Pages: 81-88

As early as the middle of the first millennium BC, before Confucianism, we can speak of the phenomenon of unstable forms of nomadic states, when the same peoples on different territories would build absolutely different in form and content kingdoms and empires. Zhongshan Kingdom can serve as an example, where the ‘barbarians’ became the ruling dynasty for the Chinese agricultural majority. In the 3rd century BC, simultaneously with the beginning of Han epoch, Xiongnu Empire started taking its shape, with minimum lessons learnt from China’s administrative experience, the nomadic population prevailing there. Later on, in the end of the 1st century BC — early 1st century AD, we see emergence of a number of southern Xiongnu states — vassals of China, integrated with the Empire’s territorial system, yet enjoying self-governance. Thus, we can speak about fluid forms of ‘nomadic statehood’, which, although developed by kin communities, could acquire a wide variety of forms in the same region along several centuries.

Keywords: Northern China, Han dynasty, nomadic states, Xiongnu, Di people, Zhongshan

Information about author:

Daniil Shulga (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation). Siberian Institute of Management, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA). Nizhegorodskaya St., 6, Novosibirsk, 630102, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]