Khitan people

Quick Facts: Who was Khitan people?

Subject:

Khitan people

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Nomadic people who founded the powerful Liao dynasty in Northeast Asia.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Khitan people (Khitan small script: ; Chinese: 契丹; pinyin: Qìdān; Old Turkic: 𐰶𐰃𐱃𐰪, romanized: Qïtań) were a historical nomadic people from East Asia and parts of North Asia who, from the 4th century, inhabited an area corresponding to parts of modern Mongolia, Northeast China, and the Russian Far East. As a people descended from the proto-Mongols through the Xianbei, Khitans spoke the now-extinct Khitan language, a Para-Mongolic language related to the Mongolic languages. The Khitan people founded and led the Liao dynasty (916–1125), which dominated a vast area of Siberia, Mongolia and Northern China. The Khitans of the Liao dynasty used two independent writing systems for their language: Khitan small script and Khitan large script. After the fall of the Liao dynasty in 1125 following the Jurchen invasion, many Khitans followed Yelü Dashi's group westward to establish the Qara Khitai or Western Liao dynasty, in Central Asia, which lasted nearly a century before falling to the Mongol Empire in 1218.

Career & Major Achievements

Other regimes founded by the Khitans included the Northern Liao, Eastern Liao, and Later Liao in China, as well as the Qutlugh-Khanid dynasty in Persia. The modern-day Daur people, a recognized minority ethnic group in Northeast China, are the genetic descendants of Khitans. The historical European name for China, Cathay, originates from the word Khitan. There is no consensus on the etymology of the name of Khitan. There are basically three speculations.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Feng Jiasheng argues that it comes from the Yuwen chieftains' names. Zhao Zhenji thinks that the term originated from Xianbei and means "a place where Xianbei had resided". Japanese scholar Otagi Matsuo believes that Khitan's original name was "Xidan", which means "the people who are similar to the Xi people" or "the people who inhabit among the Xi people". Deciphering the name "Khitan" that is based on a study the monuments of Khitan writing system, is associated with the concept of "cold", "chilly", "frosty" in Mongolian dialects: Khorchin, Jalayt, Durbet, Gorlos, Arukhorchin (阿鲁科尔沁), Baarin, Onnyut, Naiman — "khuten"; Kharchin, Tumut — "khiten"; Mongolian — "küyiten". In the lands of the Khitans there were a number of places whose names included the word "cold".

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1125: 1125 Milestone — The Khitan people founded and led the Liao dynasty (916–1125), which dominated a vast area of Siberia, Mongolia and Northern China.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Khitan people

True or False: “The term 'Cathay' for China originated from the Khitan name because they were the only group to interact with medieval Europe.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The term 'Cathay' was introduced to medieval Europe via Islamic and Russian sources after the Khitans dominated the region.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• David IV — Historical peer (Died in 1125) (1125): The Builder: Great King of Georgia who ushered in the Golden Age.
• Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor — Historical peer (Died in 1125) (1125): King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, last of the Salian dynasty.
• Emperor Chūkyō — Historical peer (Born in 1218) (1218): The 85th Emperor of Japan, whose brief reign was overshadowed by political turmoil.
• Jayavarman VII — Historical peer (Died in 1218) (1218): Powerful Khmer monarch who championed Buddhism and built extensive welfare infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions about Khitan people