The Forgotten Peoples of Northeast Asia
This list focuses on the lesser-known, marginalized, or minor ethnic groups of Northeast Asian kingdoms.
【Manchuria/Korean Peninsula】 Donghu 東胡 (700 BC—150 BC). Buyeo kingdom 부여/扶餘 (2nd century BCE—494 AD). Goguryeo kingdom 고구려/高句麗 (37 BC—668 AD). Yilou 挹婁 (3rd century—6th century). Parhae/Balhae kingdom 발해/渤海 (698—926). Liao dynasty 遼朝 (916—1125). Dongdan kingdom 東丹 (926–936). Chŏng'an/Jeong'an 정안/定安 (938—986). Tamna state 탐라/耽羅 (???—1404 AD). Jin dynasty 金朝 (1115—1234). Later Jin khanate 后金 (1616—1636).
【North China】Later Jin dynasty 后晋 (936—947).
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![Jumong]()
1. Jumong
Korean Drama - 2006, 81 episodes
Goguryeo
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![Yeon Gae Somun]()
2. Yeon Gae Somun
Korean Drama - 2006, 100 episodes
Goguryeo
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![Dae Jo Yeong]()
3. Dae Jo Yeong
Korean Drama - 2006, 134 episodes
Goguryeo + Balhae.
MC is ethnically Mohe. -
![The Legendary Warrior]()
4. The Legendary Warrior
Chinese Drama - 2006, 32 episodes
Contains fictional kingdom Boliao (渤辽), which is probably based on Goguryeo and Balhae
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![Korea-Khitan War]()
5. Korea-Khitan War
Korean Drama - 2023, 32 episodes
Goryeo (Koreans) + Liao (Khitan people)
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![Da Liao Tai Hou]()
6. Da Liao Tai Hou
Chinese Movie - 1995
Major: Liao (Khitan people).
Minor: Song. -
![The Legend of Xiao Chuo]()
7. The Legend of Xiao Chuo
Chinese Drama - 2020, 48 episodes
Major: Liao (Khitan people).
Minor: Song + Balhae/Dongdan (Mohe people).
Flashbacks: Later Jin (Shatuo Turks).FL is ethnically Khitan. ML is ethnically Han.
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![Everlasting Longing]()
8. Everlasting Longing
Chinese Drama - 2025, 30 episodes
Censored adaptation.
Nanyan = Song (Han people).
Beixuan = Liao (Khitan people).
Xixiang = Western Xia (Tangut people). -
![A Change of Destiny]()
9. A Change of Destiny
Hong Kong Drama - 2007, 20 episodes
Parts about Liao (Khitan people)
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![Sakra]()
10. Sakra
Hong Kong Movie - 2023
Parts about Liao (Khitan people)
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![Journey to Western Xia Empire]()
11. Journey to Western Xia Empire
Chinese Movie - 1997
Parts about Liao (Khitan people)
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![The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils]()
12. The Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils
Hong Kong Drama - 1997, 45 episodes
Parts about Liao (Khitan people) + Dali (Bai people) + Western Xia (Tangut people).
Fantasy version, not real history. -
![Demi Gods & Semi Devils]()
13. Demi Gods & Semi Devils
Chinese Drama - 2003, 40 episodes
Parts about Liao (Khitan people) + Dali (Bai people) + Western Xia (Tangut people).
Fantasy version, not real history. -
![Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: Divine Sword of Six Meridians]()
14. Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: Divine Sword of Six Meridians
Hong Kong Drama - 1982, 30 episodes
Parts about Liao (Khitan people) + Dali (Bai people) + Western Xia (Tangut people).
Fantasy version, not real history. -
![Genghis Khan]()
15. Genghis Khan
Chinese Drama - 2004, 30 episodes
Parts about Jin (Jurchen people)
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![Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon]()
16. Eight Thousand Li of Cloud and Moon
Taiwanese Drama - 1988, 40 episodes
Parts about Jin (Jurchen people)
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![The Patriot Yue Fei]()
17. The Patriot Yue Fei
Chinese Drama - 2013, 69 episodes
Parts about Jin (Jurchen people)
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![First Sword of Wudang]()
18. First Sword of Wudang
Chinese Drama - 2021, 39 episodes
Parts about Jurchen people
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![The Legend of the Condor Heroes]()
19. The Legend of the Condor Heroes
Chinese Drama - 2017, 52 episodes
Parts about Jurchen people
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![Rule the World]()
20. Rule the World
Chinese Drama - 2017, 45 episodes
Later Jin khanate (Jurchen/Manchu people)
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![Secret History of the Great Grand King]()
21. Secret History of the Great Grand King
Chinese Drama - 2005, 46 episodes
Later Jin khanate, Qing dynasty (Jurchen/Manchu people)
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![Xiao Zhuang Epic]()
22. Xiao Zhuang Epic
Chinese Drama - 2003, 38 episodes
Later Jin khanate, Qing dynasty (Jurchen/Manchu people + Mongol people)
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![The Song of Glory]()
23. The Song of Glory
Chinese Drama - 2020, 53 episodes
