Hu Culture in the Central Plains: Hu People, Clothing, Music, and Merchants
Huization (胡化 ; hú huà) is a distinctive cultural phenomenon formed through cultural exchange between the Han ethnic group and minority ethnic groups in ancient Chinese history. This phenomenon is mainly manifested in the Han people’s active or passive acceptance of minority cultural elements in aspects such as clothing, food, etiquette, and others.
This phenomenon was particularly prominent from the Northern and Southern Dynasties through the Sui and Tang dynasties.
Mr. Chen Yinke (陈寅恪; Chén Yínkè)’s Views on the Hu and the Han
“种族之汉人与胡人之分别，在北朝时代文化较血统尤为重要。凡汉化之人即目为汉人，胡化之人即目为胡人，其血统如何，在所不论。”
“The distinction between the Han people and the Hu people, during the Northern Dynasties, lay more in culture than in bloodline. Anyone who became Han-ized was regarded as Han; anyone who became Hu-ized was regarded as Hu. As for their bloodline, it was not taken into consideration.”
“夫源师乃鲜卑秃发氏之后裔，明是胡人无疑，而高阿那肱竟目云为汉儿，此为北朝汉人、胡人之分别，不论其血统，只视其所受之教化为汉抑为胡而定之确证，诚可谓’有教无类’矣。又此点为治吾国中古史最要关键，若不明乎此，必 致无谓之纠纷。”
“He was a descendant of the Tuoba Xianbei clan, clearly a Hu person without any doubt, yet Gao A’na Hong referred to him as a Han child. This serves as conclusive evidence that the distinction between Han and Hu during the Northern Dynasties was not based on lineage, but rather on whether the education and culture one received were Han or Hu. This can truly be called ‘education without discrimination.’ Moreover, this point is the most crucial key to studying medieval Chinese history; without understanding it, unnecessary disputes are bound to arise.”
Taiyuan Northern Qi Dynasty Mural Museum 太原北齐壁画博物馆
Hu People (胡人 ; hú rén)
“Hu people” was a general term used by ancient Han Chinese to refer to the peoples of the northern regions and the Western Regions. In the pre-Qin period, the term mainly referred to the Beidi (北狄 ; běi dí), and later expanded to include the Xiongnu (匈奴 ; xiōng nú), Xianbei (鲜卑 ; xiān bēi), and other nomadic groups. After Zhang Qian (张骞 ; Zhāng Qiān) opened routes to the Western Regions during the Han dynasty, the term “Hu” gradually came to encompass various ethnic groups of the Western Regions and influenced the culture of the Central Plains, such as Hu clothing and Hu music. During the Tang dynasty, “Hu people” mainly referred to the Sogdians and other ethnic groups from the Western Regions.
During the Northern Qi dynasty, a considerable number of Hu people were active in the Central Plains and engaged in various professions. In tomb murals and clay figurines discovered through archaeology, many images of the Hu people can be seen. These Hu people have high noses, deep-set eyes, thick beards, and often full beards. Murals commonly depict Hu people leading camels, Hu people driving carts, and Hu people playing music.
Hu Clothing (胡服 ; hú fú)
The Northern Dynasties were a key period during which Hu clothing culture merged with Han clothing culture. During the Northern Qi and Northern Zhou periods, Hu and Han styles interwove. The various styles of clothing seen in the murals are a direct reflection of the fusion and mutual brilliance of Hu and Han cultures.
The main characteristics of Hu clothing are fitted upper garments, long trousers with a joined crotch, leather boots, and Die belts (蹀带 ; dié dài). The narrow fit made horseback riding and archery more convenient. After absorbing Persian elements during the Tang dynasty, garments such as narrow-sleeved robes with turned-down collars and striped trousers emerged, which, through Hu dances, also influenced women’s fashion trends.
Hu Music (胡乐 ; hú yuè)
Hu music is a cultural term in the Han language referring to a general designation for music from the northwestern and northern regions, as well as the Western Regions of ancient China. From the Han to the Tang dynasties, Hu music gradually entered the Central Plains. During the Tang dynasty, a specialized institution called the “Hubu (胡部 ; hú bù)” was established to manage Hu music. Its musical forms included elements such as Xiliang music and others, and were referred to as “Hubu New Sounds (胡部新声 ; hú bù xīn shēng),” reflecting the results of musical and cultural exchange between East and West.
In Northern Dynasty murals, there are quite a number of figures playing musical instruments from the Western Regions. These instruments include the Sheng (笙 ; shēng), Di (笛 ; dí), Xiao (箫 ; xiāo), Konghou (箜篌 ; kōng hóu), and Hu pipa (胡琵琶 ; hú pí pá). Historical records note that when the famous Northern Qi musician Cao Miaoda (曹妙达 ; Cáo Miàodá) played the pipa, the Northern Qi ruler Gao Yang (高洋 ; Gāo Yáng) often personally beat the drum to accompany him.
Hu Merchants (胡商 ; hú shāng)
During the Northern Dynasties, many Hu merchants were active in entering China along the Silk Road. Camel caravans carried goods from Central Asia, West Asia, and even the more distant Mediterranean regions, bringing people and technologies from these areas into China.
