Cheng-Han

Cheng Han (成漢)
成 (304–338),
漢 (338–347)
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
• 338–343	Li Shou
• 343–347	Li Shi
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
	Jin Dynasty (266–420)
Jin Dynasty (266–420)
Today part of	China

Cheng Han (simplified Chinese: 成汉; traditional Chinese: 成漢; pinyin: Chénghàn; 303 or 304 – 347) was a dynastic state of the Sixteen Kingdoms, situated in what is modern-day Sichuan Province in China.

Cheng and Han

It represented two states, the Cheng state (成 Chéng) and the Han state (汉 Hàn). Cheng was proclaimed in 304 by Li Xiong, while Han was proclaimed in 338 by Li Shou. Since they were both ruled by the Li family of the Ba ethnicity,^[1] scholars with Chinese backgrounds often combined them into a single Cheng Han state. The Li family has also been described as being of Ba-Di ethnicity, they were originally Ba from modern Sichuan who had settled among the Di in modern Gansu.^[2] Western texts frequently referred to the two states separately. Whether the treatment is correct is debatable.

When Li Shou claimed the throne in 338, he did not acknowledge his throne as having been inherited from Li Xiong's line. While he continued to worship Li Xiong, it was done in a separate temple. However, Li Shou's son Li Shi, acknowledged the prior emperors including Li Xiong as his predecessors. Cheng Han's was the earliest establishment of the Sixteen Kingdoms.

All rulers of the Cheng Han declared themselves "emperors".

The commonly accepted founding year of Cheng has been 304. Nevertheless, Li Te declared a new era name in 303. Some scholars consider this self-declaration of era name to be a symbol of a new government. However, at that time, Li Te claimed no imperial or other special titles for himself.^{[citation needed]}

The Li family Cheng Han was eventually conquered by the Jin when Huan Wen attacked Chengdu.

Rulers of Cheng Han

Temple name	Posthumous name	Personal name	Durations of reign	Era names
Cheng 303 or 304 – 338
Shizu	Jing	Li Te	303	Jianchu (建初) or Jingchu (景初) 303
–	–	Li Liu	303	–
Taizong	Wu	Li Xiong	303–334	Jianxing (建興) 304–306 Yanping (晏平) 306–311 Yuheng (玉衡) 311–334
–	–	Li Ban	334	Yuheng (玉衡) 334
–	–	Li Qi	334–338	Yuheng (玉恆) 335–338
Han 338–347
Zhongzong	Zhaowen	Li Shou	338–343	Hanxing (漢興) 338–343
–	–	Li Shi	343–347	Taihe (太和) 343–346 Jianing (嘉寧) 346–347

Family tree

Cheng Han

Li Mu

Li Te 李特
(r. 303)

Li Liu 李流
248–303; r. 303

Li Xiang 李骧

Li Dang 李蕩
(?–303)

Li Xiong 李雄 (274–334)
Wu 武
r. 304–334

Empress Ren
任皇后

Empress Yan
閻皇后

Li Shou 李壽 (300–343)
Zhaowen 昭文
r. 338–343

Li Ban 李班 (288–334)
Aidi 哀皇帝 r. 334

Li Qi 李期 (314–d. 338)
Yōu 幽 r. 334–338

Empress Yan
閻皇后

Li Yue (?–338)

Empress Li
李皇后

Li Shi
r. 343–347; d. 361

References

Citations

^ Kleeman, 2.
^ Holcombe, Charles (2001). The Genesis of East Asia, 221 B.C.-A.D. 907. University of Hawaii Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-8248-2465-2.

Sources

Kleeman, Terry F., Great Perfection: Religion and Ethnicity in a Chinese Millennial Kingdom, ISBN 0-8248-1800-8.

[1] Kleeman, 2.

[2] Holcombe, Charles (2001). The Genesis of East Asia, 221 B.C.-A.D. 907. University of Hawaii Press. p. 24. ISBN 0-8248-2465-2.

[1]

[2]