Editing Han-Zhao (section)

=== Five Divisions ===
Following the break-up of the [[Xiongnu Empire]] in the 1st century, the Southern Xiongnu branch surrendered to the Han dynasty and were resettled in the northern border commanderies. Under their ''[[chanyu]]'', the Southern Xiongnu acted as a Han vassal state, providing assistance in defending the frontiers from nomadic forces. They settled down and fully took up agriculture, but kept a few aspects of their former nomadic lifestyle such as [[horse breeding]]. Relations with the Han were often times unstable with poor living conditions on the borders and the Chinese court meddling in their politics leading to several rebellions. In 188, just as the Han dynasty was about to fall into political turmoil, the Southern Xiongnu collapsed after dissenters within their ranks –allied with the rebelling [[Xiuchuge]] people– expelled their Han-backed ''chanyu'' and dissolved his government.<ref name="Taskin">Taskin V.S. ''"Materials on the history of nomadic peoples in China. 3rd – 5th cc. AD.  Issue 2.  Jie"'', Moscow, Oriental Literature, 1990, pp. 14–15, {{ISBN|5-02-016543-3}}</ref>{{rp|14–15}}

In 216, after the warlord, [[Cao Cao]] unified northern China, he had the exiled ''chanyu'', [[Huchuquan]] detained as an honoured prisoner at [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]]. He then reorganized what remained of the Southern Xiongnu into the Five Divisions around [[Taiyuan Commandery]] in [[Bingzhou|Bing province]]. Each division was led by a commander, who were nobles from the tribes and were in turn supervised by a Chinese marshal. Huchuquan's uncle, [[Qubei]] was also sent to oversee the Five Divisions. No new ''chanyu'' was proclaimed after Huchuquan died, and the Five Divisions remained subservient to the [[Cao Wei]] dynasty.

During the [[Cao Fang|Jiaping era]] (249–254), the Five Divisions became a concern for the Chinese court as the Commander of the Left Division, [[Liu Bao]] unified them and was mobilizing a great army. The Wei and later the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)|Western Jin]] intervened, gradually forcing them back into five. Five Divisions nobility had to send their children as hostages to the capital, [[Luoyang]], including Liu Bao's son, [[Liu Yuan (Han-Zhao)|Liu Yuan]]. [[Sinicization]] was evident among the elites; Liu Yuan became proficient in the [[Chinese classics|Confucianist classics]] and befriended members of the Chinese aristocracy such as the [[Wang clan of Taiyuan]]. He was even considered for the post of commander of the Jin forces for the [[Conquest of Wu by Jin|conquest of Eastern Wu]] but was later dismissed because of his ethnicity.

Nonetheless, among the Five Divisions, a sense of separate identity from the Chinese was retained. Discontent towards Jin rule and of their subordinate position prompted them to seek an independent or self-governing entity. As one of the elites, [[Liu Xuan (Han-Zhao)|Liu Xuan]], puts it:{{Blockquote|text=“In the past, our ancestors and those of the Han acted like brothers through joy and sorrow. However, since the fall of Han and the rise of Wei and Jin, our titles of ''chanyus'' hold no value, and we have not gained a foot of land since. Although we have been bestowed with many noble ranks, our [[Hukou|households]] are all equally low."}}

After Liu Bao's death, Liu Yuan returned to the Five Divisions and inherited his position. Liu Yuan's lineage is debated by scholars. The traditional view states that he was the grandson of the penultimate ''chanyu'', [[Chizhi Shizhu Hou|Yufuluo]], and thus a direct descendant of the imperial [[Luandi]] clan. However, some modern historians have challenged this claim, pointing out discrepancies within the records. Liu Yuan and his family were referred to in several passages as [[Chuge]], also known as the Xiuchuge people that overthrew the Southern Xiongnu ''chanyu'' in 188. These historians speculate that Liu Yuan had fabricated his lineage to the ''chanyu'' for legitimacy when he rebelled.<ref>Tang, Changru (December 2010). "〈魏晋杂胡考 一 屠各〉". ''《魏晋南北朝史论丛》'' (in Chinese). Beijing: [[Commercial Press]]. {{ISBN|9787100074513}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Yong |date=2007 |title=去卑监国的败局与屠各刘豹的崛起 |url=http://www.wenxue100.com/BaoKan/79570.thtml |access-date=10 October 2023 |website=Wenxue100}}</ref>