Kuei-Shuang
/ˈkweɪ ˈʃwɑːŋ/noun
A Wade–Giles romanization of Guishuang, the Chinese name for the Kushan tribal group and dynasty of ancient Central Asia.
Did you know?The Kushan Empire helped spread Buddhism across Central Asia and produced coins depicting Greek, Iranian, Indian, and Buddhist deities.
Etymological Timeline
2nd Century BCE
Chinese
貴霜 (Guìshuāng)
“The Chinese transcription used for one of the five major divisions of the Yuezhi people.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Bactrian
Kushan
“The name associated with the Kushan clan or ruling group that emerged in Bactria and Central Asia.”
1st–3rd Centuries CE
Sanskrit
Kuṣāṇa
“The Sanskrit form used for the Kushan dynasty and its rulers.”
1st–3rd Centuries CE
Greek
Koshano
“A form appearing in Greek-language Kushan inscriptions and coin legends.”
19th–20th Centuries
English
Kushan
“The standard English form for the dynasty, people, and empire.”
Modern English
English
Kuei-shuang
“A historical Wade–Giles romanization of Chinese Guishuang, now used mainly in older scholarship.”