Northern and Southern dynasties

Lore & Background

During this period, the process of sinicization accelerated among the non-Han ethnicities in the north and the indigenous peoples in the south, accompanied by the increasing popularity of Buddhism in both northern and southern China. Daoism gained influence as well, with two essential Daoist canons written during this period. The invention of the stirrup during the earlier Jin dynasty (266–420 AD) helped spur the development of heavy cavalry. Historians also note advances in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and cartography. Intellectuals include the mathematician and astronomer Zu Chongzhi (429–500 AD) and astronomer Tao Hongjing (456–536 AD). The Northern dynasties began in 439 when the Northern Wei conquered the Northern Liang and united the north, ending in 589 when the Sui dynasty conquered the Chen dynasty. The Northern, Eastern, and Western Weis as well as the Northern Zhou were established by the Xianbei people, while the Northern Qi was established by a Xianbei-influenced ethnic Han. In the north, local ethnic Han gentry clans responded to the chaos by constructing fortified villages, carving de facto fiefs out of these highly cohesive family-based self-defense communities. Northern gentry were highly militarized compared to their refined southern counterparts, a distinction persisting into the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Reader's Guide

The Northern and Southern dynasties represent a pivotal era of fragmentation that nonetheless fostered significant cultural and technological development. The period's political chaos allowed for the spread of Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism, and the sinicization of non-Han peoples reshaped northern society. Technological advances, such as the stirrup invented during the earlier Jin dynasty, transformed warfare, while intellectuals like Zu Chongzhi advanced mathematics and astronomy. The militarized northern gentry, who built fortified villages, contrasted with their refined southern counterparts, a distinction that persisted into the Sui and Tang dynasties. The Northern dynasties included the Northern Wei (386–535), Eastern and Western Wei, Northern Qi, and Northern Zhou. Under Emperor Taiwu, the Northern Wei united northern China in 439, ending the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Emperor Taiwu proscribed Buddhism — the first of the Three Disasters of Wu — after the Gai Wu rebellion. Widespread social and cultural transformation came with Emperor Xiaowen, who reigned from 471–499.

Did You Know?

• The Northern and Southern dynasties period lasted from 420 to 589 AD.
• The invention of the stirrup during the earlier Jin dynasty (266–420 AD) helped spur the development of heavy cavalry.
• Mathematician and astronomer Zu Chongzhi lived from 429 to 500 AD.
• Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei proscribed Buddhism in the first of the Three Disasters of Wu.
• The Northern Qi was established by a Xianbei-influenced ethnic Han.