A Concise History of China: An Overview of the Sixteen Kingdoms and Their Emperors

Since Qin Shi Huang unified China, emperors, as the country’s supreme rulers, have often concentrated state power in their own hands and played a central role in major decisions, events, and matters of national interest. Anyone reading or studying China’s feudal history can gain a broad understanding of a dynasty’s historical course and key developments by learning systematically about its emperors: when they ruled, the order of succession, how power changed hands, and their principal achievements and failings. This book aims to meet readers’ needs by presenting the succession, reigns, and major achievements and failings of the emperors of the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Five Barbarians in a concise, systematic, and coherent way. Before introducing each dynasty and emperor, it briefly outlines the dynasty’s founding circumstances, territory, duration, line of succession, historical contributions, and lessons from its downfall. This gives readers a clear, basic understanding of each dynasty and its emperors, helping them quickly learn the relevant history, broaden their knowledge, and explore the succession of imperial power and the patterns of social change and development.