In ancient times, Da Yuezhi was pronounced as "Big Rouzhi" because "月" is the ancient style of the character "肉". In ancient Chinese books from the pre-Qin period, it was sometimes translated as Yuzhi, Yushi, Niushi, etc., and later it was also translated as Yue. Branch. Let’s take a look below for reference.
How to pronounce Da Yuezhi in ancient times
In ancient Chinese history and world history, Da Yuezhi was a very important nation. The rise of the Xiongnu, the Han Dynasty's contacts with the Western Regions, and the introduction of Buddhism into China are all closely related to the Dayue clan.
However, there was not much disagreement in ancient times about the pronunciation of Da Yuezhi: there was no objection to the big character. The ancient pronunciation of the word "Shi" is "Zhi". There is no objection to this. The Zhi surname of many surnames in China today is the surname used by the Dayue clan after they moved back to China at the end of the Han Dynasty. Many Buddhist monks have appeared among their descendants, such as Zhi. Qian, Zhi Damo Rakshasa.
As for the word "月", some people think that the word "月肉" was commonly used in ancient times. Many words expressing human body parts were used next to the word "月", such as waist, skin, kidneys, etc. Accordingly, they think that the word "月" should mean meat. Therefore, the correct pronunciation of "Da Yuezhi" should be "Big Meat Branch". Introduction to the Yuezhi
The Yuezhi were originally a nomadic people who lived in the Hexi and Qilian Mountains in my country. They were conquered by the Xiongnu in the second century BC. Defeated, they moved westward to the Ili and Chu Rivers, and were later defeated by Wusun. They then attacked Daxia westward, occupied both sides of the Guishui (Amu Darya River), and established the Yueshi Kingdom when they moved westward to the Ili and Chu Rivers. , expelled the Saka people who originally lived there, forcing the Saka people to disperse. Some moved south to Jibin, and some invaded the Greek kingdom of Bactria westward and established the Kingdom of Bactria.
Later, the Yuezhi regained control of Daxia, and the Yuezhi king personally governed the fertile fields of the Bactria plain, and divided the barren mountainous areas in the east into five feudal lords. There is a lot of controversy over whether Bu Xihou is a Yuezhi person or a Daxia (Sai ??people). A recent scholar, Yu Taishan, argued in "Research on the History of Sai Zhong" that Wu Xihou was a Daxia person and was supported by the Yuezhi king. It is said that they are descendants or relatives of Yuan Xiaochang of the Daxia Kingdom who was pro-Feng Yueshi.
According to "Book of Wei·Biography of the Western Regions", it can be determined that the territories of the five lords are all in the eastern mountainous area, and they are by no means large. In the entire territory of the Xia Kingdom, the Da Yuezhi King may not necessarily place his relatives in these barren places, but it is very possible to use the former Daxia Kingdom's small chiefs or their descendants to manage these non-critical areas.