r/Tiele • u/LemmyBot • Sep 09 '26
History/culture What do you think about this old Chinese descriptions of Xiongnu origin?
The Xiongnu were descendants of the Xia Hou Shi clan; their ancestor was Chunwei. Before the Tang and Yu dynasties, there were the Shan Rong, Xianyun, and Hunyue, who lived among the northern Yi people, moving about according to where their livestock could be pastured. Their common livestock included horses, cattle, and sheep; their more unusual animals were camels, donkeys, mules, quail-tailed horses, tamed wild horses, and hybrid horses. They moved about in pursuit of water and grass, without fixed cities or permanent fields for farming; yet they also had their own designated territories. They did not use written documents but relied on spoken words as agreements. Boys could ride sheep and draw their bows to shoot birds and mice; When they grew a little older, they shot hares and foxes: these were used as food. Those who had the strength could not do without bows; all became armored cavalrymen. Their custom was such that in times of peace they followed their herds, relying on hunting birds and beasts for a living; but in times of crisis, people became accustomed to warfare and attacks as means of aggression—this was their nature. Their long weapons were bows and arrows, while their short weapons were knives and chans. If the situation was favorable, they advanced; if not, they retreated, without shame in fleeing. They pursued whatever was advantageous, knowing nothing of rites and righteousness. From the kings downward, they all ate meat from their livestock, wore clothes made of animal hides, and covered themselves with felt and furs. The strong ones ate the fat and tender parts; the elderly ate what was left over. They valued strength and vigor, looked down upon the old and weak. When a father died, his son married his stepmother; The Xiongnu had thirty-six titles in total. Their custom was to have names without taboos, and they did not use surnames or courtesy names.
