Western Qin: Map & History
The Western Qin was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Qifu clan of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms.
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The Western Qin was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Qifu clan of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms. All rulers of the Western Qin declared themselves "wang", which can be translated as either "king" or "prince." They ruled an area corresponding to modern-day southwestern Gansu in Northwest China, also known as the Longxi region, along with parts of northeastern Qinghai in the later years. The state went by various different names as their rulers opted for lesser peerages while they were acting as vassals, and they were only known as "Qin" (秦) from 395 to 400 AD, from 409 to 411 AD and from 414 to 431 AD.
Modern Countries Once Part of Western Qin
At its mapped extent, Western Qin covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Western Qin's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Western Qin in Depth
History
The Qifu tribe was a western branch of Xianbei that resettled around the Longxi region during the beginning of the Western Jin dynasty around 265. Their ancestor was Rufu (如弗), who led the Qifu and three other tribes, Siyin (斯引), Chulian (出連) and Chilu (叱盧) from the north of the Gobi Desert to move south to the Yin Mountains. It is believed that the Qifu had strong connections to the Gaoche people (also known as Dingling); the Chilu were also known as the Tulu (吐盧), one of the twelves surnames of the Gaoche, and during the Western Qin period, there were several officials who had the Dingling surnames of Zhai (翟), Wuyin (屋引), Yizhan (乙旃) and Chilu. The name "Qifu" (乞伏) may have even come from the Gaoche surname, "Qifuli" (泣伏利).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Western Qin (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Western Qin: Key Facts
| Capital | Lanzhou |
|---|---|
| Founded | 385 CE |
| Dissolved | 431 CE |
Preceded by
- Former Qin
- Southern Liang
Succeeded by
- Xia
Facts from Wikidata Q1668970 (CC0).
Western Qin Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Western Qin appears, with the other states of the time.
Western Qin Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 229,139 km² in 421 CE.
Western Qin: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Western Qin exist?
Western Qin is dated to 387 CE – 438 CE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of Western Qin?
The capital of Western Qin was Yongshicheng (385–388), Yuanchuan (400, 410–412), Jincheng (388–395), Xicheng (395–400), Dujianshan (409–410), Tanjiao (412), Fuhan (412–429), Dinglian (429–430), Nan'an (430–431).
How large was Western Qin at its peak?
At its peak in 421 AD Western Qin covered about 229,139 km².