Chiyou is a tribal leader in China myths and legends. In the history of China, the ancient books since the Spring and Autumn Period have recorded the legend of Chiyou quite abundantly, but there are often contradictions. According to these records, Chiyou was the leader of the ancient Jiuli tribe and the ancestor of the Miao nationality. Scholars speculate that Chiyou belongs to Tai Hao and two clan groups according to Yi and Yan Tie Lun.
The Chiyou tribe was defeated by the tribe alliance of Huangdi and Yan Di in the battle of Zhuolu. Tribes are scattered. Some of them joined the Huaxia people of Yanhuang tribe, and some moved south, forming today's Miao and Qiang people. Together with Huangdi and Yan Di, they are also called "the three ancestors of China".