noun
uncivilized natives; indigenous barbarians
Rare historical term used in older texts to refer to indigenous peoples in a derogatory manner, implying lack of civilization. Not used in modern neutral discourse.
古い文献では、土蛮という言葉が先住民を指して使われている。
In old documents, the word 土蛮 is used to refer to indigenous peoples.
Compound of 土 (do, 'land, earth') and 蛮 (ban, 'barbarian'), literally 'land barbarians'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term appears in older Japanese texts with a derogatory connotation.