A universal guide for China studiesChinese History - The Sixteen Kingdoms 五胡十六國 (300~430) |
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The Sixteen Kingdoms | period before (Jin Dynasty) -- Southern Dynasties -- Northern Wei next period (Sui) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Qiang - a people relative to the Tibetians - Yao Yizhong 姚弋仲 was given the title of Great Protector (da dudu 大都督) by the rulers of Later Zhao (Houzhao 後趙). After the dead of ruler Shi Hu 石虎, Yao Yizhong surrendered to the Jin Empire 晉. His son Yao Xiang 姚襄 broke with the Jin Empire and lost his life during a battle. His brother Yao Chang 姚萇 surrendered to the Former Qin (Qianqin 前秦) empire and obtained a command that he gave up to rebel against the Former Qin rulers. He proclaimed himself Great Chieftain (Da Shanyu 大單于) and King of (Later) Qin (Houqin 後秦) in 384, and emperor in 386. His son Yao Xing 姚興 destroyed the Former Qin Empire and the Kingdom of Western Yan (Xiyan 西燕). Further, he was able to conquer a great territory of the Jin Empire (that should be reconquered soon by the Jin), and he destroyed the Empires of Western Qin (Xiqin 西秦) and Later Liang (Houliang 後涼). The Jin empire was able to subdue the last ruler Yao Hong 姚泓 in 417. To have enough workers and soldiers, Yao Chang undertook several resettlements of people the conquered territories to the capital Chang'an 長安 (modern Xi'an). The population was not only settled in civil commanderies, but also in military households (yinghu 營戶) that was directly administered by the central government and that served as a source of conscripts. Yao Chang was also concerned about a functioning administratory system. It was forbidden to sell oneself as a slave - in order to raise the tax income. The short-lived empire of Later Qin was a time of flourishing Buddhism - the translator monk Kumarajiva stayed in Chang'an for several years. The Qin empire is named after the old feudal state of Qin 秦 during the Zhou Dynasty 周. See also titles of rulers. Note: The rulers of the sideline dynasties are usually not called with their posthumous dynastic titles but with their personal names as they are not accepted as righteous rulers by official historiographies.
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