The Duan (Chinese: 段; pinyin: Duàn) was a pre-state tribe of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.
The reason the tribe adopted the Han Chinese surname Duan is unknown.
Duan Wuwuchen was given in 303 a hereditary title— the "Duke of Liaoxi" —by the Jin dynasty. Even after their tribe was defeated and absorbed by Former Yan, the Duan clan remained honored and powerful, and several Former Yan and Later Yan empresses, as well as important officials, were members of the Duan clan.[citation needed]
| Name | Duration of reign |
|---|---|
| Chinese convention: use family name and given name | |
| 日陸眷 Rìlùjuàn | 250–271 |
| 乞珍 Qǐzhēn | 270-303 |
| 段務勿塵 Duàn Wùwùchen | 303 – 310 or 311 |
| 段疾陸眷 Duàn Jílùjuàn | 310 or 311 – 318 |
| 段涉復辰 Duàn Shèfùchén | 318 |
| 段匹磾 Duàn Pǐdī | 318–321 |
| 段末柸 Duàn Mòpeī | 318–325 |
| 段牙 Duàn Yá | 325 |
| 段遼 Duàn Liáo | 325 or 326 – 338 |
|
Main article: Para-Mongolic languages |
Shimunek classifies Duan as a "Serbi" (i.e., para-Mongolic) language. Shimunek's "Serbi" linguistic branch also includes Taghbach, Tuyuhun, and Khitan.[1]