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Murong

Summary

Murong (Chinese: 慕容; pinyin: Mùróng; Wade–Giles: Mu4-jung2; LHC: *mɑC-joŋ;[1] EMC: *mɔh-juawŋ[2]) 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 Mongols[3][4] nomadic confederation in Central Asia. The Former Yan (337–370), Western Yan (384–394), Later Yan (384–409) dynasties as well as Tuyuhun (285–670) were all founded by the Murong peoples.

Muren
Muren in regular script
PronunciationMùróng (Pinyin), Мөрөн (Mongolian)
Language(s)Mongolic Language
Origin
Language(s)Xianbei
Derivationname of the ancestor of the Muren tribe
Other names
Variant form(s)Murong (Mandarin)

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 Later Yan, Murong Ke (慕容恪), Murong Long (慕容隆), Murong Sanzang (慕容三藏), Murong Yanzhao (慕容延钊), Murong Yanchao (慕容彦超), Murong Nong (慕容农), Murong Han (慕容翰), Murong Chuqiang (慕容楚强), Murong Haoran (慕容浩然), and the fictional character Murong Fu (慕容復). When Han peoples during the reign of Yuwen Tai 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 edit

 
Painting of a Murong archer from an Xianbei tomb excavated in 1982 in Chaoyang, Liaoning.

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:

Tanshihuai of the Xianbei divided his territory into three sections: the eastern, the middle and the western. From the You Beiping to the Liao River, connecting the Fuyu and Mo to the east, it was the eastern section. There were more than twenty counties. The darens (chiefs) (of this section) were called Mijia, Queji, Suli and Huaitou. From the You Beiping to Shanggu to the west, it was the middle section. There were more than ten counties. The darens of this section were called Kezui, Queju, Murong, et al. From Shanggu to Dunhuang, connecting the Wusun to the west, it was the western section. There were more than twenty counties. The darens (of this section) were called Zhijian Luoluo, Rilü Tuiyan, Yanliyou, et al. These chiefs were all subordinate to Tanshihuai.[5]

The Xianbei state 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 dynasty, settling in the 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 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 that same year.

Muyan's son Shegui (涉歸), however, fought against the Jin dynasty (266–420), 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 (廆 b. 268, r. 285–333) as their chieftain. Hui attacked the Buyeo kingdom 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 settlers after Emperor Wu of Han's conquest of Gojoseon 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 Murong Hui 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.

Some Murong members live in a town in Guangdong.[6][7] Zhaoqing is the area where they lived since they moved from north to south.[8][9] They practice no aspect of Xianbei culture or identity.[10][11] The move to southern China from the north is described in their genealogical records.[12][13] They are descended from Murong Bao.[14] They moved to southern China after the foundation of the Ming dynasty.[15][16]

Language edit

The Xianbei are generally considered speakers of Mongolic languages. Some tribes such as the Duan, Qifu and Tufa 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 Tuyuhun, or at least a linguistic variety closely related to it.[17]

The Dunhuang Documents, P. 1283 (in Tibetan) records a very important piece of information about the Khitan and Murong:

The language (of the Khitan) and that of the Tuyuhun could generally communicate with each other.[18]

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 Murong Hui, and began his route from Liaodong to the areas of Ordos Desert. One of Murong's generals called Yinalou addressed him as kěhán (可寒, later 可汗), some sources suggests that Tuyuhun might also have used the title after settling at Koko Nor in the 3rd century.[19] 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 Murong Hui 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 are regarded as the culturally and ethnically-distinct descendants of the Murong.[20]

Genetics edit

A genetic study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology 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.[21]

Rulers edit

  • Murong Mohuba (238)
  • Murong Muyan (246)
  • Murong Shegui (died 283)
  • Murong Shan (died 285)
  • Murong Hui (285–333)

