四し夷い

noun

Four Barbarians; non-Chinese peoples bordering ancient China

Historical and derogatory term used in ancient Chinese texts to refer to the four groups of non-Chinese peoples: 東夷 (Eastern Yi), 西戎 (Western Rong), 南蛮 (Southern Man), and 北狄 (Northern Di).

See also: 東夷 (とうい) · 西戎

• 古こ代だい中ちゅう国ごくでは、周しゅう辺へんの異い民みん族ぞくをまとめて四し夷いと呼よんだ。

  In ancient China, the surrounding non-Chinese peoples were collectively called the Four Barbarians.