Map Introduction

The Eastern Jin and Sixteen Kingdoms Period (304–439 AD) was a major era of fragmentation in Chinese history. It began following the fall of the Western Jin Dynasty and ended with the Northern Wei's unification of the north. Its core characteristic was the coexistence of multiple ethnic regimes in the north, while the south was controlled by the Eastern Jin, creating a prolonged situation of North-South confrontation.

Origin of the Name "Sixteen Kingdoms"

The term "Sixteen Kingdoms" originates from the historical text Spring and Autumn of the Sixteen Kingdoms (Shiliuguo Chunqiu), compiled by the Northern Wei historian Cui Hong. The book categorized the major northern regimes into sixteen entities: "Five Liang, Four Yan, Three Qin, Two Zhao, along with Cheng and Xia." However, the actual number of political entities during this period exceeded sixteen, including numerous smaller or short-lived kingdoms.

Frequent Regime Changes * 304 AD: The Di leader Li Te established the Cheng-Han in Sichuan, while the Xiongnu leader Liu Yuan founded the Former Zhao (also known as Han Zhao) in Shanxi. These events mark the conventional beginning of the Sixteen Kingdoms period. * 316 AD: The Former Zhao captured Chang'an, leading to the final collapse of the Western Jin. The Eastern Jin was subsequently established in the Jiangnan region. * 383 AD: Fu Jian, Emperor of the Former Qin, launched a massive southern campaign against the Eastern Jin. His devastating defeat at the Battle of Fei River led to the rapid collapse of the Former Qin's hegemony. * 439 AD: The Northern Wei Dynasty unified northern China, ending the prolonged fragmentation of the Sixteen Kingdoms period and ushering in the Northern and Southern Dynasties period.

Characteristics of the Ethnic Regimes The major northern regimes were established by non-Han peoples such as the Xiongnu, Xianbei, Di, and Qiang. Examples include the Former Zhao (Xiongnu), Later Zhao (Jie), Former Qin (Di), and Northern Liang (Lushui Hu). In contrast, the Southern Eastern Jin state was controlled by Han Chinese aristocratic families.

Differences in Territorial Control The Eastern Jin effectively controlled the Jiangnan region and the provinces of Jing and Xiang. The north and west were divided among various ethnic regimes. Although the Former Qin under Fu Jian briefly unified the north, this unity proved fragile and quickly dissolved after its military defeat.