Biography
Family Background and Early Life
Qifu Guoren's family had for generations led the Xianbei Qifu tribe. The tribe had originally roamed north of the Gobi before moving south toward Taiyin Mountain. In the early Taishi era of Emperor Wu of Jin, his sixth-generation ancestor Qifu Youlin led 50,000 households to settle at Gaoping River, after which the tribe continued migrating south. His fifth-generation ancestor, QiFuJie Quan, moved to Qiuntun Mountain, and his great-great-grandfather, QiFuShu Yan, later moved to Yuanchuan. After Shi Le of Later Zhao destroyed Liu Yao's Former Zhao, his grandfather QiFuNuDaHan, fearing Later Zhao's power, moved to Maitian Yuangu Mountain. By the time of his father Qifu Sifan, repeated attacks and plundering by Shi Hu of Later Zhao forced the tribe gradually southward into Longxi, where it settled at Dujian Mountain among Han Chinese communities. The Qifu Xianbei therefore also became known as the Longxi Xianbei.
In 371, Qifu Sifan was defeated by Fu Jian, Emperor Xuanzhao of Former Qin, and Qifu Guoren followed his father and their people in surrendering. Qifu Sifan rose to General Who Pacifies the West under Former Qin, was made Southern Chanyu, and guarded Yongshi River. When he died in 376, Qifu Guoren succeeded to his position and continued to guard Yongshi River, in the area of present-day Xiaguanying, Yuzhong County, Gansu.
Rising with the Opportunity
In 383, Fu Jian, ruler of Former Qin, launched a major invasion of Eastern Jin and initiated the Battle of Fei River. He appointed Qifu Guoren Front General and placed him in command of the vanguard cavalry. At that moment Qifu Guoren's uncle Qifu Butui rebelled in Longxi, and Fu Jian ordered Qifu Guoren to return and suppress him. Qifu Butui was delighted to hear that his nephew was coming and went out to meet him. At a banquet Qifu Guoren declared that Fu Jian had overextended his state through warfare and distant conquest, burdening the people and provoking resentment; in his judgment the coming campaign was likely to fail, and he intended to seize the opportunity to establish a regional power with his followers. After Former Qin suffered a disastrous defeat at Fei River, Qifu Guoren compelled neighboring groups to submit, attacking and absorbing those who refused, until his following exceeded 100,000 people.
In August 385, Fu Jian was killed by Yao Chang. Qifu Guoren told his leading retainers that the fall of the Fu clan despite its former strength showed the turning of Heaven's will, and that a capable man should act when circumstances changed. In September he styled himself Grand Commander, General-in-Chief, and Grand Chanyu, concurrently assumed the governorships of Qin and He provinces, founded the Western Qin polity, adopted the era name Jianyi, and established his capital at Yongshi River.
Founding Institutions
After establishing Western Qin, Qifu Guoren began constructing a governing framework. He appointed Yizhan Yinni as Left Chancellor, Wuyin Chuzhi as Right Chancellor, Dugu Piti as Left Assistant, Wuqun Yongshi as Right Assistant, and his younger brother Qifu Gangui as Senior General, while making other appointments according to rank. He established twelve commanderies—Wucheng, Wuyang, Angu, Wushi, Hanyang, Tianshui, Lueyang, Qiangchuan, Gansong, Kuangpeng, Baima, and Yuanchuan—and built Yongshi City as the capital.
At the outset the new state was surrounded by enemies. In January 386, Bi Yi, a local notable of Nan'an, and allied Qiang groups attacked Western Qin from several directions. Qifu Guoren argued that striking first would break the enemy's resolve and that an apparently weak force could be used to induce overconfidence. He therefore led 5,000 troops in a surprise assault and inflicted a major defeat, forcing Bi Yi back to Nan'an. In July, Bi Yi and his younger brother Mohouti surrendered with more than 30,000 households. Qifu Guoren appointed Bi Yi Inspector of Eastern Qin Province and Mohouti Inspector of Liang Province.
Period as Prince of Yuanchuan
In March 387, Fu Deng, ruler of Former Qin, sent envoys appointing Qifu Guoren Bearer of Credentials, Grand Commander, Commander of the Various Non-Han Peoples, General-in-Chief, Grand Chanyu, and Prince of Yuanchuan. Qifu Guoren accepted the titles, retaining a nominal relationship of subordination while remaining effectively independent.
That June, he led 30,000 cavalry against the Xianbei leaders Mi Gui, Yugou, and Tilen at Liuquan. In July, the Gaoping Xianbei leader Moyigan and the Donghu leader Jin Xi attacked jointly. The armies met at Kehun River, where Qifu Guoren decisively defeated them, killing 3,000 men and capturing 5,000 horses. Moyigan and Jin Xi fled, while the three Xianbei groups, frightened by the defeat, surrendered. Qifu Guoren appointed Mi Gui General of Jianyi and Lord of Liuquan, Yugou General of Jianzhong and Lord of Lanquan, and Tilen General of Jianjie and Lord of Mingquan.
In the same year, his General Jianwei Chilu Wuguba rebelled and occupied Qiuntun Mountain. Qifu Guoren led 7,000 cavalry against him, killed his subordinate Chiluo Hou, and received the surrender of more than 1,000 households. Chilu Wuguba then submitted and was restored to office.
In April 388, Qifu Guoren campaigned against the Xianbei leader Yuezhi Chili at Pingxiang and decisively defeated him, capturing his son Jiegui, his nephew Fuban, and more than 5,000 members of his tribe. Qifu Guoren died in June after a four-year reign and was given the posthumous title Prince Xuanlie and the temple name Liezu.
After his death, the ministers judged his son Qifu Gongfu too young to rule and therefore acclaimed his younger brother Qifu Gangui as Grand Commander, General-in-Chief, Grand Chanyu, and Prince of Henan. Qifu Gangui adopted the era name Taichu.