辽代契丹民族的人口及特点

The Population and Features of the Qidan Ethnic People in the Liao Dynasty

契丹族是辽代中国北方最强大的民族之一,其族源由古代鲜卑的一支演变而来。辽国政权建立后,随着经济发展、政治稳定和民族融和等因素的影响,契丹族人口经历了由少到多的过程,形成了其人口构成、密度、素质、增长速度、分布状况等方面的特点,他们对中国北部边疆的开拓做出了不可磨灭的贡献。

The Qidan, one of the most powerful ethnic groups in north China during the reign of the Liao Dynasty in Chinese history, was evolved from a branch of the ancient Xianbei ethnic groups. Since the foundation of the Liao government, because of the stable development of economy and politics and ethnic amalgamation, the population of the Qidan had increased rapidly, and its composition, density, quality and increase rate, and distribution enjoyed unique features. The Qidan ethnic people had made great contributions to the exploration of north China's frontier regions.