夷狄

From archaic exonymic references to tribes that were not considered 諸夏, but were physically located close to the 中國; from 夷 (OC *lil, “eastern tribes”) + 狄 (OC *deːɡ, “northern tribes”).

夷狄

1. (historical, archaic) the barbarians (peoples inhabiting regions peripheral to the historical Chinese heartland)

   Antonym: 諸夏／诸夏 (Zhūxià)

   • 子曰：「夷狄之有君，不如諸夏之亡也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子曰：「夷狄之有君，不如诸夏之亡也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE

     Zǐyuē: “Yídí zhī yǒu jūn, bùrú zhūxià zhī wáng yě.” [Pinyin]

     The Master said, "The barbarians have their princes, and are not like the States of our great land which are without them."

2. (literary, derogatory) barbarian (any ethnic group considered uncivilized)

Typically applied by those who consider themselves 諸夏, with the connotation of otherhood or distance.