China: From Three Kingdoms to Sui
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What's included in this test?
- This test provides powerful, innovative, and interactive DNA-based tools to help you explore your ancestors from China during the long and turbulent era spanning the fall of the Han Dynasty through the reunification under the Sui (150 AD–642 AD). This period was marked by political fragmentation, repeated warfare, population displacement, foreign incursions, and profound cultural and religious transformation—reshaping the demographic landscape of China.
- Discover how closely you are related to China: From Three Kingdoms to Sui (150 AD–642 AD), individuals associated with populations living through centuries of upheaval—soldiers and warlords of the Three Kingdoms, civilians displaced by conflict, frontier communities interacting with nomadic groups, Buddhist clergy, administrators of short-lived dynasties, and regional elites navigating a fractured political world:
- