Map Introduction

The Xianbei were an ancient nomadic people who rose to prominence on the Mongolian Plateau after the Xiongnu. Belonging to the Mongolic branch of the Altaic language family, they originated in the Greater Khingan Mountains. During the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties periods, the Xianbei became the most influential nomadic group affecting China. Tracing their origins to the Donghu confederation, they were primarily distributed across Northern China.

During the Qin and Han dynasties, the Donghu were defeated by Modu Chanyu of the Xiongnu and split into two groups. These groups retreated to and fortified themselves around the Wuhuan Mountains and the Xianbei Mountains, respectively, adopting the names of these mountains as their own tribal identities, thus forming the Wuhuan and the Xianbei peoples. Both groups were subsequently subjugated and enslaved by the Xiongnu. Consequently, Xianbei customs and traditions were similar to those of the Wuhuan and Xiongnu.

Initial Development (49–91 AD) In the early Eastern Han Dynasty, various Xianbei tribes were scattered across the Greater Khingan Mountains and the Xar Moron River basin, existing as a loose tribal confederation. During the reign of Emperor Guangwu of Han, some Xianbei tribes migrated south into the Xar Moron River valley, leading to conflicts with remnants of the Xiongnu forces. Between the reigns of Emperor Ming and Emperor He of Han (49–91 AD), the Eastern Han court, through a combination of military campaigns and political appeasement, persuaded the Xianbei chieftain Pianhe to become the "Grand Protector of the Xianbei." The Han then allied with the various Xianbei tribes to resist the Xiongnu.

Rise and Peak (91–216 AD) Following the westward migration of the Northern Xiongnu (around 91 AD), the Xianbei moved into and occupied the Mongolian Plateau, absorbing former Xiongnu tribes and gradually growing in strength. In the mid-2nd century, the chieftain Tanshihuai unified the various Xianbei tribes and established an extensive tribal confederation stretching from east to west. His sphere of influence covered areas corresponding to modern-day Inner Mongolia and Gansu. Through military conquests and political alliances, he organized the tribes into Eastern, Central, and Western military divisions, making the Xianbei the primary northern concern for the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Decline and Fragmentation (Post-216 AD) Towards the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Xianbei confederation fragmented due to internal power struggles and the tumultuous changes of the central Chinese regimes. Although the chieftain Kebineng briefly unified the Xianbei south of the Gobi Desert, his power base collapsed after he was assassinated by the Cao Wei state in 235 AD. Subsequently, some Xianbei tribes became vassals to central Chinese dynasties (such as the Murong and Tuoba tribes), while others established short-lived states (like the Duan and Yuwen tribes).

Map Source

The Historical Maps of Xianbei and Other Departments in Eastern Han Dynasty is sourced from The Historical Atlas of China, Volume 2(3)—Maps of the Eastern Han Dynasty, published by SinoMaps Press on October 1, 1982, with Tan Qixiang as its author.

The Historical Atlas of China is an atlas focusing primarily on the historical administrative divisions and territories of China throughout its dynasties, compiled under the chief editorship of Tan Qixiang. The entire work spans from the primitive society to the end of the Qing dynasty, organized into 8 volumes and 20 sections according to historical periods, containing a total of 304 maps (not including illustrations). All maps juxtapose historical and modern geography. The compilation of this atlas began in the 1950s, it was seriously disturbed during the cultural revolution. The internal edition was published in 1975 but contained numerous errors. Publication of Volumes 1-8 occurred successively starting in 1982. The Historical Atlas of China is a rare and valuable resource for studying the historical administrative divisions of China.

Related Maps

Online Historical Map of the Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Silijiao District, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Yu Province, Yan Province, Xu Province, and Qing Province Governor Departments, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Dong Commandery, Qi Principality, and Intervening Commanderies, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Ji Province Governor Department, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Jing Province Governor Department, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Yang Province Governor Department, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Northern Yi Province Governor Department, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Southern Yi Province Governor Department, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Liang Province Governor Department, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Bing Province Governor Department, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the You Province Governor Department, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Jiao Province Governor Department, Eastern Han Dynasty, China Online Historical Map of the Western Regions Protectorate, Eastern Han Dynasty, China