Qizhens

The Qizhens are a fictional ethnic group featured in contemporary fantasy literature and role-playing games. In most depictions they originate as mountain traders who settled along the river valleys of the Qizhen Basin, a highland region in a fictional continent.

The ethnonym Qizhens derives from the in-world term Qizhen, though the name's origin varies by author. The Qizhen language is described across works as agglutinative and tonal, with a rich oral tradition and extensive borrowing from neighboring languages.

They are usually placed in the Qizhen Basin and adjacent foothills, with populations ranging from tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand in larger timelines. Diaspora communities appear in coastal cities and border towns.

Social life centers on kin-based clans and craft guilds. Traditional specializations include metalwork, pottery, weaving, and caravan trade. Local governance often blends elder councils with merchant associations.

Their cultural life emphasizes storytelling, music, and seasonal rites tied to rivers and mountains. Religious practice tends to be syncretic, combining ancestor veneration with nature spirits and occasional shared deities with neighboring groups.

In narratives, the Qizhens interact with neighboring peoples through alliances, trade, and conflict. Scholarly discussions about their portrayal note a trend away from simplistic exoticism toward more nuanced worldbuilding and internal diversity.