History of Ancient Ethnic Peoples (Part I) cover

History of Ancient Ethnic Peoples (Part I)

Rating 3.0
Word count
75K words
Chapters
67
ISBN
9787807119937

Tags

Summary

The Chinese nation is among the oldest peoples in the world, and Chinese civilization is one of the oldest civilizations. China has a recorded history of nearly 5,000 years; from 841 BCE onward, its documented chronological history has never been interrupted, spanning nearly 3,000 years—an unbroken record unmatched in human history. Of the world's four great ancient civilizations, only China's history has been passed down continuously and without interruption.

Editor's review

Ancient Ethnic History (Volume I) is a scholarly historical work published by Liaohai Publishing House. Its author, Xing Chunru, has long been engaged in historical research, and his works are known for their solid use of historical sources and clear organization. The book focuses on the origins, migrations, integration, and development of ancient Chinese ethnic groups, spanning from remote antiquity to the Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern Dynasties. Unlike general histories with their grand narratives, this book takes "ethnicity" as its unique lens, connecting numerous groups across the Chinese land—such as the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Qiang, and Di—and analyzing their political, economic, and cultural interactions and collisions, revealing the deep mechanisms behind the formation of Chinese civilization's pluralistic unity.

The book's value for readers lies in its professionalism and systematic approach. The author not only synthesizes transmitted textual records but also incorporates the latest findings from archaeology and anthropology, making the discussion more multidimensional. The book's analysis of complex historical processes such as "Sinicization," "Barbarization," and shifts in ethnic identity is highly illuminating, helping readers move beyond a single "Han-centric" perspective to understand the dynamics and complexity of ancient Chinese history. The writing style is rigorous and plain; while it has a certain academic threshold, it avoids excessive jargon, making it suitable for readers willing to think deeply. As the first volume, this book lays a solid foundation for understanding the subsequent great ethnic integration and the arrival of the Sui-Tang golden age.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers with a strong interest in the history of ethnic relations and integration in ancient China
  • History students or teachers who can use it as supplementary reading material
  • Thinkers who enjoy interpreting the formation of Chinese civilization from diverse perspectives
  • Enthusiasts who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the history of ancient non-Huaxia peoples such as the Xiongnu and Xianbei

Not a good fit for

  • Casual readers seeking light entertainment or novelistic historical stories
  • Readers interested only in modern history after the Ming and Qing dynasties

Reading tips

  1. While reading, consult historical maps to trace ethnic migration routes and areas of activity, enhancing spatial understanding
  2. For key ethnic groups or events mentioned in the book, extend your reading to related specialized papers or archaeological reports to deepen understanding
  3. This is Volume I; reading it together with the subsequent volume is recommended to grasp the complete trajectory of ancient ethnic development

About the publisher

Liaohai Publishing House China · Founded in 1996

Liaohai Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for textbooks and the collation of ancient works. Its publishing scope covers state-approved textbooks, local curriculum materials, supplementary educational books, and national and local ancient-text compilation projects, while also extending into humanities fields such as Eastern philosophy. Its catalog contains about 4,694 titles, with representative works including the multi-volume Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji), and its author resources include classic writers and works such as Sima Qian and Confucius. Grounded in educational publishing and the transmission of traditional culture, the press maintains sustained investment in ancient-text collation, forming a publishing profile that balances textbooks and scholarship. Due to limited public information, its more specific publishing directions and features require further supplementation.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 编写说明
  3. 一、古代民族
  4. 蛮
  5. 羌
  6. 匈奴
  7. 鲜卑
  8. 氐
  9. 奚
  10. 回鹘
  11. 鞑靼
  12. 夷
  13. 濮
  14. 貊
  15. 戎
  16. 狄
  17. 肃慎
  18. 越
  19. 西南夷
  20. 夜郎
  21. 滇
  22. 哀牢
  23. 乌孙
  24. 乌桓
  25. 夫余
  26. 山越
  27. 賨
  28. 羯
  29. 柔然
  30. 高车
  31. 室韦
  32. 哒
  33. 契丹
  34. 党项
  35. 靺鞨
  36. 突厥
  37. 吐谷浑
  38. 壮族
  39. 乌古
  40. 敌烈
  41. 克烈
  42. 青唐羌
  43. 金齿
  44. 罗罗斯
  45. 乃蛮
  46. 弘吉剌
  47. 汪古
  48. 畏兀儿
  49. 吉利吉思
  50. 水达达
  51. 兀者
  52. 骨嵬
  53. 色目人
  54. 瓦剌
  55. 兀良哈
  56. 女真
  57. 满洲
  58. 蒙古
  59. 喀尔喀蒙古
  60. 厄鲁特蒙古
  61. 土尔扈特部
  62. 葛逻禄
  63. 突骑施
  64. 沙陀
  65. 铁勒
  66. 薛延陀
  67. 黠戛斯

