Sixteen Kingdoms
The
Sixteen Kingdoms (), or less commonly the
Sixteen States, were a collection of numerous short-lived sovereignties in
China proper and neighboring areas from AD
304 to
439 after the retreat of the
Jin Dynasty (265-420) to
South China and before the establishment of the
Northern Dynasties. Originally, the term was first introduced by
Cui Hong in the lost historical record,
Shiliuguo Chunqiu (the
Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms) and restricted to sixteen kingdoms of this era, namely the states of
Han Zhao,
Later Zhao,
Cheng Han,
Former Liang,
Later Liang,
Northern Liang,
Western Liáng,
Southern Liang,
Former Yan,
Later Yan,
Northern Yan,
Southern Yan,
Former Qin,
Later Qin and
Western Qin and
Xia. The term has been broadened to included all sovereignities from 304 to 439. These do not all exist through the entire period.
A less used term, the
Period of Sixteen Kingdoms represents this turbulent era from
304 to
439.
Almost all rulers of the kingdoms were part of the
Wu Hu ethnicity and claimed to be the
emperors and
wangs (
kings). The
Han Chinese founded the four states:
Northern Yan,
Western Liang,
Former Liang and the
state of Wei. Six Chinese rulers of the
Former Liang remained titularly under the government of the Jin Dynasty. The
Northern Wei Dynasty is not counted as one of the Sixteen Kingdoms even though it was founded during the Period.
Rulers of each of the Kingdoms are listed in relevant articles.
*
Wu Hu*
Ethnic groups in Chinese history*
Sinicization*
Avars*
Battle of FeiShiliuguo Chunqiu
