Khitan people

The Khitan were a historical group of nomadic people from East Asia.

They inhabited a large region including modern Mongolia, Northeast China, and the Russian Far East. Their history began as early as the 4th century. They are believed to have descended from the Xianbei people. Specifically, they likely emerged from the Yuwen branch of the Xianbei. Following a split in the Kumo Xi group in 388, the Khitans emerged as a distinct people. They spoke a Para-Mongolic language, which is now extinct. This language was closely related to modern Mongolic languages.

The Khitan way of life was defined by nomadism. They migrated according to the seasons to find resources. They depended heavily on horses for their livelihoods. Their men practiced archery for hunting and drank a fermented milk drink called kumiss. This lifestyle provided them with a significant advantage in military affairs. They were often described in historical texts as being very active in raiding and plundering borders. Their social structure was deeply tied to their movement across the vast landscapes of North Asia.

Early Khitan society was organized into eight distinct tribes. These tribes were the Xiwandan, Hedahe, Fufuyu, Yuling, Rilian, Piqie, Li, and Tuliuhan. To maintain balance, these tribes shared power through a rotating leadership system. Every three years, the leadership would change among the groups. Later, during the Sui dynasty, their military organization became more advanced. They began using tallies to coordinate the mobilization of troops. This allowed for more complex and organized military operations.

A major shift occurred when the Dahe clan unified the tribes into a federation. This confederation was capable of raising 34,000 troops. The Hedahe became the leading tribe of this new group. The Dahe clan replaced the old rotating system with a method called "Shixuan." Under Shixuan, leaders were elected based on their talent and ability. This was not a simple hereditary system where a son always followed a father. Instead, brothers, cousins, or nephews were often chosen to lead. While the Dahe clan handled foreign affairs, the other component tribes remained largely autonomous.

The most famous era for the Khitan was the Liao dynasty. This dynasty lasted from 916 to 1125. It dominated a massive territory spanning Siberia, Mongolia, and Northern China.

The Khitan developed two independent writing systems for their language. These were known as the Khitan large script and the Khitan small script. Their influence was so great that they founded other regimes, such as the Northern, Eastern, and Later Liao. They also established the Qutlugh-Khanid dynasty in Persia.

The fall of the Liao dynasty in 1125 changed Khitan history again. A Jurchen invasion caused the empire to collapse. However, the Khitan people did not disappear. A leader named Yelü Dashi led a group westward into Central Asia. They established the Qara Khitai, also known as the Western Liao dynasty. This new state lasted for nearly a century. It remained in power until it was defeated by the Mongol Empire in 1218. This shows the resilience and movement of the Khitan people across different eras.

The Khitan left a lasting mark on global language and identity. Because they ruled large areas, the term "Khitai" became a word for China in Central Asia and Russia. This term traveled to medieval Europe through Islamic and Russian sources. In Europe, it became the name "Cathay." Even today, some Turkic and Slavic languages use names related to Khitay to refer to China. Furthermore, the modern Daur people of Northeast China are the genetic descendants of the Khitan. Their history connects ancient nomadic migrations to the modern world.