Cheng and Han

It represented two states, the Cheng state (成 Chéng) and the Han state (汉 Hàn). Cheng was proclaimed in 304 by Li Xiong, while Han was proclaimed in 338 by Li Shou. Since they were both ruled by the Li family of the Ba ethnicity, scholars with Chinese backgrounds often combined them into a single Cheng Han state. The Li family has also been described as being of Ba-Di ethnicity, they were originally Ba from modern Sichuan who had settled among the Di in modern Gansu. Western texts frequently referred to the two states separately. Whether the treatment is correct is debatable.

When Li Shou claimed the throne in 338, he did not acknowledge his throne as having been inherited from Li Xiong's line. While he continued to worship Li Xiong, it was done in a separate temple. However, Li Shou's son Li Shi, acknowledged the prior emperors including Li Xiong as his predecessors. Cheng Han's was the earliest establishment of the Sixteen Kingdoms.

All rulers of the Cheng Han declared themselves "emperors".

The commonly accepted founding year of Cheng has been 304. Nevertheless, Li Te declared a new era name in 303. Some scholars consider this self-declaration of era name to be a symbol of a new government. However, at that time, Li Te claimed no imperial or other special titles for himself.

The Li family Cheng Han was eventually conquered by the Jin when Huan Wen attacked Chengdu.

Rulers of Cheng Han

Family tree

建国历史

在成汉建国之前，李雄之父李特就在益州发展势力。297年，李特率领关中流民团南下汉中。302年，李特招集流民团起兵，自称为使持节、大都督、镇北大将军，第二年定年号建初元年（因此有人认为303年也可作为建国年）。率军攻打成都，益州刺史罗尚拒守，李特败亡，其弟李流继续统领流民作战，然不久后病死。李特之子李雄继位，并于304年攻下成都，开始称王，国号「大成」，年号建兴。

334年，李雄病死，其兄之子李班继位，不久之后李雄之子李期即杀李班自立。338年，李骧之子李寿又杀了李期自立为帝，将国号改为「汉」。大修宫殿，生活奢侈荒淫，人民受到严酷的徭役压迫。李寿死后，其子李势继位，大肆杀伐，国势更加衰弱。347年，东晋桓温率兵入蜀，李势投降，成汉灭亡，立国共44年，两年后残馀力量也被东晋消灭。

国号

其国号先为「成」，史书也有称「大成」，或以为「大」是尊称。国号「成」来自于成都这个地名，也有说是袭用公孙述的旧称（成家）。后李特弟李骧之子汉王李寿发动兵变夺取政权，改国号为「汉」，史书上又合称为「成汉」，以区别于其他称为「汉」的政权。又其统治地区主要为益州的蜀地，故又被一些史书称为「蜀」（例如《十六国春秋·蜀录》）。《晋书》又称之为「后蜀」，以别于三国时期刘备的前蜀，唐代以后，已基本不使用「后蜀」来指称，而专用作五代十国时期后蜀政权的专称。

成汉君主列表

世系图