Xianyun; ancient northern nomadic tribe
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
Xianyun (an ancient nomadic ethnic group in northern China during the Zhou Dynasty)
archaicA historical term referring to a non-Han ethnic group mentioned in ancient Chinese texts such as the *Book of Songs* (*Shijing*) and the *Bamboo Annals*. Often identified with or considered ancestral to later groups like the Xiongnu. Also written as 𤞤狁.
Xiǎn猃
yǔn狁
shì是
zhōu周
dài代
běi北
fāng方
de的
zhǔ主
yào要
biān边
huàn患
zhī之
yī一
。
The Xianyun were one of the main northern border threats during the Zhou Dynasty.
《
Shī诗
jīng经
·
xiǎo小
yǎ雅
》
zhōng中
yǒu有
「「
bó薄
fá伐
xiǎn猃
yǔn狁
，
zhì至
yú于
tài太
yuán原
」」
de的
shī诗
jù句
。
The *Book of Songs*, *Minor Odes*, contains the line: 'We made a swift attack upon the Xianyun, and reached as far as Taiyuan.'
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Gǔ古
dài代
wén文
xiàn献
zhōng中
jì记
zǎi载
，
xiǎn猃
yǔn狁
cháng常
cháng常
qīn侵
rǎo扰
zhōng中
yuán原
dì地
qū区
。
Ancient texts record that the Xianyun frequently invaded the Central Plains region.