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The Sixteen Kingdoms , or less commonly the Sixteen States, were a collection of numerous short-lived sovereign states in China proper
China proper

China proper refers to the historical lands of China where the Han Chinese are the majority ethnic group, in contrast with other regions that form parts of the former Imperial era of Chinese historys and the current People's Republic of China....
 and its neighboring areas from 304
304

Events...
 to 439
439

Events...
 CE
Common Era

Common Era, abbreviated as CE, is a designation for the calendar system most commonly used in the Western world, and also internationally, for numbering the year part of the calendar date....
 after the retreat of the Jin Dynasty (265-420)
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)

The J?n Dynasty , one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms period and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. The dynasty was founded by the Sima family ....
 to South China
South China

South China or Southern China can refer to* South China Athletic Association - a sports club in Hong Kong First Division League* South China ...
 and before the establishment of the Northern Dynasties
Northern dynasties

The Northern Dynasties included Northern Wei Dynasty, Eastern Wei Dynasty, Western Wei Dynasty, Northern Qi Dynasty, Northern Zhou Dynasty....
. Originally, the term was first introduced by Cui Hong in the lost historical record, Shiliuguo Chunqiu
Shiliuguo Chunqiu

The Shiliuguo Chunqiu is a biographial history work compiled by Cui Hong between 501 to 522. It became one of the chief sources for the compilation of the Book of Wei and Book of Jin in the beginning....
 (the Spring and Autumn Annals
Spring and Autumn Annals

The Spring and Autumn Annals is the official chronicle of the State of Lu covering the period from 720s BC to 481 BCE. It is the earliest surviving Chinese historical text to be arranged on annals principles....
 of the Sixteen Kingdoms) and restricted to sixteen kingdoms of this era, namely the states of Han Zhao
Han Zhao

The Han Zhao was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Chinese Jin Dynasty . It represented two state titles, the Han state proclaimed in 304 by Liu Yuan and the Former Zhao state in 319 by Liu Yao....
, Later Zhao
Later Zhao

The Later Zhao was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Shi family of the Jie ethnicity. The Later Zhao was the second in territories to the Former Qin that once unified Northern China under Fu Jian....
, Cheng Han
Cheng Han

The Cheng Han was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It represented two states, the Cheng state proclaimed in 304 by Li Xiong and the Han state in 338 by Li Shou....
, Former Liang
Former Liang

The Former Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han Chinese. Its territories included present-day Gansu and parts of Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang....
, Later Liang
Later Liang

The Later Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the L? family of the Di ethnicity.All rulers of the Later Liang proclaimed themselves "Heavenly Prince" ....
, Northern Liang
Northern Liang

The Northern Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. It was founded by the Xiongnu Juqu family, although they initially supported the Han Chinese official Duan Ye as prince, but overthrew Duan in 401 and directly took over....
, Western Liáng
Western Liang

The Western Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. It was founded by the Li family of the Han Chinese. The founder of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan , traced his ancestry to the Western Liang rulers....
, Southern Liang
Southern Liang

The Southern Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. The founding family Tufa was of Xianbei ethnicity and distant relative of the Tuoba imperial house of Northern Wei....
, Former Yan
Former Yan

The Former Yan was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.Initially, Murong Huang and his son Murong Jun claimed the Jin Dynasty -created title "Prince of Yan," but subsequently, in 352, after seizing most of the former Later Zhao territory, Murong Juan would declare himself emperor, and after that point,...
, Later Yan
Later Yan

The Later Yan was a Murong-Xianbei state, locate in north-east of current China, during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.All rulers of the Later Yan declared themselves "Chinese nobility"....
, Northern Yan
Northern Yan

The Northern Yan was a state of Han Chinese during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.All rulers of the Northern Yan declared themselves "Chinese nobility"....
, Southern Yan
Southern Yan

The Southern Yan was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Its territory roughly coincided with modern Shandong....
, Former Qin
Former Qin

The Former Qin was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Founded by the Fu family of the Di ethnicity, it completed the unification of North China in 376....
, Later Qin
Later Qin

The Later Qin was a state of Qiang people ethnicity of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. Note that the Later Qin is entirely distinct from the ancient Qin Dynasty, the Former Qin, and the Western Qin....
 and Western Qin
Western Qin

The Western Qin was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Note that the Western Qin is entirely distinct from the ancient Qin Dynasty, the Former Qin, and the Later Qin....
 and Xia.






