China: Bronze sculpture of Dian people with a bull, 3rd century BCE, Shanghai Museum, Shanghai

The Dian Kingdom (Chinese: 滇國 or 滇王國) was established by the Dian people, who lived around Lake Dian in northern Yunnan, China from the late Spring and Autumn Period (771 - 476 BCE) until the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 - 220 CE).

The Dian were first mentioned historically in Sima Qian's Shiji and according to Chinese sources, the Chinese Chu general Zhuang Qiao was the founder of the Dian Kingdom. Chinese soldiers who accompanied him married the local people. Zhuang was engaged in a war to conquer the 'barbarian' peoples of the area, but he and his army were prevented from going back to Chu by enemy armies, so he settled down and became King of the new Dian Kingdom.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia