Cheng-Han facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cheng-Han (成漢) 成 (304–338), 漢 (338–347)
304–347
Cheng-Han (Cheng) in southwestern China
Capital	Chengdu
Common languages	Ba–Shu Chinese
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• 304–334	Li Xiong
• 334	Li Ban
• 334–338	Li Qi
History
• Li Te's proclamation of era name "Jianchu" (建初)	303
• Li Xiong's claim of princely title	304
• Li Xiong's claim of imperial title	306
• Name change to Han	338
• Disestablished	347
• Li Shi's death	361
Currency	Chinese cash coins (Ancient Chinese coinage)
Preceded by Succeeded by Western Jin Eastern Jin
Today part of	China

Cheng-Han (simplified Chinese: 成汉; traditional Chinese: 成漢; pinyin: Chéng Hàn) was an ancient Chinese kingdom. It existed from 304 to 347 AD. Historians list it as one of the Sixteen Kingdoms of China. The Li family, who were part of the Ba-Di people, ruled this kingdom. Its land was mostly in what is now Sichuan Province, China.

The name Cheng-Han combines two parts:

• Cheng (成), or Dacheng (大成), started by Li Xiong in 304 AD.
• Han (漢), started by Li Shou in 338 AD.

Sometimes, people also call it Later Shu (後蜀).

History of Cheng-Han

How Cheng-Han Began

The Li family originally came from a group called the Cong people. They lived in a place called Baxi Commandery in Sichuan. In 215 AD, a powerful leader named Cao Cao took over Hanzhong. The Li family, led by Li Hu, gave up and moved to Lüeyang. There, they mixed with local Di tribes. This is how they became known as the Ba-Di people. "Ba" was the name of their old homeland.

In 296 AD, a Di leader named Qi Wannian started a rebellion. This rebellion caused a lot of damage in the Guanzhong region. Many people, both Han Chinese and other groups, fled south. They went to Hanzhong and Sichuan to escape the fighting.

The Li family became important among these refugees. In 299 AD, a local official named Zhao Xin rebelled against the Western Jin dynasty. The Li family joined him and became important generals. But later, they turned against Zhao Xin. In 300 AD, they took control of Chengdu, the main city in the region.

Li Te, a leader of the Li family, then agreed to work with the Jin dynasty. This happened when a new Jin official, Luo Shang, arrived with his army. From this point on, Li Te spoke for all the important refugee families in the area.

The Start of the Rebellion

Problems grew between Li Te and Luo Shang. The Jin government ordered the refugees to go back to their homes. But the refugees did not want to go. They heard that the north was still dangerous. Li Te tried to get Luo Shang to let them stay longer. But Luo Shang got tired of waiting. He tried to force the refugees to move.

In 301 AD, Luo Shang's soldiers attacked the refugees. This attack started Li Te's rebellion.

The Cheng Kingdom (304–338 AD)

Li Te was very successful against the Jin forces. In 303 AD, he reached the edge of Chengdu. Soon after, he announced a new "reign era." This showed he planned to start his own kingdom. But then, he was suddenly killed in a surprise attack.

His brother, Li Liu, took over after him. Then, Li Te's son, Li Xiong, became the leader. In 304 AD, Li Xiong drove Luo Shang out of Chengdu. He then declared himself the King of Chengdu. Most historians see this as the start of the Cheng-Han dynasty. Some think it began earlier with Li Te's announcement. Either way, Cheng was the first of the Sixteen Kingdoms to be founded.

In 306 AD, Li Xiong made himself the Emperor of Cheng. Luo Shang continued to fight from another city, Chongqing. But after Luo Shang died in 310 AD, the Jin forces became disorganized. This allowed Cheng to defeat them and secure their rule.

Cheng became a safe place for people escaping the chaos in northern China. Some of these people became officials in Cheng's government. For example, in 314 AD, a group of rebels in Hanzhong gave their land to Cheng. Li Xiong and his family followed a religion called the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice. This religion, a type of Taoism, was popular in Sichuan. Li Xiong even made a Taoist wise man, Fan Changsheng, his Prime Minister. Fan Changsheng's son, Fan Ben, later took his place.

For most of his time as ruler, Li Xiong kept peace and stability in his kingdom. But problems started after he died in 334 AD. Li Xiong wanted his nephew, Li Ban, to be the next ruler. Li Ban was the son of Li Xiong's older brother, Li Dang. This decision made Li Xiong's own sons angry.

The Cheng government was also divided. Many Han Chinese officials worked for Cheng. The Eastern Jin dynasty was strong in the east. Some officials thought Cheng should become a smaller state under Jin. Others wanted Cheng to stay fully independent. In 334 AD, shortly after becoming ruler, Li Ban was killed. Li Xiong's son, Li Qi, took the throne instead.

The Han Kingdom (338–347 AD)

In 338 AD, Li Qi's cousin, Li Shou, forced Li Qi to give up the throne. Li Shou then became the new ruler. Li Shou changed the kingdom's name from Cheng to Han. He did this to show he was different from Li Xiong's family. This is why historians call the two kingdoms together "Cheng-Han."

Li Shou first promised to rule for only a few years. He also said he would then submit to the Jin dynasty. This was to make the court happy. But he soon broke his promises. Instead, he ruled like the Later Zhao dynasty in the north. He made laws stricter, increased taxes, and forced people to do unpaid work for the government. He also built very fancy palaces.

Li Shou died in 343 AD. His son, Li Shi, became the next ruler. Li Shi's time as ruler was full of problems. There was a big argument about who should be the next ruler. One of his generals led a rebellion. Also, many Rau people suddenly moved into his land.

The problems in Han caught the attention of a Jin general named Huan Wen. He wanted to become more famous and powerful. In 346 AD, Huan Wen started a campaign to conquer Han. In 347 AD, he reached Chengdu and forced Li Shi to give up. This ended the Cheng-Han dynasty. Li Shi was sent to Jiankang, the Jin capital. He lived there until he died naturally in 361 AD.

Rulers of Cheng-Han

Family Tree

See also

• Ba
• Di (Wu Hu)
• List of past Chinese ethnic groups
• Wu Hu
• Sixteen Kingdoms
• Huan Wen
• Sichuan
• Eight Immortals from Sichuan