Ancient China: We Are Barbarians: The Four Categories of Barbarians.

 

I have been watching Chinese historical dramas on YouTube, and in the English subtitles I often see the word "Ape Man", and soon found out that Ape Man meant Barbarians. The ancient Chinese on the Central Plains where the major  dynasties arose, viewed the non-Han peoples  of the border regions as Barbarians. In the map of ancient China as it was during the Spring and Autumn period that you see above,  China was a multitude of Kingdoms, Fiefdoms and tribal regions [there are 54 entities here]. The Barbarians inhabited the vast steppes of the North, the mountainous and forested regions of the South-East covering today's Fujian, Guangdong, Zhejiang provinces, the region where today's  Sichuan, Yunnan meet Qinghai and the Tibetan plateau, and the cold snow-covered region of today's Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces that border Korea and Russia. 

The table below shows how the ancient Chinese classified the Barbarians into 4 geographical areas. So we Hokkiens, Teochews and Cantonese are indeed descended from the Yue, and Yi barbarians of ancient China

I attach a brief description of each of the 54 entities on the map for those we are interested. 

Alphabetical List of Entities

1. Ba (巴)

·        History: An ancient non-Zhou state that frequently interacted, allied, and clashed with Chu and Shu.

·        Ethnicity: Populated by the distinct Ba people (non-Huaxia).

·        Geography: South of the Daba Mountains, occupying eastern parts of the Sichuan Basin along the Yangtze River valley.

·        Note: Famous for its fierce warriors and ancient musical traditions.

2. Baipu (百濮)

·        History: A loose cluster of diverse tribal groups outside the Zhou political sphere.

·        Ethnicity: Known as the "Hundred Pu," distinct from the Central Plains Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located in the dense, mountainous tropical forests south of the Yangtze River.

·        Note: Recognized as highly adept at navigating waterways and dense jungles.

3. Cai (蔡)

·        History: A Ji-surname vassal state established during the early Western Zhou to oversee conquered Shang lands.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia (Central Plains Chinese).

·        Geography: Situated in the flat plains between the Huai River and the Yellow River.

·        Note: Spent centuries under intense military pressure from the expanding southern state of Chu.

4. Cao (曹)

·        History: A minor Zhou vassal state founded by a brother of King Wu of Zhou.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located on the fertile alluvial plains south of the lower Yellow River.

·        Note: Positioned precariously between the massive rival superpowers of Jin and Qi.

5. Cháo (巢)

·        History: An ancient, minor southern state heavily influenced and eventually annexed by Chu.

·        Ethnicity: Indigenous southern peoples with strong Huaxia cultural blending.

·        Geography: Nestled north of the Yangtze River, near the water-rich systems of Chao Lake.

·        Note: A strategic flashpoint in wars between Chu, Wu, and Yue.

6. Chen (陳)

·        History: A highly respected state ruled by descendants of the legendary Emperor Shun.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Settled on the low-lying plains of eastern Henan, north of the Huai River.

·        Note: A frequent battlefield during the ongoing hegemony conflicts between Jin and Chu.

7. Chu (楚)

·        History: A massive, powerful southern kingdom that grew independently of Zhou authority and declared its own kings.

·        Ethnicity: Primarily Chu people (mixed indigenous southern and Huaxia cultures).

·        Geography: Centered in the sprawling mid-Yangtze River valley, south of the Han River.

·        Note: One of the most dominant military superpowers of the entire era.

8. Dai (代)

·        History: A northern frontier state established by local tribal groups, later conquered by Zhao (Jin).

·        Ethnicity: Baidi / Xianbei-related northern ethnic groups.

·        Geography: Located in the mountainous, cold northern highlands beyond the Taihang Mountains.

·        Note: Served as a critical economic buffer zone between Chinese states and northern steppe nomads.

9. Dī (氐)

·        History: A collection of independent, non-unified highland tribes.

·        Ethnicity: Di people (ancestral to Sino-Tibetan groups, distinct from Huaxia).

·        Geography: Scattered across the rugged mountains and high valleys of modern-day Gansu and Sichuan.

·        Note: Adapted to harsh mountain living and highly skilled in high-altitude warfare.

10. Dèng (鄧)

·        History: A minor state that maintained close marital and political ties with Chu, which eventually absorbed it.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Situated in the strategic Nanyang Basin along the middle Han River.

·        Note: Its location acted as a natural northern gateway for Chu military expansions.

11. Donghu (東胡)

·        History: A nomadic tribal federation outside the Zhou sphere, meaning "Eastern Nomads."

·        Ethnicity: Proto-Mongolic or Tungusic nomadic peoples.

·        Geography: Roamed the vast steppes and forested hills north of the Yan Mountains.