FAQ

How does this book differ from a general Chinese history?
This book takes "ethnicity" as its core narrative thread, focusing in depth on the evolution of each ethnic group itself and its interactions with central plains regimes. Its perspective is more specialized and thorough, filling gaps in general histories regarding ethnic details.
Does reading this require a strong background in history?
This is a work of academic popularization; a high school-level knowledge of history is sufficient to understand the main content. However, the book involves many ancient ethnic names, place names, and institutions, requiring some patience and focus from the reader.
Do the views in this book represent mainstream academic opinion?
Xing Chunru's discussion is built on mainstream historical sources and research findings, and his views are well-grounded. However, ethnic history is itself a field of active academic debate; readers may treat this book as one perspective and read it alongside other scholars' research to form their own understanding.

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About the author

Xing Chunru Author · China

Xing Chunru is a Chinese full-time book editor about whom publicly available information is limited. He has long compiled popular series for institutions such as Liaohai Publishing House. His output is considerable, with more than 700 titles held in the collection, covering fields such as art history, science and military affairs, politics and history, language and writing, and film and television. Representative works include Chinese Martial Arts (Part II), A History of Chinese Art, A History of Chinese Science and Technology, A Course in the Art of Language, Famous Paintings and Masterpieces, and the series A Grand Garden of Chinese Cultural Knowledge. These books present specialized knowledge in an accessible style, emphasizing systematic organization and readability, and are intended for young readers and general audiences, helping to popularize and guide understanding of traditional culture, art appreciation, and language expression.

李穆南 Author

Li Munan: publicly available information is limited, and details of his life, such as nationality and dates of birth and death, are not clearly recorded. Nevertheless, the 229 works held in the library indicate a prolific compiler with wide-ranging interests. His works focus mainly on Chinese culture and history, and representative titles include Chinese Martial Arts (Volume Two), The Grand Compendium of Chinese Cultural Knowledge: Science and Military Volume, The Grand Compendium of Chinese Cultural Knowledge: Politics and History Volume, The History of Ancient Chinese Literature, The History of Contemporary Chinese Literature, Poems of Successive Dynasties, and Residential Architecture and Folk Customs (Volume One). The common categories cover culture, popular science, general biography, and history readers, showing that his writing centers on knowledge popularization and cultural dissemination. His subjects span literary history, folk customs, military science, and political history, and are mostly aimed at general readers. Overall, Li Munan's body of work is extensive and emphasizes the systematic organization of traditional Chinese culture and historical knowledge, giving him a certain accumulated presence and influence in the compilation of popular cultural reading materials.

Jie Baofeng Author · Chinese · 1976

Jie Baofeng, born in 1976 and a native of Qianguo, Jilin, is of Han ethnicity and serves as an assistant researcher. He is currently director of the Jilin Provincial Local Chronicles Museum, a member of the Standing Committee of the Jilin Provincial CPPCC, and vice chair of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, and has long been engaged in compiling local chronicles. He has planned and published more than ninety chronicles and gazetteers, including the Illustrated Gazetteer of the Colonial Governing Institutions of the Puppet State of Manchukuo, and has served as chief editor of numerous history and popular science series, gaining extensive experience in document organization and knowledge dissemination. His works span a wide range of subjects, including folk literature, inspirational growth, and social fiction, with 970 titles held in the collection. These include multivolume editions of traditional classics such as the Classic of Mountains and Seas and The Complete Works of Guiguzi, as well as accessible popular readings, reflecting an editorial approach that balances scholarship with readability.

刘心莲 Author

Liu Xinlian is a Chinese compiler credited with a considerable number of titles, though public information about her is limited, and her nationality, dates of birth and death, and personal background are not clearly recorded. Judging from the 182 works held in the collection, her writing focuses mainly on cultural popularization and general knowledge books, covering such subjects as Chinese martial arts, political history, science and military affairs, emperors and eunuchs of successive dynasties, imperial examination top scholars, and myths and legends. The common categories include culture, popular science, history readings, folk literature, and general biography. Representative works include Chinese Martial Arts (Volume II), The Grand View of Chinese Culture: Political and Historical Volume, The Grand View of Chinese Culture: Science and Military Volume, Emperors of Successive Dynasties, and Myths and Legends. Overall, her editorial style leans toward accessible introductions for general readers, emphasizing systematic organization and readability, making it suitable for ordinary readers seeking to understand traditional culture and historical knowledge.

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