靺鞨族名来源新考

Textual Research on Origin of the Name of Mohe Nationality

靺鞨族是中国古代东北地区的一个少数民族,它是由勿吉族发展而来的。勿吉族生活地区由于出产并向中原王朝进贡一种被称为靺鞨的红宝石,因而靺鞨也就逐渐成为这个少数民族的名称了。靺鞨成为族名后,开始单指某一个少数民族部落或部落联盟,后来发展到多个少数民族部落或部落联盟。

Mohe nationality is a minority nationality in the Northeast of ancient China. It developed from Wuji nationality. The name of Mohe came from a kind of ruby called Mohe which was produced in the Wuji area and was contributed to the emperor. As Mohe become the name of the nationality, it originally refered to one minority nationality only. Later, it developed an alliance which consisted of many minority nationalities.