Murong (Chinese: 慕容; pinyin: Mùróng; Wade–Giles: Mu4-jung2; LHC: *mɑC-joŋ;[1] EMC: *mɔh-juawŋ[2]) or Muren refers to an ethnic Xianbei tribe who are attested from the time of Tanshihuai (reigned 156–181).

Different strands of evidence exist linking the Murong to the Mongols[3][4] nomadic confederation in Central Asia.

This policy was reversed by Emperor Wen of Sui, but some Han peoples retained the Murong surname.

[5]The Xianbei state of Tanshihuai to which the Murong belonged fragmented following the fall of Budugen (187–234), who was the younger brother of Kuitoi (reigned 185–187).

Mohuba was succeeded in 246 by his son Muyan (木延) who also aided the Cao Wei campaign against the Goguryeo that same year.

Muyan's son Shegui (涉歸), however, fought against the Jin dynasty (266–420), and was pushed back to the upper Liao River region.

Hui attacked the Buyeo kingdom in the very year he became the chieftain of the Murong tribe, capturing ten thousand prisoners.

As a result of the dispute, Murong Tuyuhun led his people and undertook a long westward journey passing through the Ordos Loop all the way to Qinghai Lake.

One of Murong's generals called Yinalou addressed him as kěhán (可寒, later 可汗), some sources suggests that Tuyuhun might also have used the title after settling at Koko Nor in the 3rd century.

The same word exists in Turkic and Tungusic languages, but the Xianbei are generally considered Mongolic peoples.

The modern day minority of White Mongols or Monguor are regarded as the culturally and ethnically-distinct descendants of the Murong.

[20] A genetic study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology in November 2007 examined of 17 individuals buried at the Murong Xianbei cemetery in Lamadong, Liaoning, China ca.