Armored warrior figurines from the Sixteen Kingdoms period (collected by Xi'an Museum)
The Sixteen Kingdoms (304-439 AD) was a period of great division in Chinese history. This period began in 304 when Li Xiong and Liu Yuan respectively established Chengguo (Chenghan) in the Han region of Bashu and Han Zhao (Former Zhao) in the Central Plains, and lasted until 439 when Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, Tuoba Tao, conquered Beiliang and unified the north.
