Khitans

nomadic people originally from Mongolia and Manchuria

ethnic group

thumb|300px|Yuan dynasty|Empire of the Great Khan (Catayo for Cathay) according to the [[Catalan Atlas (1375, rotated 180°). Xinjiang with its caravan of traders appears in the bottom right corner, while the Pacific coast runs along the top-left corner. Kublai Khan is seen enthroned. A flag with three red crescent moons (15px) appears on all the territory.]] Cathay ( ) is a historical name for China that was used in Europe. During the early modern period, the term Cathay initially evolved as a term referring to what is now Northern China, completely separate and distinct from China, which was

extinct language once spoken in Northeast Asia by the Khitan people (4th to 13th century CE)

Mongolic steppe people

logographic writing system used by the Khitan people to transcribe the Khitan and Jurchen languages in medieval China

Zubu (, also referred to as Dada or Tatars) was the common name of Khamag Mongol, Khereid, Naiman and Tatar tribes from the 10th to 12th centuries. Little is known in detail about this group. The name "Zübü" might means “left” in Khitan language, or might be derived from Xiongnu's ruling tribe Xubu.

logographic writing system