page_title: Four Barbarians
section_title: Eastern Zhou usages
hierarchical_section_title: Four Barbarians / Eastern Zhou usages
context_page_description: Four Barbarians is the common English translation of the Chinese term sìyí 四夷 for various peoples living outside the borders of ancient China, namely, the Dōngyí 東夷 "Eastern Barbarians", Nánmán 南蠻 "Southern Barbarians", Xīróng 西戎 "Western Barbarians", and Běidí 北狄 "Northern Barbarians". Ultimately, all Four Barbarians tribe will be completely disappeared through by Sinicization and absorbed into the Chinese Civilization in the later Chinese Dynasties.
context_section_description: The Chinese classics contain many references to the Siyi "Four Barbarians". Around the late Spring and Autumn period (771–476 BCE) or early Warring States period (475–221 BCE), the names Man, Yi, Rong, and Di became firmly associated with the cardinal directions. Yi changed from meaning a specific "barbarians in the east" to "barbarians" generally, and two new words – Siyi and Man-Yi-Rong-Di 蠻夷戎狄 – referred to "all non-Zhou barbarians in the four directions". The Zuozhuan and Mozi contain the earliest extant occurrences of Siyi.
  The (early 4th century BCE) Zuozhuan commentary to the Chunqiu ("Spring and Autumn Annals") uses Siyi four times. 
  The affair [presenting Rong prisoners and spoils of war to Duke Zhuang] was contrary to rule. When a prince has gained success over any of the wild tribes, he presents to spoils to the king, who employs them to terrify other tribes. (Zhuang 31, tr. Legge 1872: 119) 
  It is virtue by which the people of the Middle State are cherished; it is by severity that the wild tribes around are awed. (Duke Xi 25, tr. Legge 1872: 196) 
  I have heard that, when the officers of the son of Heaven are not properly arranged, we may learn from the wild tribes all about. (Duke Zhao 17, tr. Legge 1872:668) 
  Anciently, the defenses of the sons of Heaven were the rude tribes on every side of the kingdom; and when their authority became low, their defenses were the various States. (Duke Zhao 23, tr. Legge 1872:700) 
  In addition, the Zuozhuan has an early usage of Man-Yi-Rong-Di 蠻夷戎狄 meaning "all kinds of barbarians". 
  When any of the wild tribes, south, east, west, or north, do not obey the king's commands, and by their dissoluteness and drunkenness are violating all the duties of society, the kind gives command to attack them. (Cheng 3, tr. Legge 1872: 349) 
  The (c. 4th century BCE) Mozi has one occurrence of Siyi referring to King Wu of Zhou.
  After King Wu had conquered the Shang dynasty and received the gifts bestowed by God, he assigned guardians to the various spirits, instituted sacrifices to Zhou's ancestors, the former kings of Shang, and opened up communications with the barbarians of the four quarters, so that there was no one in the world who did not pay him allegiance. (Against Offensive Warfare, tr. Watson 2003: 61) 
  The (c. 4th century BCE) Guanzi recounts how Duke Huan of Qi (d. 643 BCE) conquered all his enemies, including the Dongyi 東夷, Xirong 西戎, Nanman 南蠻, and Beidi 北狄.
  Further to the west, he subjugated the Western Yu, of Liusha and for the first time the Rong people of Qin were obedient. Therefore, even, though the soldiers went forth only once, their great accomplishments [victories] numbered twelve, and as a consequence none of the eastern Yi, western Rong, southern Man, northern Di, or the feudal lords of the central states failed to submit. (Xioao Kuang, tr. Rickett 1998: 341) 
  This text (Ba Yan, tr. Rickett 1998: 365) also recommends, "To use the states bordering the four seas to attack other states bordering the four seas is a condition distinguishing the central states."
  The (c. 4th century BCE) Confucian Analects does not use Siyi, but does use Jiuyi 九夷 "Nine Barbarians" (9/19, tr. Waley 1938: 141), "The Master wanted to settle among the Nine Wild Tribes of the East. Someone said, I am afraid you would find it hard to put up with their lack of refinement. The Master said, Were a true gentleman to settle among them there would soon be no trouble about lack of refinement." Yidi 夷狄 "Eastern and Northern Barbarians" occurs twice (3/5, tr. Waley 1938: 94–5; 13/19, 176), ""The Master said, The barbarians of the East and North have retained their princes. They are not in such a state of decay as we in China"; "The Master said, In private life, courteous, in public life, diligent, in relationships, loyal. This is a maxim that no matter where you may be, even amid the barbarians of the east or north, may never be set aside." This text has an indirect reference to "barbarians" (5/6, tr. Waley 1938: 108), "The Master said, The Way makes no progress. I shall get upon a raft and float out to s
caption: Zhou Dynasty cosmography of Huaxia and the Siyi: Dongyi in the east, Nanman in the south, Xirong in the west, and Beidi in the north.