Upheaval of the Five Barbarians

A chaotic period (304–316 CE) marking the collapse of the Western Jin Dynasty in China.

Quick Facts: Who was Upheaval of the Five Barbarians?

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Upheaval of the Five Barbarians
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A chaotic period (304–316 CE) marking the collapse of the Western Jin Dynasty in China.
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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Upheaval of the Five Barbarians also translated as the Uprising, Rebellion or the Revolt of the Five Barbarians (simplified Chinese: 五胡乱华; traditional Chinese: 五胡亂華; lit. 'Five foreign tribes disrupting China') is a Chinese expression used to refer to a chaotic period of warfare from 304 to 316 during the fall of the Western Jin dynasty. Overlapping with the War of the Eight Princes, these conflicts involved non-Han peoples and tribes eventually drove the Jin imperial court out of northern China. The "Five Barbarians" were the Xiongnu, Jie, Qiang, Di and Xianbei, many of whom had resettled within China during the preceding centuries. Despite the period's name, many Han Chinese and other tribal people like the Wuhuan were also involved, wavering their support between Jin and the separatist regimes.

Career & Major Achievements

Years of poor administration and civil wars between the ruling princes left the empire open to its disaffected and opportunistic subjects. Ethnic tensions in the Guanzhong region between the Han and the tribes, primarily the Qiang and Di, led to major revolts which resulted in an exodus of refugees into southwestern China. Efforts to force them back to Guanzhong were met with resistance and culminated in the rebellion of the Ba Di refugee Li Te in 301. In the north, the Five Divisions of Bing province, descendants of the Southern Xiongnu, took advantage of the Jin prince's infighting to declare independence and establish the Han-Zhao in 304, acclaiming the noble Liu Yuan as their leader. As anti-Jin revolts spread to Hebei and Shandong, a former Jie slave, Shi Le, rose to prominence, and after joining Liu Yuan, he would effectively control the eastern part of his empire.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Xianbei Duan tribe in Liaoxi and Tuoba tribe in Dai were initially important allies of Jin in helping them fight against Han, but later pulled out from the conflict to consolidate control over their territories. Li Te's son Li Xiong captured Chengdu and established Cheng-Han in 304. In 311, Han captured Emperor Huai of Jin and the ancient capital, Luoyang, in an event known as the Disaster of Yongjia. In 316, Jin's hope of restoring imperial authority in the north were crushed when Han defeated and captured Emperor Min in Chang'an. The establishments of Cheng-Han and Han-Zhao in 304 were seen as the start of the Sixteen Kingdoms period, and the defeat of Emperor Min led to the formation of the Eastern Jin dynasty by Emperor Yuan in Jiankang in 318.

Notable Quotes by Upheaval of the Five Barbarians

“In the past, our ancestors and those of the Han acted like brothers through joy and sorrow. However, since the fall of Han and the rise of Wei and Jin, our titles of chanyus hold no value...”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Upheaval of the Five Barbarians

True or False: “The Upheaval of the Five Barbarians was solely caused by external nomadic invasions from beyond China's borders.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While non-Han peoples were involved, the conflict was significantly exacerbated by internal factors such as poor administration and civil wars among the ruling Jin princes.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Upheaval of the Five Barbarians

Who was Upheaval of the Five Barbarians and what are their primary contributions?

A chaotic period (304–316 CE) marking the collapse of the Western Jin Dynasty in China. Origins & Early Life: The Upheaval of the Five Barbarians also translated as the Uprising, Rebellion or the Revolt of the Five Barbarians (simplified Chinese: 五胡乱华; traditional Chinese: 五胡亂華; lit. 'Five foreign tribes disrupting China') is a Chinese expression used to refer to a chaotic period of warfare from 304 to 316 during the fall of the Western Jin dynasty. Overlapping with the War of the Eight Princes, these conflicts involved non-Han peoples and tribes eventually drove the Jin imperial court out of northern China. The "Five Barbarians" were the Xiongnu, Jie, Qiang, Di and Xianbei, many of whom had resettled within China during the preceding centuries. Despite the period's name, many Han Chinese and other tribal people like the Wuhuan were also involved, wavering their support between Jin and the separatist regimes.

Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Upheaval of the Five Barbarians?

Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.

Source: Wikipedia