The Quǎnróng (Chinese: 犬戎), literally "Dog Rong"A[›], were an ethnic group active in the north western part of China during the Zhōu (1046 – 221 BCE) and later dynasties. Their language is classified as part of the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan languages family. Claiming ancestry from two white dogs, the Quǎnróng tribe worshipped a totem in the form of a white dog. They are classified as a nomadic tribe of the Western Qiang people and were the sworn enemies of the Yánhuáng tribe. According to the Book of the Later Han:
The Discourses of Zhōu in the Guoyu records that at the time of King Mù of Zhōu the power of the Quǎnróng gradually increased. Conflicts during the king's reign made him consider a punitive expedition to the west against them. Zhài Gōng was against his father's plan: "this is not advisable. The illustrious former EmperorsB[›] did not advocate the use of force."[1] King Mù did not listen but won an unexpected victory in the subsequent clash, capturing the five kings of the Quǎnróng along with five white wolves and five white deer.
In 771 BCE, the Marquess of Shēn invited the Quǎnróng to join him in an attack on King Yōu of Zhōu. The joint force subsequently occupied the Zhōu capital Hàojīng, killed King Yōu and captured his concubine Bāosì. In the end, the invaders left after taking a bribe from the Zhōu and stealing the Nine Tripod Cauldrons. Duke Xiāng of Qín sent an army to assist the Zhōu as well as troops to escort King Píng of Zhōu back to the capital. At this time, Hàojīng was in ruins so King Píng moved the capital eastwards to Chengzhou (later Luoyang), effectively ending the Western Zhōu Dynasty and ushering in the beginning of the Eastern Zhōu Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period.
At the time of Emperor Míng of Hàn (reigned 58-75 CE) it was said:
During the reign of Emperor Tàizōng of Táng (reigned 626 – 649 CE), Court Academician Liǔ Kàng petitioned:
The traditional base of the Quǎnróng is around Wēiróng Town in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Gānsù Province.[2]