also: キタイ · キタン
noun
Khitan people; Khitai
Historical ethnic group that established the Liao dynasty; the name is the origin of 'Cathay'.
契丹は10世紀に遼を建国した。
The Khitan founded the Liao dynasty in the 10th century.
キタイという呼称は、中央アジアで使われていた。
The name Khitai was used in Central Asia.
Katakana form reflecting the Mongolian/Manchu pronunciation; used in some historical contexts.
Katakana form; variant of キタイ.
遼 is the dynasty founded by the Khitan, while 契丹 refers to the people themselves.
From Chinese 契丹 (Qìdān), ultimately from the Khitan people's own name. The reading きったん is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi; キタイ/キタン are from Mongolian/Manchu.