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The historiographical term "Eighteen Kingdoms" (Chinese:十八國), also translated as "Eighteen States", refers to the eighteenfengjian states inChina created by military leaderXiang Yu in 206 BCE, after the collapse of theQin dynasty.[1] The establishment and abolishment of the Eighteen Kingdoms marked the beginning and end of a turbulentinterregnum known as theChu–Han Contention.
The details of the feudal division are as follows:
| Name | Name (Chinese) | Ruler | Areas covered (in present-day China) | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Chu | 西楚 | Xiang Yu | Jiangsu, northernAnhui, northernZhejiang, eastern and southernHenan | Defeated by Liu Bang |
| Hàn | 漢/汉 | Liu Bang | Sichuan,Chongqing, southernShaanxi | |
| Yong[a] | 雍 | Zhang Han (Qin general) | centralShaanxi, and eastern Gansu | Defeated by Liu Bang |
| Sai[a] | 塞 | Sima Xin (Qin general) | northeasternShaanxi | Defeated by Liu Bang |
| Di(zhai)[a] | 翟 | Dong Yi (Qin general) | northernShaanxi | Defeated by Liu Bang |
| Hengshan | 衡山 | Wu Rui (Qin official supported by Yue tribes) | easternHubei,Jiangxi | Allies with Liu Bang |
| Hán | 韓 | Han Cheng (Hán royalty) | southwesternHenan | |
| Zhao, briefly calledDai | 趙/代 | Zhao Xie (Zhao royalty) | northernShanxi, northwesternHebei | Defeated by Liu Bang |
| Henan | 河南 | Shen Yang (Zhao official) | northwesternHenan | |
| Changshan | 常山 | Zhang Er (Zhao vice chancellor) | centralHebei | Allies with Liu Bang |
| Yin | 殷 | Sima Ang (Zhao general) | northernHenan, southernHebei | Allies with Liu Bang |
| Western Wei | 西魏 | Wei Bao (Wei royalty) | southernShanxi | Defeated by Liu Bang |
| Jiujiang | 九江 | Ying Bu (Chu general) | central and southernAnhui | Allies with Liu Bang (surrendered, originally a Chu general) |
| Linjiang | 臨江 | Gong Ao (Chu general) | westernHubei, northernHunan | |
| Yan | 燕 | Zang Tu (Yan general) | northernHebei,Beijing,Tianjin | Allies with Liu Bang |
| Liaodong | 遼東 | Han Guang (Yan royalty) | southernLiaoning | Surrendered to Liu Bang |
| Qi[b] | 齊 or 齐 | Tian Du (Qi general) | western and centralShandong | Defeated by Liu Bang |
| Jiaodong[b] | 膠東 | Tian Fu (Qi royalty) | easternShandong | |
| Jibei[b] | 濟北 | Tian An (Qi rebel leader) | northernShandong |
The Eighteen Kingdoms were short-lived. Almost immediately rebellion broke out in Qi, after which Tian Rong conquered Jiaodong and Jibei, reuniting the old Qi state[citation needed]. Meanwhile, Xiang Yu had Emperor Yi of Chu and KingHan Cheng of Hán killed. Thereafter,Liu Bang of Hàn conquered the lands of theThree Qins, thereby formally starting theChu–Han Contention. Following many battles and changing alliances, Han defeated Chu and subdued all other kingdoms, where Liu Bang appointed vassal kings while making himself the first Emperor of theHan dynasty in 202 BCE.
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