People edit

  • Murong Bao (355–398), formally Emperor Huimin of (Later) Yan
  • Murong Chao (385–410), last emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Southern Yan
  • Murong Chong (d. 386), formally Emperor Wei of (Western) Yan
  • Murong Chui (326–396), formally Emperor Wucheng of (Later) Yan
  • Murong De (336–405), formally Emperor Xianwu of (Southern) Yan
  • Murong Fuyun (597–635), ruler of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun
  • Murong Huang (297–348), formally Prince Wenming of (Former) Yan
  • Murong Hong (d. 384), founder of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan
  • Murong Hui (269–333), Xianbei chief and Duke Xiang of Liaodong, posthumously honored as Prince Wuxuan of Yan
  • Murong Jun (319–360), formally Emperor Jingzhao of (Former) Yan
  • Murong Ke (d. 367), formally Prince Huan of Taiyuan
  • Murong Lin (d. 398), general and imperial prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan
  • Murong Long (d. 397), formally Prince Kang of Gaoyang
  • Murong Nong (d. 398), formally Prince Huanlie of Liaoxi
  • Murong Nuohebo (d. 688), last khan of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun
  • Murong Sheng (373–401), an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan
  • Murong Ping (?–?), regent of the Chinese/Xianbei state Former Yan during the reign of Murong Wei (Emperor You)
  • Murong Shun (d. 635), khan of the Xianbei/Qiang/Tibetan state Tuyuhun
  • Murong Wei (350–385), formally Emperor You of (Former) Yan
  • Murong Xi (385–407), emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan
  • Murong Yao (d. 386) was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan
  • Murong Yi (d. 386) was a ruler of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan
  • Murong Yong (d. 394), last emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan
  • Murong Zhong (d. 386) emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan
  • Princess Murong, princess of Northern Yan, wife of Feng Hong

References edit

  1. ^ Schuessler, Axel. (2007) An Etymological Dictionary of Old Chinese. University of Hawaii Press. p. 502, 259, 290
  2. ^ Pulleyblank. Edwin G. (1991) Lexicon of Reconstructed Pronunciation: in Early Middle Chinese, Late Middle Chinese, and Early Mandarin Vancouver: University of British Columbia p. 220, 297
  3. ^ 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."
  4. ^ Таскин В. С. (1992) Материалы по истории кочевых народов в Китае III–V вв. Выпуск 3. Мужуны. 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."
  5. ^ SGZ 30. 837–838, note. 1.
  6. ^ "慕容家族扎根广东 系鲜卑"皇亲国戚"". 中国网 china.com.cn (in Simplified Chinese). July 10, 2008.
  7. ^ 南方网 (August 9, 2004). "祖先600年前迁高要 一个村里3000多人姓慕容(组图)". news.sohu.com 搜狐新闻 (in Simplified Chinese).
  8. ^ "广东鲜卑人后裔慕容族祖祠供奉"包青天"". 中国新闻网 (in Simplified Chinese). November 16, 2015.
  9. ^ 金羊网-- 羊城晚报 (January 25, 2016). "一个村里３０００多人姓慕容". 寻根网 (in Simplified Chinese). Archived from the original on August 11, 2016.
  10. ^ 杨, 成, ed. (November 2, 2004). "广东高要"游牧民族" 复姓慕容的鲜卑后裔". 人民网 (in Simplified Chinese).
  11. ^ 羊城晚报 (August 9, 2004). "祖先600年前迁高要 一个村里3000多人姓慕容". 南方网 (in Simplified Chinese).
  12. ^ "廣東省高要市——高要市白土鎮幕村慕容家族". 中华容氏网 (in Simplified Chinese). December 8, 2008.
  13. ^ 羊城晚报 (August 9, 2004). "一个村里3000多人姓慕容(组图)". NEWS.SOHU.COM (in Simplified Chinese).
  14. ^ "广东鲜卑人后裔慕容族祖祠供奉"包青天"". 中国新闻网 (in Simplified Chinese). November 16, 2015.
  15. ^ 慕容氏宗亲网 (February 15, 2012). "一个村里３０００多人姓慕容". 陈氏宗亲网>> 首页 (in Simplified Chinese).
  16. ^ "据说高要白土有个慕容家族，皇帝后裔！是真的吗？". 《今日头条》你关心的,才是头条! - TouTiao.org (in Simplified Chinese). August 12, 2015. Archived from the original on August 12, 2015.
  17. ^ Shimunek, Andrew (2017). Languages of Ancient Southern Mongolia and North China: a Historical-Comparative Study of the Serbi or Xianbei Branch of the Serbi-Mongolic Language Family, with an Analysis of Northeastern Frontier Chinese and Old Tibetan Phonology. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag. ISBN 978-3-447-10855-3. OCLC 993110372.
  18. ^ Wang, Yao & Chen, Jian 1983, p. 162.
  19. ^ Zhou 1985, p. 3–6.
  20. ^ Hu, Alex J.(2010) 'An overview of the history and culture of the Xianbei ('Monguor'/'Tu')', Asian Ethnicity, 11: 1, 95–164.
  21. ^ Wang al. 2007.

Sources edit

This page lists people with the surname Murong.
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