The Xiongnu Strategies and Nomads’ Characteristics

Linjia Liu

doi:10.54254/2753-7064/2025.BJ29096

Communications in Humanities ResearchOpen access

The Xiongnu Strategies and Nomads’ Characteristics

Research Article

Open Access

The Xiongnu Strategies and Nomads’ Characteristics

Linjia Liu ^1*

¹ Qingdao No. 2 Middle School

^*Corresponding author: 1040309688@qq.com

Published on 5 November 2025

CHR Vol.96

ISSN (Print): 2753-7072

ISSN (Online): 2753-7064

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-523-3

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-524-0

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Abstract

The Xiongnu, as a significant variable and influencing factor in the Silk Road Economic Belt since ancient times, played a crucial role in the development of ancient economies and cultural integration. To delve deeper into the ethnic characteristics of the Xiongnu, this work begins by examining the lifestyle traits of nomadic peoples, analyzes historical records from China's ancient primary sources regarding the Xiongnu tribes and their leaders, and concludes that the Xiongnu's tactics were adapted to their unique characteristics. The work contains contents recorded in the ancient Chinese historical books Shiji and Hanshu, analyzes in detail the unique living habits of the Xiongnu, such as nomadic life and plundering economy, and lists the common strategies and practical experiences of the Xiongnu in war with the Han court, so as to explain the relationship between the ethnic characteristics of the Xiongnu and their war strategies. Therefore, this work summarizes that the Xiongnu are not just a barbaric, uncivilized nation recorded in some historical materials. On the contrary, these nomadic people have rich strategies and their own wisdom, so that they can cope with the powerful Han Dynasty.

Keywords:

Xiongnu, nomadic lifestyles, nomadic strategies, advantages and shortcomings of Xiongnu society

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References

[1]. Sima Qian, Shiji: Biography of the Xiongnu, Zhonghua Book Company 1959

[2]. Ban Gu, Hanshu: Biography of the Xiongnu, Zhonghua Book Company 1962

[3]. Ban Gu. Hanshu: The Annals of the Emperor Xuan, vol. 94, page 270, Zhonghua Book Company 1962

[4]. Zhang Jin, Hou Hanshu: Biography of the Southern Xiongnu, page 2954

[5]. University of Sanjun, Tai Wan, History of Chinese Wars, Vol. 3, page 41, Military Translation Press, 1983

References

[1]. Sima Qian, Shiji: Biography of the Xiongnu, Zhonghua Book Company 1959

[2]. Ban Gu, Hanshu: Biography of the Xiongnu, Zhonghua Book Company 1962

[3]. Ban Gu. Hanshu: The Annals of the Emperor Xuan, vol. 94, page 270, Zhonghua Book Company 1962

[4]. Zhang Jin, Hou Hanshu: Biography of the Southern Xiongnu, page 2954

[5]. University of Sanjun, Tai Wan, History of Chinese Wars, Vol. 3, page 41, Military Translation Press, 1983

Cite this article

Liu,L. (2025). The Xiongnu Strategies and Nomads’ Characteristics. Communications in Humanities Research,96,23-27.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICADSS 2025 Symposium: Consciousness and Cognition in Language Acquisition and Literary Interpretation

ISBN: 978-1-80590-523-3(Print) / 978-1-80590-524-0(Online)

Editor: Yanhua Qin

Conference website: https://2025.icadss.org/Beijing.html

Conference date: 20 October 2025

Series: Communications in Humanities Research

Volume number: Vol.96

ISSN: 2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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