Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms, Volume 32

original: "Sancai Tuhui"; a famous Ming Dynasty encyclopedia.
Humanity, Volume 12
Page 3 (Continued)

The Jurchen State

The Jurchen State original: "Nüzhen Guo" is situated to the northeast of the Khitan territory. It lies at the base of the Changbai Mountains the "Ever-White Mountains" on the border of modern China and North Korea and encompasses the headwaters of the Yalu River. This region is the ancient land of the Sushen people.

Their founding ancestor was a man from the kingdom of Silla an ancient kingdom on the Korean peninsula belonging to the Wanyan clan. He fled to these northern lands and his descendants settled there for generations. Because the land produces gold, they eventually adopted "Jin" original: "Jin," meaning "Gold" as the name of their state. When the leader Aguda Wanyan Aguda (r. 1115–1123), the founder of the Jin Dynasty rose to power, he declared himself Emperor. The people of this nation all use deer skins and fish skins to craft their clothing.

The "Wild People" and Their Customs

Within this country, there is a particular group known as the "Wild People" yeren; a term used by Ming scholars to describe the northernmost Jurchen tribes who did not adopt sedentary agriculture. They bind knives to their knees and calves, never removing them whether they are traveling or at rest, day or night. They hold death in low regard and value physical strength above all else; they are as fierce and dangerous as tigers or wolves.

The men of this tribe all tattoo their faces. When other Jurchens intermarry with these "Wild People," they also follow the custom of tattooing around their mouths.