Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

Dian Kingdom

Dian Kingdom
滇國
Bronze sculpture depicting Dian people, 3rd century BCE.
Languages	Unknown
Religion	Unknown
Capital	Unknown
Area	Northern Yunnan, China
Existed	4th century BCE–109 BCE

The Dian Kingdom (Chinese: 滇國 or 滇王國) was established by the Dian people, who lived around Lake Dian in northern Yunnan, China from the late Spring and Autumn Period until the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Dian buried their dead in vertical pit graves . The Dian language was likely related to Tibeto-Burman languages .

The Dian were first mentioned historically in Sima Qian's Shiji; some Chinese sources identified Chu general Zhuang Qiao as the founder of the Dian Kingdom. The Dian were subjugated by the Han Dynasty under the reign of Emperor Wu of Han in 109 BC. The Han Dynasty incorporated the territory of the Dian Kingdom into the Yizhou Commandery, but left the King of Dian as the local ruler.

History

Zhuan Qiao, once a Chu (state) general, attack Yunan in about 279 BCE. While he successful subdued the local people, the Chu was defeated, and Zhuan Qiao himself proclaim the King of Dian, and founded this kingdom.

Royal burials

The Dian buried their kings at Shizhaishan (discovered in 1954). The burials were identified by the inscription, King Dian's Seal. The inscription was written in seal script on a gold imperial seal given by the Han Emperor. Sima Qian noted that the Dian were one of only two local groups to have received an imperial seal, the other being Yelang.

Bronze working

The Dian people were sophisticated metal workers, casting both bronze and iron. The Dian cast bronze objects using both the piece mould method and the lost wax method. Dian elite burials contained an impressive array of bronze objects, although late Dian burials also contained locally cast iron objects.

Large bronze drums were employed by the Dian to communicate in battle; ritual burials of Dian elites were accompanied by large bronze drums filled with cowrie shells. The tops of the drums were removed and replaced by a bronze lid.

Scythian influences?

Iaroslav Lebedynsky and Victor Mair speculate that some Scythians may also have migrated to the area of Yunnan in southern China following their expulsion by the Yuezhi in the 2nd century BCE. Excavations of the prehistoric art of the Dian civilization of Yunnan have revealed hunting scenes of Caucasoid horsemen in Central Asian clothing. The scenes depicted on these drums sometimes represent these horsemen practicing hunting. Animal scenes of felines attacking oxes are also at times reminiscent of Scythian art both in theme and in composition.

Depiction of Dian society

The bronze lids were covered with miniature figurines and structures, depicting various scenes from the life of the Dian people. The bronze lids depicted the Dian people engaged in everyday activities such as hunting, farming and weaving. Other scenes depicted the leisurely pursuits of the Dian people, such as bullfighting, dancing and music-making. The Dian people dressed in tunics over short pants and wore their hair in topknots. The bronze lids corroborated Sima Qian's description of the Dian hairstyle.

Many scenes depicted the Dian at war, often riding horses. Archaeological evidence shows that horses had been domesticated by the Dian people as early as the sixth century BC. The bronze lids also depicted the Dian decapitating their enemies (who wore their hair in long plaits).

Underwater ruins

Archaeologist in China recently discovered the inundated remains of a Dian city under Lake Fuxian; some archaeologist believe that the ruins are the remains of the capital of the Dian Kingdom. An earthquake and subsequent flood killed the inhabitants and completely destroyed the city in 110.

Other Artifacts

At Dabona, a site connected with the Dian culture, archaeologists discovered a large double coffin burial; The outer coffin was made of wood and the inner coffin was made of bronze. The inner coffin was shaped like a house and weighs over 157 kg.

The Yunnan Provincial Museum holds many archaeological relics of the Dian culture.

Notes

References

Allard, Francis, 1999, The archaeology of Dian: trends and tradition. Antiquity 73(279): 77-79.
Higham, Charles, The Bronze Age of Southeast Asia, ISBN 0-521-56505-7
Sagart, Laurent, Roger Blench and Alicia Sanchez-Mazas (eds), The Peopling of East Asia ISBN 0-415-32242-1
Stark, Miriam T. (ed), Archaeology of Asia, ISBN 1-4051-0213-6
Yang, Bin, 2004, Horses, silver, and cowries: Yunnan in global perspective. Journal of World History 15(3): 281-322.
"Les Saces", Iaroslav Lebedynsky, Editions Errances, ISBN 2877723372 (French)
"The Tarim Mummies", Mallory and Mair, Thames and Hudson, ISBN 0500051011