Han Dynasty
After reading the Records of the GRAND HISTORIAN on HALL DYNASTY II, I I am horrified by the Xiongnu's barbaric way of life, which contradicts with many traditional Chinese values.
Values like filial piety and respect were disregarded in Xiongnu culture, from what I have observed, bravery was an important character trait. On page 129, "The young men eat the richest and best food, while the old get what is left over, since the tribe honors those who are young and strong and despises the weak and aged." Moreover, incest seemed to be common in the Xiongnu tribe, since when a father dies, the son marries his stepmother…" On page 134, Maodun gained power by shooting first his favorite hours, his beloved wife and eventually ordered soldiers to shoot aiming at his father. I feel like communities like the Xiongnu society lack basic laws; the punishments that they had for petty offenses often ended up as death penalties.
I feel that the Xiongnu tribe had no loyalty, unlike soldiers of LiGuang, Xiongnu soldiers acted for personal gains and the fear that their barbaric and brutal leader would kill them if orders were not followed. On the other hand, Liguang's soldiers abided his orders because he was a genuine man who shared his rewards and cared for his soldiers.
Xiongnu remained determined to maintain their culture, when a Han envoy remarked scornfully that the Xiongnu custom showed no respect for the aged, Zhonghang Yue replied twisting the Han values and accused Han of doing the same. Moreover, Zhonhang Yue also defended the trend of "incest" by stating that it was the only way to expand the Xiongnu
Values like filial piety and respect were disregarded in Xiongnu culture, from what I have observed, bravery was an important character trait. On page 129, "The young men eat the richest and best food, while the old get what is left over, since the tribe honors those who are young and strong and despises the weak and aged." Moreover, incest seemed to be common in the Xiongnu tribe, since when a father dies, the son marries his stepmother…" On page 134, Maodun gained power by shooting first his favorite hours, his beloved wife and eventually ordered soldiers to shoot aiming at his father. I feel like communities like the Xiongnu society lack basic laws; the punishments that they had for petty offenses often ended up as death penalties.
I feel that the Xiongnu tribe had no loyalty, unlike soldiers of LiGuang, Xiongnu soldiers acted for personal gains and the fear that their barbaric and brutal leader would kill them if orders were not followed. On the other hand, Liguang's soldiers abided his orders because he was a genuine man who shared his rewards and cared for his soldiers.
Xiongnu remained determined to maintain their culture, when a Han envoy remarked scornfully that the Xiongnu custom showed no respect for the aged, Zhonghang Yue replied twisting the Han values and accused Han of doing the same. Moreover, Zhonhang Yue also defended the trend of "incest" by stating that it was the only way to expand the Xiongnu