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Anthro Log

Category: Asia

  • The Women and Men of the Huns: Not just Villains in Disney’s Mulan

    Mulan and Shan Yu

    Consider this stream of questions:

    1. Have you seen the Disney movie Mulan? 
    1. Do you remember the powerful and ruthless Huns, i.e., the main villains of the story championed by their golden-eyed leader, Shan Yu?
    1. Do you remember the fact that somehow, one of the only characters who was unfazed by Mulan’s being a woman was the murderous and evil villain of the story? (What are the odds??)

    Well, if the answer to all three questions is yes, then I’m here to finally satisfy your insatiable curiosity on the matter by explaining why:

    The Huns were actually a real group of people. Their origins are somewhat unknown and debated amongst historians. According to History , “Some scholars believe they originated from the nomadic Xiongnu people who entered the historical record in 318 B.C. and terrorized China during the Qin Dynasty and during the later Han Dynasty.” Some even go as far as to say that they were so egregious that the Great Wall of China was built to help protect against the mighty Xiongnu, though this hasn’t been proven. Other historians, though, believe that they may have origins in Kazakhstan or elsewhere in the central and eastern parts of Asia.

    Following their arrival in southeastern Europe near 370 A.D., they continuously conquered territory for almost 70 years. Their defining characteristic lies in their unbelievable military prowess and horsemanship. Their brutal conquests granted them a reputation as “ruthless, indomitable savages”.

    You may be thinking, “Okay, that’s cool and all, but what does that have to do with the relationship between two characters in a Disney movie?”. So let’s connect the dots. 

    What’s very intriguing about the Huns was the heavy involvement of women in many aspects of their society (including the military!). The Huns uniquely used archery as their main weapon, allowing women to both participate and excel in their military since they could avoid combat reliant on physical strength. And so, it was considered fairly normal to fight alongside women in the Hun army.

    The Huns are one of many groups in human history that may not have aligned with traditional views on social organization (in many ways). So learning about them, especially the role women have, helps challenge our preconceived notions that society has and always must be so patriarchal. 

    So, all that being said, with Shan Yu being Hun, it’s incredibly unsurprising that this great, formidable foe and equal in battle was a woman; it didn’t faze him, and why would it? And now, after learning a little about the role of women in the Huns, it no longer fazes you either!

  • New Information About Matrilineal Neolithic Chinese Community

    Earlier this month, Nature published an fascinating study focused on the Fujia archaeological site in eastern China (around 2750–2500 BCE). By analyzing ancient DNA, burial patterns, and isotope data from sixty individuals across two cemeteries, researchers have illuminated a striking example of a matrilineal community in Neolithic times. 

    What was most interesting for me about the study was how the cemeteries functioned almost like clan identifiers. Each cemetery was essentially dominated by one of two maternal mitochondrial haplogroups. That means individuals sharing the same maternal lines were buried together (a clear hallmark of matrilineal clan organization). 

    Additionally, mitochondrial DNA revealed striking homogeneity within each cemetery, reinforcing that burial was determined by maternal lineage. Moreover, analysis of runs of homozygosity (ROH) showed high rates of endogamy, signaling that most marriages occurred within the community. Interestingly, however, these were not close‑kin unions. This suggests careful clan-based mate selection, preserving genetic variety while reinforcing social bonds (see bioengineer.org for more info).

    But why is this discovery so revolutionary? I mean- haven’t we uncovered many matrilineal societies previously? Well, This matrilineal structure at Fujia challenges long-held assumptions that prehistoric societies were predominantly patriarchal, making it a pretty important discovery in the field. Historically, figures like Bachofen and Morgan theorized that early societies were matrilineal before evolving into patriarchies, but until now, genetic substantiation as concrete proof has been missing. This discovery, however, is now a rare, well-documented case of long-lasting matrilineality, where lineage and burial were firmly defined by maternal descent.

    In other words, This study now allows us to reframe our previous understanding of prehistoric social complexity. Matrilineal systems weren’t merely theoretical, but genuinely deeply rooted in lived human experience. The Fujia findings highlight how kinship, identity, and social organization in early agricultural societies were far more varied and regionally specific than previously thought.

    Perhaps the most exciting aspect of technological advancement in the biological anthropology field is the new ways we can re‑ examine kinship systems in prehistoric societies worldwide. By combining genetics with archeological insight, we’re beginning to decode the rich diversity of early human social structures.

    Though I’m personally more interested in the cultural side of anthropology, it’s so fascinating seeing how biology can truly cement theories and discoveries in the field as facts.