Editing Five Barbarians (section)

=== Xianbei ===
{{main|Xianbei}}

When the Xiongnu empire defeated them in the 3rd century BC, the [[Donghu people|Donghu]] people splintered into the [[Xianbei]] and [[Wuhuan]]. The Xianbei began occupying the [[Mongolian Plateau|Mongolian plateau]] in around 93 AD after the Northern Xiongnu were forced to the northwest by the Han dynasty. In the mid-2nd century, the chieftain, [[Tanshihuai]] unified the Xianbei and launched incessant raids on the Han's northern borders. Following his death, however, his descendants failed to maintain the support of the chieftains and his confederation fell apart. In the northeast, several Xianbei tribes near the border became Chinese vassals and were allowed to live within the [[Great Wall of China|Great Wall]] such as the [[Murong]] and [[Tuoba]] tribes after the defeat of the [[Wuhuan]] at the [[Battle of White Wolf Mountain]] in 207. Others migrated west to live around the [[Hexi Corridor]], with a branch of the Murong even subjugating the [[Qiang (historical people)|Qiang]] people of [[Qinghai]] and founding the [[Tuyuhun]].

At the height of the [[War of the Eight Princes|Jin princely civil wars]], the Inspector of [[Youzhou (ancient China)|You province]], [[Wang Jun (Pengzu)|Wang Jun]] allied himself with the local Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes, most notably the [[Duan tribe|Duan]]-Xianbei who was granted a dukedom in Liaoxi Commandery for their services. The Xianbei were a deciding factor in the civil wars, and when the [[Han-Zhao]] broke away from Jin, the Tuoba joined forces with Jin and were also given a dukedom in [[Dai Commandery]]. Meanwhile, the [[Murong]] in [[Liaodong Peninsula|Liaodong]], isolated from the conflicts of the Central Plains, expanded their influence in the region by providing refuge to fleeing Chinese officials and peasants. As the Jin were pushed out of northern China, however, the Xianbei distanced themselves from Jin and established full autonomy over their fiefdoms.

The Xianbei founded several states during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. The Murong were a prominent player during this period, as they founded the [[Former Yan]], [[Later Yan]], [[Western Yan]] and [[Southern Yan]] that ruled over the [[Zhongyuan|Central Plains]]. After the [[Battle of Fei River]], the Qifu and Tufa tribes in the Hexi founded the [[Western Qin]] and [[Southern Liang (Sixteen Kingdoms)|Southern Liang]], respectively, competing for control over the region among themselves and other rival claimants. Most importantly, the Tuoba of [[Dai (Sixteen Kingdoms)|Dai]] later founded the [[Northern Wei|Northern Wei dynasty]], which reunified the north in 439 and ushered China into the [[Northern and Southern dynasties|Northern and Southern dynasties period]].