Death and Burial: Narratives about the Rulers of the Sixteen States (300–430)

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Zusammenfassung

The period of the Sixteen States (300-430) in northern China was characterized by rather short-lived regimes mostly founded by non-Han rulers, some of them avid supporters of Buddhism. Narratives about their history were composed by later historians, the Shiliuguo chunqiu 十六國春秋 by Cui Hong (478-525), the Weishu 魏書 by Wei Shou (506-572) and the Jinshu 晉書 ordered by Tang Taizong (r. 626-649) and compiled by his historians between 646 and 648. Although the Sixteen States was condemned as illegitimate, they left their mark on the political and cultural development of China. Testaments and last wills are acknowledged as valuable documents revealing personal concepts of death as well as political statements of intent. Moreover, it is well attested, that imperial burials can serve as demonstrations of power closely connected to ritual and religion. A comprehensive analysis of the attitude of the rulers of Sixteen States towards their own death and their treatment of burials is still missing. Therefore, I will compare specific death-related historiographical narratives about several rulers of the Sixteen States in order to show how later historians presented them as mortal beings and as emperors on the death bed. Narratives about their own burials and the dealing with others' burials will be deconstructed in order to understand the historiographers' judgments about the rulers of the Sixteen States.

Vortragende der Universität Münster

Nagel-Angermann, Monique

Institut für Sinologie und Ostasienkunde