late pre-historic period the Huns were called Hun-yui , in the literate period starting with Yin Dynasty (殷代, 1600-1046 BC) they were called Guifan, in Zhou period (周朝,1045–256 BC) they were called Hyan-yun , starting from the Qin period (秦朝, 221-206 BC) the Chinese annalists called them with a derisive Hunnu