Wu Hu

The Wu Hu, or “Five Hus,” was a period of chaos and division in northern China from 304 to 439 AD, when five non-Han ethnic groups—Xiongnu, Xianbei, Jie, Di, and Qiang—invaded and ruled different parts of the region. Their invasions led to the fragmentation of China into multiple competing states, disrupting stability and culture. Despite the chaos, this era also saw significant cultural exchanges and the eventual rise of the Jin and Northern Dynasties, shaping China's history by highlighting the complexities of ethnic diversity and regional power struggles during that time.