A Comparative Study Of The Huns Of The Qin And Han Dynasties And The Baiyue National Culture

In Chinese ancient history, the relations between the minorities both in north and south and the Central Plains Dynasties shows two different types, one is the conflict and fusion type between the nomadic and agricultural culture which is based on the north minority’s incessant invade and harass pushed to the Central Plains Dynasties, another is the assimilation and fusion type which shows the assimilability of the Central Plains Dynasties to the south minorities. Though the two types are built on the basis of national fusion, but there is a big difference:the former tend to the conflict while the latter tend to the assimilation. The origin of the two types is formed during Qin and Han Dynasty, and the Huns and Baiyue are the earliest minority representatives of these types.Why such a big threat can be made to the Central Plains Dynasty by the northern nomadic Huns with only a small population? Why the revolt made by the southern Baiyue with a large population only remained in a limited scale? We should explore the difference between the Huns and Baiyue culture before discussing these questions. At present, researches concerning to the Huns and Baiyue culture are abundant, but the comparative study between two cultures hasn’t appeared yet. This thesis aims to explore the similarities and differences between the Huns and Baiyue culture and find out the causes on the basis of previous researches, with the scientific method of history, archeology, culture anthropology and so on.It is difficult to tell the advantages and disadvantages between the two cultures in respect of the specific comparison methodology, therefore we consider the Central Plains Dynasties as a reference in the comparison of two types. Corresponding results can be obtained by comparing their impact on the Central Plains Dynasty and the Central Plains Dynasty’s attitude towards both. The thesis is divided into the following five parts:By elaborating the natural living conditions of the two nations, the first chapter explores how the geographical environment impact on the Huns and Baiyue culture. The conclusion is that the natural geographical environment is the premise factor to make a difference between two cultures.The second chapter compares the material cultures differences between the Huns and Baiyue. In the aspect of material culture, two nations have its own advantages and disadvantages:in terms of Huns, the nation has to depend on the communication with the Central Plains Dynasty because of its insufficient material cultures characteristic, and its flowing characteristic makes it an advantage when competing with the Central Plains Dynasty; While the Baiyue’s material cultures characteristic is self-sufficient and more closer to the Central Plains Dynasty, the nation not only can communicate with the Central Plains well, but also can make a easier fusion with the agricultural civilization.The third chapter compares the similarities and differences of spiritual and custom cultures between the Huns and Baiyue. There are many similarities lie in both spiritual cultures, and many differences between custom cultures. This chapter discusses reasons of their spiritual cultures similarities and custom cultures differences, concluding that in the religious domain the Huns and Baiyue are similar in form but different in spirit, and elaborating that how spiritual cultures influence their ethnic spirit.The fourth chapter compares their institutional cultures differences, elaborating that the Huns possesses a more rigorous institutional organization and a more stronger military mobilizing ability; while the Baiyue’s institutional culture is relatively lagging behind the Huns, though the nation possesses a strong military mobilizing ability, its political and material mobilizing basis are scant.The fifth chapter compares the degree of both civilizations during the period of Qin and Han Dynasty, drawing a conclusion that the Huns own a higher degree of civilization than the Baiyue nation. In the discussion of the development of the two cultural patterns which is represented by the Huns and Baiyue, the thesis points out that the differences between the two cultural patterns is formed during the Qin and Western Han Dynasty.There existed great differences of ethnic culture between the Huns and Baiyue during Qin and Han Dynasty, and their different geographical environment bred completely two different ethnic cultures. Both of the basic mode of production and life are influenced by their geographical environment, thus their different basic mode of production and life created different ethnic cultures. During the process of communication with the Central Plains Dynasty, the Huns and Baiyue’s different ethnic cultures lead to the different way of cultural fusion.