Northern Dynasties

Tuoba Gui (August 4, 371–November 6, 409), also known as Tuoba Kai, Tuoba Shegui, Tuoba Yigui, and Tuoba Shiyigui, courtesy name Shegui, was a Xianbei from Shengle, present-day Horinger County in Inner Mongolia. He was the founding emperor, military commander, and political leader of Northern Wei, a grandson of Tuoba Shiyiqian, Emperor Zhaocheng, and the posthumous son of Tuoba Shi, Emperor Xianming. Born north of Ca

Yuwen Jue (542, the 8th year of the Datong era–557, first year of Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou), courtesy name Tuoluoni, was a native of Wuchuan in Dai Commandery, now Wuchuan County in Inner Mongolia. He was the third son of Yuwen Tai, the powerful minister of Western Wei, and his mother was Empress Yuan, formerly Princess Fengyi. Yuwen Jue was the founding ruler of Northern Zhou, but in practice he was enthrone

Gao Yang (born 526, died 25 November 559), courtesy name Zijin and Xianbei name Hounigan, was a native of Tiao County in Bohai Commandery, born at Jinyang, and the founding emperor of Northern Qi. He was a son of Gao Huan and Lou Zhaojun. After his elder brother Gao Cheng was assassinated in 549（Wuding 7, Eastern Wei）, Gao Yang took control of the Eastern Wei court. In 550（Wuding 8, Eastern Wei; Tianbao 1, Northern Q

Yuan Shanjian (524–January 21, 552), a native of Luoyang in Henan (present-day Luoyang, Henan), was a Xianbei member of the Northern Wei imperial clan. He was a great-grandson of Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, Yuan Hong, and the son of Yuan Dan, Prince Wenxuan of Qinghe; his mother was Hu Zhi, Princess Consort of Qinghe. Yuan Shanjian was the sole emperor of Eastern Wei during the Northern and Southern Dynasties pe

Yuan Baoju (507–March 28, 551), courtesy name Ziming according to one uncertain account, was Xianbei. He was a grandson of Yuan Hong, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, the third son of Yuan Yu, Prince of Jingzhao, and the son of Consort Yang Ao. He was the founding emperor of Western Wei during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, reigning from 535, the first year of Datong, to 551, the seventeenth year of Datong. As

Tuoba Tao (408–March 11, 452), whose childhood names included Foli and Folifa, was a Xianbei ruler and the third emperor of Northern Wei, reigning from December 27, 423 to March 11, 452. He was the eldest son of Tuoba Si, Emperor Mingyuan, the eldest legitimate grandson of Tuoba Gui, Emperor Daowu, and the son of Lady Du, posthumously Empress Mi of Mingyuan. Tuoba Tao took the throne at sixteen and ruled for twenty-e

Yuwen Yong (543–June 21, 578), courtesy name Miluotu, was a Xianbei ruler whose ancestral home was Wuchuan in Dai Commandery, west of present-day Wuchuan in Inner Mongolia. He was born in Tongzhou, present-day Dali, Shaanxi, and was the third emperor of Northern Zhou, known to history as Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Early in his reign he concealed his intentions while power remained in the hands of Yuwen Hu. In 572,

Gao Wei, courtesy name Rengang, was born on May 29, 556 （7th year of Tianbao, Northern Qi）. He was the son of Gao Zhan, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi, and Empress Hu, and was the fifth emperor of Northern Qi. He was made Crown Prince in 562 （2nd year of Taining） and received the throne by abdication in 565 （4th year of Heqing）. After Gao Zhan died in 569 （4th year of Tiantong）, Gao Wei began personally handling stat

Tuoba Si (392–December 24, 423), courtesy name Mumo, was a Xianbei ruler and the second emperor of Northern Wei. He was the eldest son of Tuoba Gui, the Daowu Emperor, and his mother was Lady Liu, posthumously honored as Empress Xuanmu. In 409 (Tianci 6), after suppressing the rebellion of his younger brother Tuoba Shao, Prince of Qinghe, he ascended the throne. His era names were Yongxing, Shenrui, and Taichang. He

Gao Yan (534–561), courtesy name Yan'an, was a native of Tiao County in Bohai Commandery, present-day Jing County, Hengshui, Hebei. He was the third emperor of Northern Qi, reigning from 560 to 561. He was the sixth son of the Eastern Wei strongman Gao Huan and Lady Lou Zhaojun, and a full brother of Gao Yang, Emperor Wenxuan. Skilled in political affairs, Gao Yan took part in government during the Tianbao era and be

