Wusun facts for kids

This ancient burial mound in Tenlik, Kazakhstan, is linked to the Wusun people.

The Wusun (pronounced Woo-soon) were an ancient group of people who lived a semi-nomadic life on the Eurasian Steppe. They are mentioned in old Chinese records from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD.

The Wusun first lived between the Qilian Mountains and Dunhuang in Gansu, near another group called the Yuezhi. Around 176 BC, a powerful group called the Xiongnu attacked the Yuezhi. The Yuezhi then attacked the Wusun, killing their king and taking their land. The Xiongnu took in the Wusun prince who survived. He became one of their generals and the new leader of the Wusun.

Around 162 BC, the Yuezhi were pushed out of their lands and moved to the Ili River valley. This area was once home to the Saka people. The Wusun then settled in Gansu again, but they were under the control of the Xiongnu. Later, around 133–132 BC, the Wusun drove the Yuezhi out of the Ili Valley and made it their new home.

After this, the Wusun became close friends with the Han dynasty of China. They remained a strong group in the region for several centuries. The last time Chinese records mention the Wusun is in the 5th century AD. They moved to the Pamir Mountains because of pressure from another group called the Rouran. It is thought that they might have joined with the later Hephthalites people.

What Does the Name Wusun Mean?

The name 'Wusun' comes from Chinese characters. It literally means 'crow' (wū) and 'grandson' or 'descendant' (sūn). There are a few ideas about where this name came from.

Some experts, like Victor H. Mair, think 'Wusun' might be linked to words for 'horse' in ancient languages. For example, in Sanskrit, áśva means 'horse'. This idea suggests the Wusun might have been known as 'the horse people'. This makes sense because they were nomadic people who relied on horses.

Another idea from Étienne de la Vaissière suggests the name means "People of the Tent(s)". This also fits their nomadic lifestyle, as they lived in tents.

Wusun History: A Journey Through Time

Early Days and Big Changes

The Wusun were first mentioned by Chinese sources as living near the Qilian Mountains and Dunhuang in Gansu.

Around 210–200 BC, a prince named Modu Chanyu became the leader of the Xiongnu. He conquered many groups on the Mongolian Plain. Around 176 BC, Modu Chanyu attacked the Yuezhi. The Yuezhi then attacked the Wusun, who were a smaller group at the time. They killed the Wusun king, Nandoumi.

Legend says that Nandoumi's baby son, Liejiaomi, was left alone in the wild. But a she-wolf miraculously fed him, and ravens brought him meat. This story is similar to ancestor myths of other ancient groups like the Romans and Turks.

In 162 BC, the Xiongnu finally defeated the Yuezhi. The Yuezhi then fled from Gansu. They moved west, pushing out the Saka (also known as Scythians) from the Ili River valley. The Saka then moved into South Asia. After the Yuezhi left, the Wusun settled in Gansu again, but they were under the Xiongnu's control.

Moving to the Ili Valley

The Xiongnu ruler was very impressed with Liejiaomi, the Wusun prince who had survived. He adopted Liejiaomi and made him a Xiongnu general and leader of the Wusun. Liejiaomi won many battles for the Xiongnu, and the Wusun became very strong.

Liejiaomi always wanted to get revenge for his father's death. Around 133–132 BC, he successfully attacked the Yuezhi in the Ili Valley. The Yuezhi then moved further west to Sogdia and then Bactria. There, they formed the powerful Kushan Empire, which became very important for trade on the Silk Road.

The Wusun then took over the Ili Valley. They grew powerful and tried to stay independent from the Xiongnu. The Xiongnu tried to attack the Wusun, but they were defeated. After this, the Xiongnu respected Liejiaomi even more and avoided fighting him.

Becoming Friends with the Han Dynasty

After settling in the Ili Valley, the Wusun became so strong that the Han dynasty wanted to be their friends and allies. Chinese records say that the Wusun kingdom included both Yuezhi and Saka people. Most of the people living there were likely Iranian-speaking Saka tribes.

In 125 BC, the Chinese traveler and diplomat Zhang Qian was sent by the Han Emperor Emperor Wu of Han to make an alliance with the Wusun against the Xiongnu. Zhang Qian estimated that the Wusun had about 630,000 people, with 120,000 families and 188,000 men ready for battle. Their land had once belonged to the Saka. To their northwest, the Wusun bordered Kangju (in modern Kazakhstan). To the west was Dayuan (Ferghana), and to the south were various city-states.

