The Tuyuhun Tribe in Guiyijun Regime Period as Described in Dunhuang Manuscripts

After being defeated by the Tubo (Tibetan) people in the early Tang dynasty, many members of the Tuyunhun tribe integrated themselves with the Han people living in Gansu and other western regions of ancient China. Through a study of the tribe as described in Dunhuang historical records and related inscriptions in Dunhuang Grottoes, the paper makes a survey of the tribe and its descendants living the Gua and Sha prefectures in late Tang period, so as to shed light upon their settlements, career characteristics, assimilation with the Han people and their relationship with the ruling ethnic army that showed allegiance to the Tang government at the time. The author holds that the Murong family of the Tuyuhun tribe had already become part of the upper ruling class and played an important role in the political life thereof.