Former Liang
The Former Liang (Chinese: 前涼; pinyin: Qián Liáng; 320–376) was a dynastic state, one of the Sixteen Kingdoms, in Chinese history. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han ethnicity. Its territories included present-day Gansu and parts of Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang.
Former Liang (前涼) 西平, 涼 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 320–376 | |||||||||
 Former Liang in the northwest | |||||||||
| Status | Vassal of Eastern Jin, Han Zhao, Later Zhao, Former Qin | ||||||||
| Capital | Guzang | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Prince | |||||||||
• 320–324 | Zhang Mao | ||||||||
• 324–346 | Zhang Jun | ||||||||
• 346–353 | Zhang Chonghua | ||||||||
• 353–355 | Zhang Zuo | ||||||||
• 355–363 | Zhang Xuanjing | ||||||||
• 364–376 | Zhang Tianxi | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Zhang Gui's creation as Duke of Xiping | 4 March 314[1][2] | ||||||||
• Zhang Mao's issuance of general pardon, usually viewed as establishment | 320 | ||||||||
• Zhang Mao's acceptance of Prince of Liang title | 323 | ||||||||
• Zhang Zuo's formal rejection of Eastern Jin suzerainty | 354 | ||||||||
• Zhang Xuanjing's formal acceptance of Eastern Jin suzerainty | 361 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 26 September[3][4] 376 | ||||||||
• Zhang Tianxi's death | 406 | ||||||||
| Currency | Chinese coin, Chinese cash (Wu Zhu) | ||||||||
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| Today part of | China Kyrgyzstan Mongolia | ||||||||
All rulers of the Former Liang remained largely titularly under the court of the Eastern Jin dynasty as the Duke of Xiping except Zhang Zuo who proclaimed himself wang (prince/king). However, at times the other Former Liang rulers also used the wang title when imposed on them when they were forced to submit to their powerful neighbour states—initially the Han-Zhao, then the Later Zhao, and finally the Former Qin.
The official year of Former Liang's establishment is up to interpretation, as the early rulers did not explicitly declare their independence. Among the commonly accepted years are 301 (when Zhang Gui became Inspector of Liang province and gradually gained autonomy over the region), 318 (when Zhang Shi continued to use Emperor Min of Jin's reign era, Jianxing, despite Emperor Yuan changing it) and 320 (when Zhang Mao declared a general amnesty in his domain).
In 327, the Gaochang commandery was created by the Former Liang under Zhang Jun. After this, significant Han settlement occurred in Gaochang, a major, large part of the population becoming Han.[5]
In 376, the final ruler of Former Liang Zhang Tianxi surrendered to Former Qin, ending the state. However, in the aftermath of Former Qin's defeat at the Battle of Fei River in 383 and Emperor Fu Jian's death in 385, the general Lü Guang who controlled of the region declared his own era name for 386, thus establishing the Later Liang.
Also in 386, Zhang Tianxi's son Zhang Dayu 張大豫 claimed governorship of Liang province, and tried to re-establish Former Liang with the aid of Wang Mu (王穆), who was the Colonel of the Chang River Regiment (長水校尉) under Former Qin. In the autumn of 387 however, Lü Guang defeated and executed Zhang Dayu.
Rulers of the Former Liang
| Posthumous names | Family names and given name | Durations of reigns | Era names and their according durations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheng | Zhang Mao | 320–324 | Yongyuan 永元 320–324 |
| Zhongcheng | Zhang Jun | 324–346 | Taiyuan 太元 324–346 |
| Huan | Zhang Chonghua | 346–353 | Yongle 永樂 346–353 |
| – | Zhang Yaoling | 353 | – |
| King Wei | Zhang Zuo | 353–355 | Jin era names |
| Jingdao | Zhang Xuanjing | 355–363 | Jin era names |
| Dao | Zhang Tianxi | 364–376 | Taiqing 太清 364–376 |
Rulers family tree
| Former Liang rulers family tree | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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See also
References
- "中央研究院網站".
- Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 89.
- "中央研究院網站".
- Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 104.
- Society for the Study of Chinese Religions (U.S.), Indiana University, Bloomington. East Asian Studies Center (2002). Journal of Chinese religions, Issues 30-31. the University of California: Society for the Study of Chinese Religions. p. 24. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Society for the Study of Chinese Religions (U.S.), Indiana University, Bloomington. East Asian Studies Center (2002). Journal of Chinese religions, Issues 30-31. the University of California: Society for the Study of Chinese Religions. p. 24. Retrieved May 17, 2011.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)