Pronunciation | Mùróng (Pinyin), Мөрөн (Mongolian) |
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Language(s) | Mongolic Language |
Origin | |
Language(s) | Xianbei |
Derivation | name of the ancestor of the Muren tribe |
Other names | |
Variant form(s) | Murong (Mandarin) |
Murong (Chinese: 慕容; pinyin: Mùróng; Wade–Giles: Mu4-jung2; LHC: *mɑC-joŋ;[1] EMC: *mɔh-juawŋ[2]) or Muren refers to an ethnic Xianbei tribe who are attested from the time of Tanshihuai (reigned 156–181). Different strands of evidence exist linking the Murong to the Mongols[3][4] nomadic confederation in Central Asia. The Former Yan (337–370), Later Yan (384–409), Western Yan (384–394), Southern Yan (398–410) dynasties as well as Tuyuhun (285–670) were all founded by the Murong peoples.
Murong is also a surname, predominantly used by peoples of Xianbei descent. Prominent individuals who bear the surname include the Emperors and family of Former Yan and Later Yan, Murong Ke (慕容恪), Murong Long (慕容隆), Murong Sanzang (慕容三藏), Murong Yanzhao (慕容延钊), Murong Yanchao (慕容彦超), Murong Nong (慕容农), Murong Han (慕容翰), Murong Chuqiang (慕容楚强), Murong Haoran (慕容浩然), and the fictional character Murong Fu (慕容復). When Han peoples during the reign of Yuwen Tai were forced to change their surnames, Murong was one of three officially mandated Xianbei surnames. This policy was reversed by Emperor Wen of Sui, but some Han peoples retained the Murong surname.