Ancient ancestors

The Daur people are a minority group in China, with only 132,299 members, according to the census carried out in 2021. The DNA analyses have proven that the Daurs are descendants of the ancient Khitan people, a historical a nomadic people originating in eastern Inner Mongolia.

They first appeared in records of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), where they are described as descending from the Xianbei people. The Khitan people formed the Liao Dynasty (907-1125), a match for their rivals, the Song Dynasty (907-1279), and ruled parts of Mongolia and northern China. After the fall of the Liao Dynasty, many Khitans migrated westward and established the Western Liao Dynasty. They were in turn absorbed by the local Turkic and Iranian populations and left no trace. They have been classified by Chinese historians as one of the Eastern proto-Mongolic ethnic groups.

Currently, the Daur people mainly live in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province, and still keep some traditions left by their ancestors.

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Ancient ancestors

2023-02-11

The Daur people are a minority group in China, with only 132,299 members, according to the census carried out in 2021. The DNA analyses have proven that the Daurs are descendants of the ancient Khitan people, a historical a nomadic people originating in eastern Inner Mongolia.