The Northern Dynasties (317-589) and Cultural Change

*Jin Dynasty (265-317-420)

Sima Family of Wei

Sima Yi (179-251) “Regent,” 249

Sons inherit his position

Conquest of Shu-Han, 263

Western Jin 265-317

Sima Yuan (Emperor Wudi, r. 265-89)

Grandson of Sima Yi

"Standard" model of usurpation

Capital Luoyang

Conquest of Wu, 280

China unified 280-311

Fall of W. Jin Western Jin 265-317

War of 7 Princes, 301-7

Sack of Luoyang, 311

“Huns”

Shi Le

"China" Divided

Southern "Legitimate" Dynasties

Eastern Jin, 317-420

Former (or Liu) Song, 420-479

Southern Qi, 479-502

Southern Liang, 502-557

Southern Chen, 557-589

Northern Dynasties

*16 Kingdoms     311-386

*Northern Wei    386-534

*Xianbei (Särbi)
Tuoba (Tabgach) Ruling Clan

Northeastern Xianbei (Särbi) dynasties

Eastern Wei     534-550
Northern Qi    550-577

Northwestern Xianbei (Särbi) dynasties

Western Wei    535-556
*Northern Zhou    557-587

Prelude to 16 Kingdoms, 317-386

Han Dynasty-Xiongnu Tributary relations, 54 BCE-155 CE

Some S. Xiongnu in Han armies as cavalry

Shanyu Bi's move closer to Han, 47 CE

40-50,000 warriors and families

Other tribes drifted south

Xiongnu collapsed in 155
Han civil war from 189 onward

Increased interaction in China-Inner Asia borderlands

Han Wudi’s settlers in Gansu and Ordos

Pastoral nomads drifted south

Xiongnu collapsed in 155

Han civil war from 189 onward

Official Seals of Tribal Leaders

Sheep

"Marquis of the Loyal Qiang of the Jin" Dynasty [265-317]

Camel

"King of the Loyal Di of the Jin"

China-Inner Asian Interaction

Chinese traditions of governmental organization

Controls agricultural populace

Inner Asian martial traditions

Mounted archers

Cultural Convergence [not covered in 2021]

Evidence of Painted Tomb Bricks, Jiayuguan, Gansu province, 3rd century

Images from Gansu Provincial Museum (descriptions in Chinese)

Northern Wei Coffin, Ningxia, ca. 475

Confucian Sage-King Shun's filial piety in Xianbei (Särbi) garb

Daoist deity King Father of East presides over the realm of immortals wearing a Xianbei (Särbi) hat

Deceased banqueting in Inner Asian pose

*Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534)

*Xianbei (Särbi)

Tuoba (Tabgach) Ruling Clan

Emperor Taiwudi “Great Martial Emperor” (r. 424-52)

Conquered N. Liang in Gansu in 439

Empress Dowager Chang (dowager, 453-460, nursemaid of Wencheng)

Emperor Wencheng (r. 452-465)

N. Wei “Sinicization” Policies, late 5th c.

Empress Dowager Feng (or Wenming, dowager, 465-490, widow of Wencheng)

Emperor Xiaowen (r. 471-499)

Capital moved to from Pingcheng (modern Datong) to Luoyang, 493

Appointment of Chinese to office

Chinese dress, names and language for Xianbei (Särbi)

Reasons?

Traditional

Revisionist Hansen, pp. 162-63

China Divided: Major Trends

Cultural creativity

a) Buddhism

b) Philosophy, literature and the arts flowered

Division between northern and southern China

Economic development of south

Immigration

Cultural divergence

Why?

Political instability

Legalistic controls over government administration decline

Personalistic politics flourishes