A Study Of The Qiang People In Xichuan In The Northern And Southern Dynasties

From Northern Dynasties to Sui and Tang Dynasties, ancient Qiang people of Jiannan-Xichuan(剑南西川),including Dangchang(宕昌),Dengzhi(邓至),Tangut and Bailan(白兰)etc., lived in vast region as the center of northwestern part of Sichuan province today and southwest part of Gansu province today. They located successively in border of Northern and Southern Dynasties or Tang Empire and ancient Tibet Empire. This geographical position and strategic value were very unique. The ancient ethnic group not only affected history evolution and regional culture of 4-10 centuries China, but also was a mirror of research in the relations of the ethnic groups in Chinese ancient history.Through Wei and Jin Dynasties, ancient Qiang people that living on the vast crescent land gradually divided into two branches of north and south. On the one hand, the north branch of the ancient Qiang people have been finished great migration on Yellow River Basin in 4th century. The other hand, the south branch of ancient Qiang people (Kingdom of Dangchang) were taking shape a "west line three kingdoms" system with other ancient kingdoms—Tuyuhun(吐谷浑)and Chouchi(仇池).The system were an important part of "western cultural three regions" pattern, include Yizhou(益州),Jingzhou(荆州)and Guanzhong关中).At the same time, those were some legacies of history of Sixteen Kingdoms and background of unity of Sui and Tang Dynasties.Yizhou and Guanzhong were unified by Yuwen Family in Western Wei and Northern Zhou Dynasties, so Dangchang Kingdom lost significant geographical and strategic value as "neutral-buffer zone". After Liang Family’s Dangchang Kingdom was destroyed, other members of ancient Qiang people gradually gathered to Tuoba(拓跋)Family’s Tangut tribe. This was second gold stage of ancient Qiang ethnic group’s history between Tuguhun was conquered and rose of ancient Tibet Empire. Behind "west line three kingdoms" and "western cultural three regions" were both disappeared, the Jiannan-Xichuan’s ancient Qiang people involved in the large historical upheaval between the ancient Tibetan and Chinese peoples.The Guanzhong departmentalism-policy performed realistic stage from romantic stage after the An-Shi Rebellion. At the same time, the Jiannan-Xichuan’s ancient Qiang people began second great migration by Tang government’s organization. Faced to strong interracial integration capability of ancient Tibet Empire, Tang Dynasty adjusted central concept of national defense plan from land to population. The difference of two great migrations was that the last time behind differentiation of northern and southern parts, however this time before second differentiation. Tangut had entered north China and finally disappeared in the river of ethnical integration as the north branch of the ancient Qiang people in 4th century. New southern part of Qiang people that have staying Sichuan province’s west area until now.