Approximate location of the Eighteen Kingdoms.

The historiographical term "Eighteen Kingdoms" (Chinese: 十八國), also translated as "Eighteen States", refers to the eighteen fengjian states in China created by military leader Xiang Yu in 206 BCE, after the collapse of the Qin dynasty.[1] The establishment and abolishment of the Eighteen Kingdoms marked the beginning and end of a turbulent interregnum known as the Chu–Han Contention.

The details of the feudal division are as follows:

Name Name (Chinese) Ruler Areas covered (in present-day China) Fate
Western Chu西楚Xiang YuJiangsu, northern Anhui, northern Zhejiang, eastern and southern HenanDefeated by Liu Bang
Hàn漢/汉Liu BangSichuan, Chongqing, southern Shaanxi
Yong[lower-alpha 1]雍Zhang Han (Qin general)central Shaanxi, and eastern GansuDefeated by Liu Bang
Sai[lower-alpha 1]塞Sima Xin (Qin general)northeastern ShaanxiDefeated by Liu Bang
Di[lower-alpha 1]翟Dong Yi (Qin general)northern ShaanxiDefeated by Liu Bang
Hengshan衡山Wu Rui (Qin official supported by Yue tribes)eastern Hubei, JiangxiAllies with Liu Bang
Hán韓Han Cheng (Hán royalty)southwestern Henan
Zhao, briefly called Dai趙/代Zhao Xie (Zhao royalty)northern Shanxi, northwestern HebeiDefeated by Liu Bang
Henan河南Shen Yang (Zhao official)northwestern Henan
Changshan常山Zhang Er (Zhao vice chancellor)central HebeiAllies with Liu Bang
Yin殷Sima Ang (Zhao general)northern Henan, southern HebeiAllies with Liu Bang
Western Wei西魏Wei Bao (Wei royalty)southern ShanxiDefeated by Liu Bang
Jiujiang九江Ying Bu (Chu general)central and southern AnhuiAllies with Liu Bang (surrendered, originally a Chu general)
Linjiang臨江Gong Ao (Chu general)western Hubei, northern Hunan
Yan燕Zang Tu (Yan general)northern Hebei, Beijing, TianjinAllies with Liu Bang
Liaodong遼東Han Guang (Yan royalty)southern LiaoningSurrendered to Liu Bang
Qi[lower-alpha 2]齊 or 齐Tian Du (Qi general)western and central ShandongDefeated by Liu Bang
Jiaodong[lower-alpha 2]膠東Tian Fu (Qi royalty)eastern Shandong
Jibei[lower-alpha 2]濟北Tian An (Qi rebel leader)northern Shandong

The Eighteen Kingdoms were short-lived. Almost immediately rebellion broke out in Qi, after which Tian Rong conquered Jiaodong and Jibei, reuniting the old Qi state. Meanwhile, Xiang Yu had Emperor Yi of Chu and King Han Cheng of Hán killed. Thereafter, Liu Bang of Hàn conquered the lands of the Three Qins, thereby formally starting the Chu–Han Contention. Following many battles and changing alliances, Hàn defeated Chu and subdued all other kingdoms, where Liu Bang appointed vassal kings while making himself the first Emperor of the Han dynasty in 202 BCE.

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Yong, Sai and Di were collectively known as the Three Qins because they occupied the area of the former Qin state, better known as Guanzhong.
  2. 1 2 3 Jiaodong, Qi and Jibei were collectively known as the Three Qis because they occupied the area of the former Qi state.

References

  1. ↑ 林达礼，中华五千年大事记， 台南大孚书局, 1982, p. 56
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