Thus (Puhui) called himself the Yuwen.Yuwen were descendants of the nomadic Xiongnu who became assimilated with the Xianbei after 89 CE and ruled the Kumo Xi and Khitan (both Mongolic peoples) before being defeated by Murong Huang in 344 CE, upon which Yuwen separated from the Kumo Xi and Khitan.

103, Biography of Yuwen Mohuai of Xiongnu records:匈奴宇文莫槐, 出於遼東塞外, 其先, 南單于之遠屬也, 世為東部大人.

The Yuwen repeatedly fought with the Murong while establishing good relations with the Tuoba tribe in the east through marriage alliances.

In 319, he allied with the Jin dynasty (266–420) Inspector of Pingzhou, Cui Bi to attack the Murong together with the Duan and Goguryeo.

After the Duan and Goguryeo were tricked into withdrawing, the Yuwen pressed on and besieged the Murong capital at Jicheng (棘城, in modern Jinzhou, Liaoning).

After Huang defeated Ren in 336, the Murong began rapidly expanding their power, establishing the Former Yan in 337 and subjugating the Duan, Buyeo and Goguryeo.

In 344 (or 345), the Former Yan crushed the Yuwen's power base and forced Yidougui to flee, ending their independence.

After the Later Yan capital, Zhongshan (中山, in modern Baoding, Hebei) fell to the Northern Wei dynasty in 398, he was moved to Wuchuan County in Dai Commandery, where his family would live for generations.