契丹

Traditional form:

契丹

Pinyin (reading):

Qìdān

Definitions:

• Qidan or Khitan, ethnic group in ancient China, a branch of the Eastern Hu people inhabiting the valley of the Xar Murun River in the upper reaches of the Liao River 遼河／辽河 ( Liáo Hé)

Characters:

• 契 - deed, bond, contract; to engrave
• 丹 - cinnabar, red, vermilion; pellet, powder

Traditional characters:

• 契 - deed, bond, contract; to engrave
• 丹 - cinnabar, red, vermilion; pellet, powder