Eastern Wei Dynasty
The Eastern Wei Dynasty ( Chinese 东魏 , Pinyin Dong Wei ; 534 - 550 ), one of the Northern Dynasties from the time of the Northern and Southern Dynasties , followed the dissolution of the Northern Wei Dynasty and ruled northern China from 534 to 550
In 534 Gao Huan (高 歡), the potentate of the eastern half of what was once the territory of the Northern Wei, succeeded the Northern Wei as the ruler of the Eastern Wei after the dissolution of the Northern Wei Dynasty a. Yuan Shanjian was a puppet because real power was in the hands of Gao Huan. Several campaigns against the neighboring Western Wei were undertaken in an effort to reunite the area that was once held by the Northern Wei. However, these campaigns were unsuccessful and Gao Huan died in 547 . His sons Gao Cheng (高澄) and Gao Yang (高 洋) were able to continue his policy of control of the emperor, but in 550 Gao Yang deposed the Yuan Shanjian and established his own dynasty, the Northern Qi Dynasty .
Buddhist art
The Buddhist art of the Eastern Wei shows a combination of Graeco-Buddhist artistic influences from Gandhara and Central Asia (depictions of flying figures holding colored ribbons, folds of drapery in the Greek style), together with Chinese artistic influences.
Ruler of the Eastern Wei Dynasty 534-550
| Posthumous Name (Shi Hao 諡 號) | Personal name | Duration of the reign | Era names (Nian Hao 年號) and respective time periods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern dynasty | |||
| Chinese convention: Eastern Wei + posthumous name | |||
| Xiao Jing Di (孝 靜 帝 xiào jìng dì) | Yuan Shanjian (元 善 見 yuán shàn jiàn) | 534 - 550 | Tianping (天平Tian Ping) 534- 537
Yuanxiang (元 象 yuán xiàng) 538 - 539 Xinghe (興和Xing He) 539- 542 Wuding (武 定 wǔ dìng) 543 -550 |