·        Note: Excellent mounted archers who frequently clashed with the northern frontier state of Yan.

12. Er (貳)

·        History: A tiny, obscure buffer principality that was eventually eclipsed by Chu.

·        Ethnicity: Mixed southern Huaxia and local tribal populations.

·        Geography: Located in the hilly region north of the middle Yangtze River.

·        Note: Left very few records in classical Chinese historical texts.

13. Fei (肥)

·        History: A small northern state that was eventually conquered and absorbed by Jin.

·        Ethnicity: Mixed Baidi (White Di) and Huaxia.

·        Geography: Tucked into the eastern foothills of the rugged Taihang Mountains.

·        Note: One of several unique "Di" cultures that attempted to adopt Central Plains statehood.

14. Gong (冮/珙)

·        History: A remote tribal entity largely isolated from the geopolitical conflicts of the Central Plains.

·        Ethnicity: Southwest indigenous tribal groups (non-Huaxia).

·        Geography: Deeply embedded in the southern mountain valleys south of the Sichuan Basin.

·        Note: Maintained an independent, distinct lifestyle centered around local valley ecosystems.

15. Gojoseon (古朝鮮)

·        History: An ancient kingdom spanning the northern Korean Peninsula and parts of Manchuria.

·        Ethnicity: Proto-Koreanic peoples.

·        Geography: Located east of the Liao River, bounded by the Bohai Sea and northern mountains.

·        Note: Coexisted as a significant foreign trade and military neighbor to the state of Yan.

16. Gu (谷)

·        History: A minor, low-profile principality that fell completely into Chu's sphere of influence.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia / Southern mixed.

·        Geography: Positioned in the Han River basin area.

·        Note: Primarily functioned as an agricultural hub for regional powers.

17. Guzhu (孤竹)

·        History: An ancient state dating back to the Shang Dynasty, eventually destroyed by Qi and Yan.

·        Ethnicity: Mixed Huaxia and Donghu/Shanrong elements.

·        Geography: Located along the northern coastal plains of the Bohai Sea, east of the Yan Mountains.

·        Note: Famous in philosophy for its noble princes, Boyi and Shuqi, who chose exile over power.

18. Huáng (黃)

·        History: A long-standing state that formed a defensive coalition with Qi to resist Chu, but was eventually destroyed by Chu.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located north of the Yangtze River along the Huangchuan plains.

·        Note: Noted for its advanced bronze casting and close cultural ties to eastern states.

19. Hù (扈)

·        History: A minor, short-lived state that was rapidly absorbed into the territories of its larger neighbors.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located on the flat agricultural plains of central China.

·        Note: Lacked the defensive geography needed to survive regional expansionism.

20. Ji (紀)

·        History: A wealthy eastern maritime state that engaged in a long, bitter rivalry with Qi until Qi annexed it.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located on the northern side of the Shandong Peninsula near the Bohai Sea.

·        Note: Its annexation by Qi marked a major milestone in Qi's rise to regional hegemony.

21. Jiǎ (賈)

·        History: A minor, early Zhou vassal state that was quickly absorbed by the expanding Jin state.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located in the Fen River valley, just east of the Yellow River loop.

·        Note: Acted as an early stepping stone for Jin's consolidation of the Shanxi region.

22. Jiāo (膠)

·        History: A minor eastern coastal polity closely tied to the regional economy of Qi.

·        Ethnicity: Mixed Laiyi and Huaxia.

·        Geography: Situated along the Jiaolai River basin on the Shandong Peninsula.

·        Note: Highly integrated into early Chinese salt production and sea trade networks.

23. Jiā (倽)

·        History: A tiny, isolated enclave that left minimal archaeological footprint.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Situated in the interior valleys of central China.

·        Note: Completely surrounded by larger, aggressive feudal states.

24. Jin (晉)

·        History: One of the largest and most powerful states of the period, ruled by the Ji clan.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia, with significant integration of Rong and Di northern tribes.

·        Geography: Centered in the rugged mountain valleys of Shanxi, East of the Yellow River.

·        Note: Its later internal collapse and division into three states marked the end of this historical period.

25. Ju (莒)

·        History: A powerful eastern Dongyi state that retained its unique cultural identity despite Zhou influence.

·        Ethnicity: Dongyi (Eastern Yi), gradually sinicized into Huaxia.

·        Geography: Protected by the rugged southeastern hills of the Shandong Peninsula.

·        Note: Frequently served as a safe haven for exiled nobles fleeing political turmoil in Qi.

26. Jun (均)

·        History: A small frontier state that functioned primarily as a buffer zone between Ba and Chu.

·        Ethnicity: Mixed Ba and southern Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located in the mountainous gorges where the mountains meet the Han River basin.

·        Note: Constantly shifted alliances to prevent destruction by its larger neighbors.

