代

Dai, also rendered as Tai and sometimes known in historiography as the Tuoba Dai (Chinese: 拓跋代), was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Tuoba clan of Xianbei descent, during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms (although it is not listed as one of the 16). It existed from AD 310 to 376, with its capital at Shengle (near modern Horinger County of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China).

The name "Dai" originated when Tuoba Yilu was appointed the Duke of Dai (代公) by the Western Jin dynasty in 310, as a reward for helping Liu Kun, the Governor of Bingzhou (并州), fight against the Han-Zhao dynasty. The fief was later promoted from a duchy to a principality in 315. Dai was conquered in 376 by the Former Qin dynasty, and its descendants later established the Northern Wei dynasty in 386.

History

Background

In 258, the Tuoba chieftain, Tuoba Liwei led his people to occupy the abandoned Han dynasty city of Shengle in Yunzhong Commandery. At Shengle, Liwei submitted to the Cao Wei and later the Western Jin, and he began subjugating neighbouring tribes to expand his influence. Despite the Tuoba's vassalage, the Jin court was wary of their growing power. Before Liwei's death in 277, the Jin sowed discord among the Tuoba chieftains and coerced Liwei into killing his heir, Tuoba Shamohan. As a result, the Tuoba were in disarray for many years after Liwei died, and when Tuoba Luguan became chieftain in 294, he decided to split the Tuoba domain into three. Luguan retained control over the east while his nephew, Tuoba Yituo held the central and his other nephew, Tuoba Yilu ruled the west.

In 304, the tribes of the Five Divisions in Bing province rebelled and established the Han-Zhao dynasty while the Jin princes were in civil war. Though divided, the Tuoba saw the newly-formed Han state as a common threat and thus cooperated with each other to provide Jin with cavalry support against them. After Tuoba Yituo and Tuoba Luguan died in succession, Tuoba Yilu was acclaimed supreme chief and reunified the Tuoba in 307. He later formed an alliance with the Jin Inspector of Bing, Liu Kun after assisting him in putting down the rebellion of the Tiefu chieftain, Liu Hu in 310.

Reign of Tuoba Yilu

Tuoba Yilu and Liu Kun became sworn brothers, and as reward for helping him, Liu Kun petitioned the Jin court to bestow Yilu the title of Duke of Dai. The Tuoba became a vital fighting force for Jin in their war against Han, with Liu Kun being almost entirely dependent on their military strength. Shortly after attaining his fief, Yilu forced Liu Kun to grant him five counties north of the mountain ranges. In 312, after Liu Kun lost his capital, Jinyang, Yilu sent his forces to successfully reclaim it for him. For his services, the Jin court elevated Yilu's title to Prince of Dai and allowed him to grant offices to his subordinates in 315.

Yilu showed preference towards his younger son, Tuoba Biyan (拓跋比延), which upset his older son, Tuoba Liuxiu (拓跋六脩). In 316, after Liuxiu refused to take orders from his father, Yilu led his troops to punish him but was instead killed in battle. Dai was entered a state of confusion, with its people suspecting and killing one another or fleeing the state. Yilu's nephew, Tuoba Pugen managed to kill Liuxiu and proclaimed himself the new Prince of Dai, but he was unable to put an end to the crisis.