Yuwen Yu (534–May 30, 560), whose childhood name was Tongwantu, was a native of Wuchuan Garrison in Dai Commandery (present-day Wuchuan County, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia). He was the second ruler of Northern Zhou and reigned from 557 to 560. He was the eldest son by a concubine of Yuwen Tai, Grand Preceptor of Western Wei; his mother was Lady Yao. In the ninth month of 557, after the powerful minister Yuwen Hu deposed a

Yuan Qin (525–554), a native of Luoyang County in Henan Commandery (east of present-day Luoyang, Henan), was the eldest son of Yuan Baoju, Emperor Wen of Western Wei, and Empress Yifu. He was the second emperor of Western Wei. Yuan Qin was made crown prince in 535, the first year of the Datong era, and ascended the throne in 551, the seventeenth year of Datong, reigning for about three years. After his plot to remove

Yuwen Yun (559–June 22, 580), courtesy name Qianbo, was a Xianbei ruler born in Tongzhou, present-day Dali County, Shaanxi. He was the fourth emperor of Northern Zhou, reigning from June 22, 578 to April 1, 579. He was the eldest son of Emperor Wu Yuwen Yong; his mother was Li Ezi, later honored as Imperial Empress Dowager. He is known to history as Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou. Yuwen Yun was made Duke of Lu in chil

Xiao Fangzhi (543–May 5, 558), courtesy name Huixiang, was the final emperor of Southern Liang during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, known as Emperor Jing of Liang. He was the ninth son of Emperor Yuan of Liang, Xiao Yi, and his mother was Consort Xia. After Jiangling fell and Emperor Yuan was killed in 554, the third year of the Chengsheng era, Wang Sengbian and Chen Baxian supported Xiao Fangzhi as Prince of

Tuoba Kuo (537–557), whose Han Chinese name was Yuan Kuo, was a Xianbei from Luoyang, Henan, and the last emperor of Western Wei, reigning from 554 to 556. He was the fourth son of Yuan Baoju, Emperor Wen of Western Wei, and a great-great-grandson of Yuan Hong, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, through Yuan Yu and Yuan Baoju. Originally enfeoffed as King of Qi, he was enthroned in the first lunar month of 554 after Gr

Tuoba Hong (August 14, 454–July 20, 476), whose Xianbei name is recorded in the Chinese source as Didouyin and whose courtesy name was Wanmin, was a Xianbei ruler and the sixth emperor of Northern Wei during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, reigning from 465 to 471. He was the eldest son of Tuoba Jun, Emperor Wencheng, and Lady Li, posthumously Empress Yuan of Wencheng. He was born north of the Yin Mountains in 4

Gao Yin (545–561), courtesy name Zhengdao and childhood name Daoren, was a native of Tiao County in Bohai Commandery (present-day Jing County, Hebei). He was the second emperor of Northern Qi, reigning from 559 to 560, and the eldest legitimate son of Emperor Wenxuan Gao Yang. His mother was Empress Zhaoxin Li Zu'e. Gao Yin was precociously intelligent, generous and benevolent, mild and open in temperament, widely re

Gao Zhan (537–January 13, 569), childhood name Buluoji, whose ancestral home was Tiao County in Bohai Commandery (present-day Jing County, Hebei), was the fourth emperor of Northern Qi. His posthumous title was Emperor Wucheng and his temple name was Shizu. He was the ninth son of Gao Huan, Emperor Shenwu, and his mother was Empress Wuming Lou Zhaojun. During the Eastern Wei Yuanxiang era he was enfeoffed as Duke of

Liu Yu was the seventh emperor of the Southern Song dynasty, the eleventh son of Emperor Wen of Liu Song, Liu Yilong, and the half-brother of Emperor Xiaowu of Liu Song, Liu Jun. During his reign, he initially suppressed the "Yijia Crisis" instigated by Liu Zixun through military means, ending the internal fragmentation of the Southern Dynasties. He also appointed talented scholars, demonstrating a benevolent side. L

Yuanlang (513–December 26, 532), courtesy name Zhongzhe, was a native of Luoyang, Henan, and a member of the Xianbei ethnicity. He was the 15th emperor of the Northern Wei and is historically known as the "Later Deposed Emperor." Yuanlang was the great-grandson of Emperor Jingmu (Tuoba Huang) and the third son of Yuan Rong, Prince Zhangwu.