27. Laiyi / Lai (萊夷 / 萊)

·        History: A major non-Zhou eastern kingdom that fought fiercely against Qi before being fully conquered.

·        Ethnicity: Dongyi (Eastern Yi).

·        Geography: Occupied the easternmost tips and rugged coastlines of the Shandong Peninsula.

·        Note: Possessed a distinct culture known for maritime trade, fishing, and early ironworks.

28. Li (驪)

·        History: A small state associated with the Rong tribes, famously conquered by Duke Xian of Jin.

·        Ethnicity: Rong (Lirong).

·        Geography: Located in the hills near the Wei River valley and Mount Li.

·        Note: Conquering this state brought the famous consort Li Ji to Jin, causing massive internal political chaos.

29. Linhu (林胡)

·        History: A nomadic horse-riding tribal group, meaning "Forest Nomads."

·        Ethnicity: Nomadic northern steppe peoples.

·        Geography: Roamed the arid steppes and forests north of the Ordos Loop and the Yin Mountains.

·        Note: Renowned for mobile warfare, heavily influencing the military styles of Zhao and Yan.

30. Loufan (樓煩)

·        History: A powerful northern nomadic tribe that often allied with or raided the state of Jin.

·        Ethnicity: Northern nomadic steppe culture.

·        Geography: Inhabited the high, mountainous grasslands of northern Shanxi.

·        Note: Later integrated into Chinese armies as elite cavalry horse-archers.

31. Lu (魯)

·        History: The prestigious home state of Confucius, founded by the Duke of Zhou to preserve ritual and culture.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Situated south of Mount Tai on the fertile plains of western Shandong.

·        Note: Revered as the cultural and spiritual heartland of Western Zhou traditions and text preservation.

32. Lü (呂)

·        History: A small state granted to the Jiang clan, eventually overshadowed and absorbed by Chu.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Positioned in the southern plains north of the Han River.

·        Note: Ancestral home of several prominent early Chinese historical figures.

33. Pi (邳)

·        History: A small eastern state with ancient roots, closely tied to the fortunes of Song and Lu.

·        Ethnicity: Mixed Dongyi and Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located in the marshy lowlands near the lower Huai River system.

·        Note: Its territory was highly valued for its agricultural fertility and river trade access.

34. Qi (齊)

·        History: A wealthy coastal superpower founded by the strategic mastermind Jiang Ziya (Duke of Qi).

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia, with heavily integrated Dongyi populations.

·        Geography: Located on the rich, flat northern plains of the Shandong Peninsula, bordering the Yellow Sea.

·        Note: Achieved absolute dominance as the very first official Hegemon state of the Spring and Autumn period.

35. Qiāng (羌)

·        History: A loose, non-centralized cluster of ancient nomadic and pastoral tribes.

·        Ethnicity: Qiang people (ancestral Tibeto-Burman groups).

·        Geography: Spread across the arid, high-altitude grasslands west of the Longshan Mountains.

·        Note: Known for herding livestock and launching frequent frontier raids into western China.

36. Qin (秦)

·        History: A rugged frontier state tasked with breeding horses and defending the Zhou western borders.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia, with significant cultural fusion from the Western Rong tribes.

·        Geography: Centered in the fertile Wei River valley, protected by the Qinling Mountains to the south.

·        Note: This harsh frontier upbringing laid the foundations for them to eventually conquer all of China.

37. Red Di (赤狄)

·        History: A powerful, aggressive confederation of non-Zhou tribes that frequently raided the Central Plains.

·        Ethnicity: Di people (Red Di branch).

·        Geography: Concentrated in the rugged, splitting highlands of the Taihang Mountains.

·        Note: A persistent military threat to Jin, Wei, and Xing until Jin systematically defeated them.

38. Shen (申)

·        History: A strategic northern buffer state whose alliance with the Rong tribes overthrew the Western Zhou dynasty.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located in the vital Nanyang Basin, south of the Funiu Mountains.

·        Note: Its destruction by Chu removed a major geopolitical shield protecting the Central Plains.

39. Shu (蜀)

·        History: An ancient, isolated kingdom with a unique, rich culture independent of the Zhou dynasty.

·        Ethnicity: Ancient Shu people (non-Huaxia).

·        Geography: Nestled securely inside the vast Sichuan Basin, isolated by the Longmen and Daba Mountains.

·        Note: Creators of the spectacular bronze artifacts found at the Sanxingdui archaeological site.

40. Sui (隨 / 曾)

·        History: A major Ji-surname state in the south that acted as a crucial northern check against Chu.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located in the strategic Sui-Zao corridor, a natural valley pass north of the Yangtze River.

·        Note: Famous for the archaeological discovery of the breathtaking, massive bronze bells of Marquis Yi of Zeng.