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The Sixteen Kingdoms , or less commonly the Sixteen States, were a collection of numerous short-lived sovereign states in China proper
China proper

China proper refers to the historical lands of China where the Han Chinese are the majority ethnic group, in contrast with other regions that form parts of the former Imperial era of Chinese historys and the current People's Republic of China....
 and its neighboring areas from 304
304

Events...
 to 439
439

Events...
 CE
Common Era

Common Era, abbreviated as CE, is a designation for the calendar system most commonly used in the Western world, and also internationally, for numbering the year part of the calendar date....
 after the retreat of the Jin Dynasty (265-420)
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)

The J?n Dynasty , one of the Six Dynasties, followed the Three Kingdoms period and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. The dynasty was founded by the Sima family ....
 to South China
South China

South China or Southern China can refer to* South China Athletic Association - a sports club in Hong Kong First Division League* South China ...
 and before the establishment of the Northern Dynasties
Northern dynasties

The Northern Dynasties included Northern Wei Dynasty, Eastern Wei Dynasty, Western Wei Dynasty, Northern Qi Dynasty, Northern Zhou Dynasty....
. Originally, the term was first introduced by Cui Hong in the lost historical record, Shiliuguo Chunqiu
Shiliuguo Chunqiu

The Shiliuguo Chunqiu is a biographial history work compiled by Cui Hong between 501 to 522. It became one of the chief sources for the compilation of the Book of Wei and Book of Jin in the beginning....
 (the Spring and Autumn Annals
Spring and Autumn Annals

The Spring and Autumn Annals is the official chronicle of the State of Lu covering the period from 720s BC to 481 BCE. It is the earliest surviving Chinese historical text to be arranged on annals principles....
 of the Sixteen Kingdoms) and restricted to sixteen kingdoms of this era, namely the states of Han Zhao
Han Zhao

The Han Zhao was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Chinese Jin Dynasty . It represented two state titles, the Han state proclaimed in 304 by Liu Yuan and the Former Zhao state in 319 by Liu Yao....
, Later Zhao
Later Zhao

The Later Zhao was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Shi family of the Jie ethnicity. The Later Zhao was the second in territories to the Former Qin that once unified Northern China under Fu Jian....
, Cheng Han
Cheng Han

The Cheng Han was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It represented two states, the Cheng state proclaimed in 304 by Li Xiong and the Han state in 338 by Li Shou....
, Former Liang
Former Liang

The Former Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han Chinese. Its territories included present-day Gansu and parts of Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang....
, Later Liang
Later Liang

The Later Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the L? family of the Di ethnicity.All rulers of the Later Liang proclaimed themselves "Heavenly Prince" ....
, Northern Liang
Northern Liang

The Northern Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. It was founded by the Xiongnu Juqu family, although they initially supported the Han Chinese official Duan Ye as prince, but overthrew Duan in 401 and directly took over....
, Western Liáng
Western Liang

The Western Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. It was founded by the Li family of the Han Chinese. The founder of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan , traced his ancestry to the Western Liang rulers....
, Southern Liang
Southern Liang

The Southern Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. The founding family Tufa was of Xianbei ethnicity and distant relative of the Tuoba imperial house of Northern Wei....
, Former Yan
Former Yan

The Former Yan was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.Initially, Murong Huang and his son Murong Jun claimed the Jin Dynasty -created title "Prince of Yan," but subsequently, in 352, after seizing most of the former Later Zhao territory, Murong Juan would declare himself emperor, and after that point,...
, Later Yan
Later Yan