The Wusun's main city was Chigu (meaning "Red Valley"). It was located near Issyk Kul lake. Chigu was an important trading center on one of the Silk Road routes.

The Wusun agreed to a possible alliance with the Han. They were offered a Han princess in marriage and the chance to get their original Gansu homeland back. However, because they feared the Xiongnu, the Wusun hesitated. They suggested sending a delegation to the Han instead of moving their capital.

Wusun as Allies of the Han

After some time, the Han dynasty dealt several blows to the Xiongnu. The Han then threatened the Wusun with war. Finally, Liejiaomi agreed to the alliance. He sent horses as tribute and accepted Princess Xijun as his wife. The Wusun, along with the Yuezhi and Kangju, became important suppliers of horses for the Han.

However, the Xiongnu had also sent a princess to marry Liejiaomi. The Xiongnu princess became his main wife, and Princess Xijun became his second wife. Since Liejiaomi was old, Xijun later married his successor, Cenzou. Princess Xijun wrote a famous poem where she expressed her sadness about being exiled to a foreign land. She wrote:

My family sent me off to be married on the other side of heaven. They sent me a long way to a strange land, to the king of Wusun. A domed lodging is my dwelling place with walls of felt. Meat is my food, with fermented milk as the sauce. I live with constant thoughts of my home, my heart is full of sorrow. I wish I were a golden swan, returning to my home country.

Xijun had a daughter with the Wusun king but died soon after. The Han court then sent Princess Jieyou to replace her. After Cenzou died, Jieyou married Wengguimi, Cenzou's cousin and the new king. Jieyou lived among the Wusun for fifty years and had five children. She often wrote to the Han asking for help against the Xiongnu.

Around 80 BC, the Xiongnu attacked the Wusun and defeated them badly. In 72 BC, the Wusun king asked the Han for help against the Xiongnu. The Han sent a huge army of 160,000 men. They crushed the Xiongnu, taking many treasures and slaves. After this victory, the Wusun grew stronger and gained influence over the city-states in the Tarim Basin. They became a third important power between the Han and the Xiongnu.

In 64 BC, Chinese agents were involved in a plan to kill a Wusun king known as Nimi. A Chinese envoy who treated Nimi's illness instead of killing him was punished by the Han.

Another Han princess was sent to marry King Wengguimi in 64 BC, but he died before she arrived. Emperor Xuan of Han allowed her to return. Princess Jieyou then married the new king, Nimi. Nimi was later killed by his half-brother, Wujiutu. To avoid problems with the Han, Wujiutu took the title of Lesser Kunmi, while Yuanguimi was called Greater Kunmi. The Han accepted this system. Princess Jieyou returned to China in 49 BC and died there. For decades, there continued to be a Greater Kunmi (married to a Han princess) and a Lesser Kunmi (married to a Xiongnu princess).

In 74 AD, the Wusun sent tribute to the Han military. In 80 AD, Ban Chao asked the Wusun for help against the city-state of Kucha. The Wusun were rewarded with silks, and diplomatic ties continued. However, during the 2nd century AD, the Wusun's political power slowly declined.

Later Years of the Wusun

In the 5th century AD, the Wusun were pressured by the Rouran people. They might have moved to the Pamir Mountains. They are last mentioned in Chinese history in 436 AD, when a Chinese envoy visited them. It is possible they joined with the later Hephthalites people. After this, the Wusun seem to disappear from Chinese records. They were last mentioned in 938 AD as groups paying tribute to the Liao Dynasty.

What Did the Wusun Look Like?

Early Chinese books like the Hanshu and Shiji did not say much about how the Wusun looked. However, a later book from the Western Han dynasty described Wusun women as having "deep eyesockets, dark, ugly."

A 7th-century writer named Yan Shigu wrote more about their appearance. He said:

Among the barbarians in the Western Regions, the look of the Wusun is the most unusual. The present barbarians who have green eyes and red hair, and look like macaque monkeys, are the offspring of this people.

