Liqian village
Encyclopedia
Liqian is a defunct county in today's northern province of Gansu
in China
. Today, the ancient Liqian city is situated in a village called Zhelaizhai
.
The area of the former Liqian city is known for its inhabitants. Some people there have Caucasian
-like physical traits, such as wider noses, blond or lighter-colored hair, blue or green eyes, or fairer skin color, which is mixed with typical Chinese features. In the 20th century, theories have developed suggesting some inhabitants
may be descended from Roman legionaries
.
In the 1950s, Homer H. Dubs
, a professor of Chinese history at the University of Oxford
, was the first to make a connection between Liqian and ancient Rome. He suggested the inhabitants were descendants from a lost Roman army that had been commanded by Marcus Licinius Crassus
. This army may have wandered eastward, becoming mercenaries who took part in the Battle of Zhizhi
between the Chinese and the Huns
in 36 B.C.
Several investigations have been conducted since. Rob Gifford
commented on the theory and described it as one of many "rural myths." One DNA
study found that "a Roman mercenary origin could not be accepted as true according to paternal genetic variation, and the current Liqian population is more likely to be a subgroup of the Chinese majority Han." However, more recent genetic testing revealed that 56% of the DNA of some Zhelaizhai residents was Caucasian in origin. To date, no artifacts which might confirm a Roman presence, such as coins or weaponry, have been discovered in Zhelaizhai.
. It is rural, with the nearest city
being 300 kilometres (186.4 mi) distant.
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
in China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. Today, the ancient Liqian city is situated in a village called Zhelaizhai
Zhelaizhai
Zhelaizhai is a village on the edge of the Gobi in China. It belongs to Yongchang county , Jinchang prefecture , Gansu province .- History :...
.
The area of the former Liqian city is known for its inhabitants. Some people there have Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
-like physical traits, such as wider noses, blond or lighter-colored hair, blue or green eyes, or fairer skin color, which is mixed with typical Chinese features. In the 20th century, theories have developed suggesting some inhabitants
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
may be descended from Roman legionaries
Legionary
The Roman legionary was a professional soldier of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC. Legionaries had to be Roman citizens under the age of 45. They enlisted in a legion for twenty-five years of service, a change from the early practice of enlisting only for a campaign...
.
In the 1950s, Homer H. Dubs
Homer H. Dubs
Homer Hasenpflug Dubs was a pioneering and prolific American Sinologist and polymath. Though best known for his masterful translation of sections of Ban Gu's Han shu , he published on a wide range of topics in ancient Chinese history, astronomy and philosophy...
, a professor of Chinese history at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, was the first to make a connection between Liqian and ancient Rome. He suggested the inhabitants were descendants from a lost Roman army that had been commanded by Marcus Licinius Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus
Marcus Licinius Crassus was a Roman general and politician who commanded the right wing of Sulla's army at the Battle of the Colline Gate, suppressed the slave revolt led by Spartacus, provided political and financial support to Julius Caesar and entered into the political alliance known as the...
. This army may have wandered eastward, becoming mercenaries who took part in the Battle of Zhizhi
Battle of Zhizhi
The Battle of Zhizhi was fought in 36 BC between the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu chieftain Zhizhi Chanyu. Zhizhi was defeated and killed. The battle was probably fought near Taraz on the Talas River in eastern Kazakhstan, which makes it one of the westernmost points reached by a Chinese army...
between the Chinese and the Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
in 36 B.C.
Several investigations have been conducted since. Rob Gifford
Rob Gifford
Rob Gifford is a British-born radio correspondent. He has degrees in Chinese Studies from Durham University and in Regional Studies from Harvard University. He began to learn Mandarin Chinese in 1987 whilst in China....
commented on the theory and described it as one of many "rural myths." One DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
study found that "a Roman mercenary origin could not be accepted as true according to paternal genetic variation, and the current Liqian population is more likely to be a subgroup of the Chinese majority Han." However, more recent genetic testing revealed that 56% of the DNA of some Zhelaizhai residents was Caucasian in origin. To date, no artifacts which might confirm a Roman presence, such as coins or weaponry, have been discovered in Zhelaizhai.
Geography
Liqian existed in the northern region of China, on the eastern edge of the Gobi DesertGobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
. It is rural, with the nearest city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
being 300 kilometres (186.4 mi) distant.
See also
- Crassus' "missing legion"
- Romano-Chinese relations