Nanman

Nanman (南蠻, literally "Southern Barbarians") is a historical Chinese term for various indigenous peoples living south of the Han Chinese, primarily during the Han dynasty and subsequent periods. The term itself is derogatory, reflecting the Sinocentric worldview of ancient China which considered non-Han cultures as uncivilized and inferior.

The designation "Nanman" was a blanket term applied to a variety of distinct ethnic groups and tribes, rather than a single, unified culture or polity. These groups resided in what is now primarily southern China, including regions such as Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangxi, and parts of Vietnam and Laos.

Throughout history, the Han Chinese dynasties engaged in varying levels of interaction with the Nanman. This ranged from tributary relationships and trade to military conflict and subjugation. The Nanman were often depicted in historical accounts as fierce warriors and skilled in jungle warfare.

Notable groups sometimes identified as Nanman include the ancestors of the modern-day Yi, Bai, Miao, and Yao peoples, among others. However, it's important to recognize that these groups represent distinct cultures and identities that predate and transcend the encompassing term "Nanman."

The use of the term "Nanman" and other similar derogatory terms ("Dongyi," "Xirong," "Beidi") has become increasingly problematic in modern scholarship due to its ethnocentric and often inaccurate portrayal of non-Han cultures. Modern historians and anthropologists tend to avoid such terms and instead focus on the specific ethnic groups and their unique histories. The term is mainly encountered in historical texts and fictional accounts based on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history, where the Nanman are often portrayed as a powerful force in the south.