DONGYI Meaning and
Definition
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Dongyi is a term that holds multiple meanings and cultural references based on its historical and geographical context. In ancient Chinese history, the term "Dongyi" referred to a group of tribes or clans living in the eastern region of ancient China, particularly during the Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BC). It is believed that they inhabited the areas in the lower reaches of the Yellow River around present-day Shandong and Henan provinces.
The Dongyi were considered to be a distinct ethnic and cultural group that differed from the dominant Chinese civilization at the time. They had their own unique customs, traditions, and social structure. The term "Dongyi" also alludes to their expertise in agriculture, specifically in the cultivation of sorghum and millet.
Furthermore, in a broader sense, the term "Dongyi" can be understood as a representation of the eastern direction in traditional Chinese cultural symbolism. In ancient Chinese cosmology, the directional quadrant of east (dong) was associated with the sunrise, new beginnings, vitality, and growth. The Dongyi people, therefore, symbolize the eastern inhabitants or populations living in the eastern territories of China.
In contemporary times, the term "Dongyi" is often used metaphorically to refer to people or cultures originating from the eastern part of China or having an affinity with the eastern Chinese culture, similar to how the term "Overseas Chinese" signifies people of Chinese descent living outside of China.
Etymology of DONGYI
The word "dongyi" (东夷) refers to an ancient Chinese term used to describe various ethnic groups residing east of China during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC). The etymology of the word is traced back to the Chinese characters "东" (dong) meaning "east" and "夷" (yi) meaning "barbarian" or "uncivilized".
In ancient Chinese culture, the term "yi" was used to denote foreign or non-Chinese people who were considered culturally inferior or less civilized compared to the Chinese. "Dongyi" specifically referred to the peoples living in the eastern regions, such as modern-day Shandong, Liaoning, and Jilin provinces. These groups were perceived as distinct from the central Chinese states and were often characterized as wild or less sophisticated.
