kingdom · China, Tibet and Mongolia

Dai (Sixteen Kingdoms)

310 CE – 376 CE · capital Shengle

The Tuoba Xianbei principality on the Inner Mongolian frontier that the Former Qin destroyed in 376 and that was reborn ten years later as the Northern Wei.

Origins

The Tuoba were a Xianbei confederation who moved into the area of modern Hohhot. Their chief Tuoba Yilu helped the Jin general Liu Kun against Han Zhao, and in return the Western Jin made him Duke of Dai in 310 and Prince of Dai in 315. His centre was Shengle, near modern Horinger in Inner Mongolia.

Rule and society

Dai remained a tribal confederation of herders, although Chinese advisers and captives brought farming and writing. Tuoba Shiyijian, who had spent years as a hostage at the Later Zhao court, created officials, written laws and a more settled capital during his long reign from 338.

Decline and legacy

In 376 the Former Qin ruler Fu Jian invaded, Shiyijian died amid family violence, and Dai was divided. After Former Qin collapsed, his grandson Tuoba Gui restored Dai in 386 and soon renamed it the Northern Wei, which reunified northern China.

Lineage

Dai (Sixteen Kingdoms)Northern Wei 386 CE – 535 CE

Connections (2)

  • Dai (Sixteen Kingdoms) was a vassal of Western Jin310 CE – 316 CE
  • Dai (Sixteen Kingdoms) was conquered by Former Qin376 CE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Dai (Sixteen Kingdoms). In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/dai-sixteen-kingdoms
MLA
“Dai (Sixteen Kingdoms).” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/dai-sixteen-kingdoms. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Dai (Sixteen Kingdoms).” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/dai-sixteen-kingdoms.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Dai (Sixteen Kingdoms)’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/dai-sixteen-kingdoms (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