The Later Yan was a Murong-Xianbei state, locate in north-east of current China, during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.All rulers of the Later Yan declared themselves "Chinese nobility"....
, Northern Yan
Northern Yan

The Northern Yan was a state of Han Chinese during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.All rulers of the Northern Yan declared themselves "Chinese nobility"....
, Southern Yan
Southern Yan

The Southern Yan was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Its territory roughly coincided with modern Shandong....
, Former Qin
Former Qin

The Former Qin was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Founded by the Fu family of the Di ethnicity, it completed the unification of North China in 376....
, Later Qin
Later Qin

The Later Qin was a state of Qiang people ethnicity of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. Note that the Later Qin is entirely distinct from the ancient Qin Dynasty, the Former Qin, and the Western Qin....
 and Western Qin
Western Qin

The Western Qin was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Note that the Western Qin is entirely distinct from the ancient Qin Dynasty, the Former Qin, and the Later 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
304

Events...
 to 439
439

Events...
.

Almost all rulers of the kingdoms were part of the Wu Hu
Wu Hu

Wu Hu is a collective term for various non-Chinese steppe tribes during the period from the Han Dynasty to the Northern Dynasties. These Nomadic people originally resided outside China proper, but gradually migrated into Chinese areas during the years of turmoil between the Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms....
 ethnicity and claimed to be the emperor
Emperor

An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress is the female equivalent. As a title, "empress" may indicate the wife of an emperor or a woman who rules in her own right ....
s and wang
Chinese nobility

Di and Wang and Huangdi * The King during the Xia and Shang dynasties called themselves di * The King during the Zhou dynasty was called Wang , was the title of the China head of state until the Qin dynasty....
s (kings). The Han Chinese
Han Chinese

Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and, by most modern definitions, the largest single ethnic group in the Earth.Han Chinese constitute about 92 percent of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98 percent of the population of the Republic of China , 75 percent of the population of Singapore, and about 19 percent...
 founded the four states: Northern Yan
Northern Yan

The Northern Yan was a state of Han Chinese during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.All rulers of the Northern Yan declared themselves "Chinese nobility"....
, Western Liang
Western Liang

The Western Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. It was founded by the Li family of the Han Chinese. The founder of the Tang Dynasty, Li Yuan , traced his ancestry to the Western Liang rulers....
, Former Liang
Former Liang

The Former Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han Chinese. Its territories included present-day Gansu and parts of Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang....
 and the state of Wei
Ran Min

Ran Min , also known as Shi Min , posthumous name honored by Former Yan as Tian Wang Daowu of Wei , courtesy name Yongzeng , nickname Jinu , was a Han Chinese military leader during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China and the only emperor of the short-lived state Ran Wei ....
. Six Chinese rulers of the Former Liang
Former Liang

The Former Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han Chinese. Its territories included present-day Gansu and parts of Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang....
 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.

See also

  • Wu Hu
    Wu Hu

    Wu Hu is a collective term for various non-Chinese steppe tribes during the period from the Han Dynasty to the Northern Dynasties. These Nomadic people originally resided outside China proper, but gradually migrated into Chinese areas during the years of turmoil between the Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms....
  • Ethnic groups in Chinese history
    Ethnic groups in Chinese history

    The following are the ethnic groups in Chinese history. Any non clear-cut connection is denoted by a question mark beside the equivalences. As so many ethnic groups have appeared in history, this table is certainly not complete....
  • Sinicization
    Sinicization

    Sinicization, Sinicisation or Sinification, is the language Cultural assimilation or cultural assimilation of terms and concepts into the Chinese language and Chinese culture of China....
  • Avars
    Eurasian Avars

    The 'Avars' were a highly organized and powerful Turkic confederation. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit retinue of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turkic peoples groups....
  • Battle of Fei
  • Shiliuguo Chunqiu
    Shiliuguo Chunqiu

    The Shiliuguo Chunqiu is a biographial history work compiled by Cui Hong between 501 to 522. It became one of the chief sources for the compilation of the Book of Wei and Book of Jin in the beginning....