氐

The 氐 were one of the major non-Han groups along the western frontier in the late Han through Sui period, linguistically Tibeto-Burman. Their chief political achievement was the 前秦 (351-394) under 苻坚, who briefly unified northern China before the disastrous Battle of Fei River. They appear constantly in the histories of the Sixteen Kingdoms period.

Tribe-name and astronomy uses only — both are first-tone Dī. Don't confuse with the homograph 氐 (third tone, 'foundation') which has its own separate entry.