detached from native rule, and subject to foreign dynasties; first
to the _Khitan_, a people from the basin of the Sungari River, and
supposed (but doubtfully) to have been akin to the Tunguses, whose rule
subsisted for 200 years, and originated the name of KHITAI, Khata, or
CATHAY, by which for nearly 1000 years China has been known to the
nations of Inner Asia, and to those whose acquaintance with it was
got by that channel.[4] The Khitan, whose dynasty is known in Chinese
history as the _Liao_ or “Iron,” had been displaced in 1123 by the
Chúrchés or Niu-chen, another race of Eastern Tartary, of the same
blood as the modern Manchus, whose Emperors in their brief period of
prosperity were known by the Chinese name of Tai-_Kin_, by the Mongol
name of the _Altun_ Kaans, both signifying “Golden.” Already in the
lifetime of Chinghiz himself the northern Provinces of China Proper,
including their capital, known as Chung-tu or Yen-King, now Peking, had
been wrenched from them, and the conquest of the dynasty was completed
by Chinghiz’s successor Okkodai in 1234.
Southern China still remained in the hands of the native dynasty of
the Sung, who had their capital at the great city now well known as
Hang-chau fu. Their dominion was still substantially untouched, but its
subjugation was a task to which Kúblái before many years turned his
attention, and which became the most prominent event of his reign.
[Sidenote: India, and Indo-China.]