41. Song (宋)

·        History: A powerful state granted to the noble remnants of the fallen Shang Dynasty to continue their ancestral rites.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia (Shang descent).

·        Geography: Located on the sprawling, undefended central plains south of the Yellow River.

·        Note: A wealthy merchant center that was constantly invaded due to its lack of protective mountains.

42. Tang (唐)

·        History: A minor state that eventually allied with Wu and Chu during complex southern power shifts.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located in the hilly region north of the middle Yangtze River basin.

·        Note: Often caught in the crossfire of the brutal geopolitical rivalries between Chu and Wu.

43. Wey / Wei (衛)

·        History: A prominent state founded by the Ji clan to control former Shang territories, heavily damaged by Rong raids.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Situated along the middle reaches of the Yellow River plains.

·        Note: Famously rescued from total destruction by the nomadic Rong thanks to military aid from Qi.

44. White Di (白狄)

·        History: A northern non-Zhou tribal group that slowly adapted to settled agriculture and Chinese-style politics.

·        Ethnicity: Di people (White Di branch).

·        Geography: Located in the arid northern hills west of the Yellow River loop (northern Shaanxi).

·        Note: Maintained a complex love-hate relationship with the neighboring state of Jin through trade and war.

45. Wu (吳)

·        History: A rapidly rising southeast coastal kingdom that embraced advanced bronze metallurgy and naval tactics.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia ruling elites over indigenous Baiyue populations.

·        Geography: Spanned the swampy, water-rich Yangtze River Delta and Taihu Lake basin.

·        Note: Famously employed the legendary strategist Sun Tzu to capture the Chu capital.

46. Xing (邢)

·        History: A northern state founded to defend against nomadic raids, eventually destroyed by the Red Di and Wey.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located along the eastern plains running beside the Taihang Mountains.

·        Note: Its collapse highlights how vulnerable early Zhou states were to northern nomadic invasions.

47. Xú (徐)

·        History: A powerful ancient Dongyi state that resisted Zhou rule for centuries before being annexed by Wu.

·        Ethnicity: Dongyi (Eastern Yi).

·        Geography: Settled around the expansive plains and marshes of the lower Huai River valley.

·        Note: Renowned throughout ancient China for its sophisticated cultural arts and peaceful Buddhist-like philosophy.

48. Yan (燕)

·        History: A major northern frontier state tasked with protecting the Zhou world from steppe nomads.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia, with heavily integrated northern tribal populations.

·        Geography: Centered on the northern plains around modern-day Beijing, south of the Yan Mountains.

·        Note: Enjoyed relative isolation from central wars, allowing it to steadily grow over centuries.

49. Yangyue (揚越)

·        History: A broad cluster of independent, non-sinicized tribes outside of Zhou political control.

·        Ethnicity: Baiyue (Hundred Yue) peoples.

·        Geography: Distributed across the mountainous, humid hills south of the middle-lower Yangtze River.

·        Note: Masters of early rice agriculture, boat building, and distinctive geometric pottery.

50. Yiqu (義渠)

·        History: A powerful, highly organized nomadic state that was a constant security threat to western Qin.

·        Ethnicity: Rong / Qiangic nomadic groups.

·        Geography: Located on the dry loess plateaus northwest of the Wei River valley.

·        Note: Qin spent centuries fighting, marrying into, and eventually annexing Yiqu to secure its western flank.

51. Yue (越)

·        History: A coastal southern kingdom known for its unique culture, world-class sword forging, and marine skills.

·        Ethnicity: Baiyue peoples.

·        Geography: Located south of the Hangzhou Bay, nestled between the Kuaiji Mountains and the East China Sea.

·        Note: Engaged in a legendary, multi-decade death match with Wu, ultimately destroying Wu completely.

52. Zheng (鄭)

·        History: An aggressive, highly influential state that dominated early Spring and Autumn politics by defying Zhou kings.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Strategically located at the intersection of major north-south and east-west trade routes on the Central Plains.

·        Note: Its central location made it an incredibly wealthy trading hub, but also a constant target for invasion.

53. Zhou (周)

·        History: The royal domain of the King of Zhou; though nominally the supreme ruler of China, they held almost no real power.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Confined to a small, heavily fortified pocket of land around Luoyang along the middle Yellow River.

·        Note: Served as the religious and spiritual center of the Chinese world, even as vassals ignored their laws.

54. Zhū (邾 / 鄒)

·        History: A small, culturally rich state that managed to survive for centuries despite being surrounded by giants.

·        Ethnicity: Huaxia.

·        Geography: Located on the rolling plains of southwestern Shandong, just south of Lu.

·        Note: Celebrated as the birthplace of the great Confucian philosopher Mencius.