau.
Modern Countries Once Part of Xianbei
At its mapped extent, Xianbei covered territory in 4 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Mongolia60–223 CE · nearly all
- China60–237 CE · a small part
- Russia161–223 CE · a small part
- Kazakhstan106–223 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Xianbei's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Xianbei in Depth
History
Warring States period's Chinese literature contains early mentions of Xianbei, as in the poem The Great Summons in the anthology Chu Ci and possibly the chapter "Discourses of Jin 8" in the Guoyu. However the early appearance of the word xianbei in the Chu ci refers to a belt buckle rather than a people.
The first time the Xianbei people appeared in recorded history was in the Book of the Later Han, compiled in the 5th century. According to the Book of the Later Han, the Xianbei were originally a branch of the Donghu people together with the Wuhuan (or Wuwan) and "the language and culture of the Xianbei are the same as the Wuhuan". When the Donghu "Eastern Barbarians" were defeated by the Xiongnu leader Modu Chanyu around 208 BC, the Donghu splintered into the Xianbei and Wuhuan.
Military
The Xianbei lacked steel armor and sharp weapons according to late 4th century textual references.
The Xianbei military was originally composed of steppe cavalry. By 366, the Tuoba Xianbei claimed to command several hundred thousand mounted archers and controlled pastures that supported a million horses. Cavalry continued to serve as the core of the Xianbei military even after northern China was unified by Northern Wei (386–535 AD). Under the Northern Wei, the core of the military was composed of Xianbei people while the Han peasants served in logistical support roles or performed garrison duty as a form of corvée labor. Control of settlements was maintained by Xianbei warriors who lived apart from Han people.
Culture
The economic base of the Xianbei was animal husbandry combined with agricultural practice. They were the first to develop the khanate system. It is speculated that Tuoba Liwei was the first to use the title of khan.
The formation of social classes deepened and developments also occurred in their literacy, arts and culture. They used a zodiac calendar and favoured song and music. Tengrism and subsequently Buddhism were the main religions among the Xianbei people. After they abandoned the frigid north and migrated into Northern China, they gradually abandoned nomadic lifestyle and were sinicized and assimilated into the Han Chinese. Emperor Xiaowen of the Xianbei-led state of Northern Wei in northern China, eventually decreed the changes of Xianbei names to Han names.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Xianbei (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Xianbei: Key Facts
| Religion | Tengrism |
|---|---|
| Founded | 208 BCE |
| Dissolved | 670 CE |
Facts from Wikidata Q861054 (CC0).
Xianbei Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Xianbei appears, with the other states of the time.
Xianbei Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 5,220,510 km² in 162 CE.
Xianbei: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Xianbei exist?
Xianbei is dated to 60 CE – 237 CE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of Xianbei?
The capital of Xianbei was Mount Danhan (around present-day Shangyi County, Hebei).
How large was Xianbei at its peak?
At its peak in 162 AD Xianbei covered about 5,220,510 km².
How did the map of Xianbei change over time?
Xianbei appears on 2 dated world maps in the atlas, from 117 CE to 200 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.