Yuwen Xianbei

Origins

The Yuwen ruling house was said to be of Southern Xiongnu origin and became leaders of a Xianbei-speaking confederation in the Shira Muren valley of eastern Inner Mongolia in the late 3rd century, with its centre at Zixiong.

Rule and society

The Yuwen were mounted herders and hunters ruled by hereditary chiefs. They were the main rivals of the Murong Xianbei to the south-east and allies at times of Later Zhao. Chinese sources describe them as fierce but loosely organised.

Decline and legacy

In 344 Murong Huang of Former Yan defeated the chief Yuwen Yidougui, who fled and died in the steppe, and over 50,000 households were moved south. Yuwen descendants rose again two centuries later: Yuwen Tai dominated Western Wei and his family founded the Northern Zhou. The Kumo Xi and Khitan were said to descend from Yuwen remnants.