Studies of ancient skulls from Wusun areas suggest they were mostly of Caucasoid (European-like) appearance, with some mixing from Mongoloid (East Asian-like) groups.

What Language Did the Wusun Speak?

Most experts believe the Wusun spoke an Indo-European language, likely from the Indo-Iranian branch. Many scholars, including Elena Kuzmina and Peter B. Golden, think they spoke an Iranian language. This idea is supported by archaeological findings.

Some scholars have suggested the Wusun might have spoken a Tocharian language, another Indo-European group. Others, like Christopher I. Beckwith, think they spoke an Indo-Aryan language.

In the past, some thought the Wusun spoke a Turkic language. This was based on the Wusun king's name, Fu-li, which some thought sounded like the Turkic word for 'wolf'. However, modern experts mostly disagree with this idea.

How Did the Wusun Live?

The Wusun were mainly cattle herders. They also practiced some farming. Since the climate in their region did not allow constant wandering, they likely moved with the seasons to find good pastures and water. Many archaeological discoveries, like grinding stones and farming tools, show they had a semi-nomadic lifestyle that combined herding and farming.

Early Chinese descriptions sometimes called them "bad, greedy and unreliable," but also noted their state was very strong. They were known for getting along with their neighbors, even though they were often attacked by the Xiongnu and Kangju.

Wusun Society and How They Were Organized

The Wusun's society was similar to that of the Xiongnu. They were led by a Great Kunmi (king), and his power was passed down through his family. The Great Kunmi and his two sons each commanded an army of 10,000 men. Every free man was considered a warrior.

Their government was quite organized, with sixteen officials. The Great Kunmi was advised by a council of elders, which limited his power. The Wusun leaders became rich from tribute from conquered tribes, war treasures, and trade.

Wusun society had different levels, with some people being much wealthier than others. The richest Wusun might own thousands of horses. It was common for widows to marry one of their late husband's relatives. This was a practice called levirate marriage.

Wusun society also had many slaves, usually prisoners of war. These slaves mainly worked as servants and craftspeople.

Archaeological Discoveries

Many ancient sites from the Wusun period have been found in Zhetysu and the Tian Shan mountains. These include burial grounds with graves containing personal items. Some graves, called the Aygîrdzhal group, often contain weapons.

A famous discovery is the Kargali burial of a female shaman found near Almaty. It contained jewelry, clothing, a head-dress, and almost 300 gold objects. A beautiful golden headband from this burial shows the amazing skill of these ancient jewelers. Another find at Tenlik kurgan included the grave of a high-ranking warrior whose clothes were decorated with about 100 golden bosses.

Wusun and Other Ancient Groups

Some scholars believe the Wusun might be the same people described by the ancient Greek historian Herodotus as the Issedones. Their exact location in Central Asia is not fully known.

The French historian Iaroslav Lebedynsky suggests the Wusun might have been the Asii mentioned in another ancient text, Geographica.

Wusun Genetics: What DNA Tells Us

Genetic proximity of Eastern Indo-Europeans: the Wusun had great genetic proximity with the Kangju, the Andronovo, the Sarmatians, the Sakas or the Tagar populations.

Genetic makeup of Iron Age Central Asian Scythians. The three main ancestry components are shown in green, red and violet representing the ancestries maximized in Anatolian farmers, Iranian farmers, and Hunter Gatherers from West Siberia, respectively.

A genetic study in 2018 looked at the remains of four Wusun people buried between 300 BC and 100 BC. The DNA showed that the Wusun and Kangju people had less East Asian ancestry compared to the Xiongnu and Saka. The study suggested that the Wusun and Kangju were descended from ancient Western Steppe Herders who mixed with Siberian hunter-gatherers and people from the Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex.

Some people have suggested that the Uissun tribe in Kazakhstan are descendants of the Wusun, because their names sound similar. However, a 2020 study did not find strong genetic support for this idea. The Uissun's DNA mostly matches people of Mongolian origin, which fits their known history.

Images for kids

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  A Chinese drawing of the Wusun from the 18th century.

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  The migration routes of the Wusun people during the Western Han Dynasty.

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  A map showing the Wusun and their neighbors around 200 AD.

• Iranians in China
• Mitanni
• Maryannu
• Qiang
• Kassites
• Hyksos