Yuan Ye (509 – December 26, 532), courtesy name Huaxing, childhood name Penzi, was a native of Luoyang, Henan, of Xianbei ethnicity. He was the thirteenth emperor of Northern Wei (reigned 530–531), the great-grandson of Emperor Jingmu Tuoba Huang, grandson of Yuan Zhen, Prince Hui of Nan'an, and second son of Yuan Yi, Prince of Fufeng. Yuan Ye had a frivolous and impetuous personality with considerable physical stren

The Chinese source cache identifies this person as a emperor associated with Northern Wei. This entry preserves the source-backed identity and records the available chronology without adding unsupported claims.

The Chinese source cache identifies this person as a historical figure associated with Tuyuhun. This entry preserves the source-backed identity and records the available chronology without adding unsupported claims.

Xi Hui (468–499), a native of Jinxian County in Gaoping Commandery, was the first wife of Xiao Yan, founding emperor of the Liang dynasty. She came from the prominent Xi clan of Gaoping and descended from the Eastern Jin statesman Xi Jian. Her grandfather Xi Shao rose to Chancellor of the Imperial University, her father Xi Ye served as a Palace Gentleman to the Crown Prince, and her mother was Princess Xunyang, a dau

Zang Aiqin (c. 361–408), a native of Ju County in Dongguan Commandery (present-day Ju County, Shandong), was the first wife of Liu Yu, Emperor Wu of Liu Song, and was posthumously honored as Empress Wujing. She came from an official family. Her grandfather Zang Wang served as a Gentleman of the Masters of Writing under the Eastern Jin, and her father Zang Jun was an Officer of Merit of Dongguan Commandery. When Zang

Yuwen Tai (507–556), courtesy name Heita, was a native of Wuchuan County in Dai Commandery, present-day Wuchuan County in Inner Mongolia, and was Xianbei. He was a prominent military commander, reformer, and statesman of the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, the effective ruler of Western Wei, and the political founder of Northern Zhou. Born into a military family of Wuchuan Garrison, he rose amid the turmoil o

Gao Huan (496–February 13, 547), whose Xianbei name was Helouhun, had his ancestral home in Tiao County, Bohai Commandery (present-day Jing County, Hebei) and was born at Huaishuo Garrison (present-day Guyang County, Inner Mongolia). He was the dominant minister of Eastern Wei during the Northern and Southern Dynasties and the founder of the political power later inherited by Northern Qi.

Xi Jin (369–448), originally surnamed Daxi, was a native of Dai Commandery and a founding general of Northern Wei. His family had long been responsible for the imperial horse administration, and his father Xi Dan was already known for physical courage in the state of Dai. In his early career, Xi Jin commanded palace guards and followed Emperor Daowu, Tuoba Gui, in campaigns against Later Yan and other groups. He even

Empress Dowager Feng (442–October 17, 490), a native of Xindu County in Changle Commandery (present-day Jizhou District, Hengshui, Hebei), descended from the royal house of Northern Yan. She was empress to Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei, Tuoba Jun, the principal mother of Emperor Xianwen, Tuoba Hong, and the principal grandmother of Emperor Xiaowen, Yuan Hong (Tuoba Hong). Born into the Changle Feng clan of the Nor

Li Chong was a core participant in Emperor Xiaowen's Northern Wei reforms and helped advance reform of official institutions, the equal-field system, and the Three Chiefs system.

Gao Cheng (521–549), courtesy name Zihui, had his ancestral home in Tiao County, Bohai Commandery (present-day Jing County, Hebei) and was born at Huaishuo Garrison (present-day Guyang County, Inner Mongolia). He was a powerful minister, politician, and military leader of Eastern Wei and one of the founders of Northern Qi. He was the legitimate eldest son of Gao Huan, later honored as Emperor Shenwu, and Empress Wumi

Empress Yuwen (d. 554), of Xianbei origin and from Wuchuan Garrison in Dai Commandery, now Wuchuan County in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, was the eldest daughter of the powerful Western Wei minister Yuwen Tai, later posthumously honored as Emperor Wen of Northern Zhou, and the empress of Emperor Fei Yuan Qin of Western Wei. She and Yuan Qin grew up together in Yuwen Tai's household from childhood and formed a close bond.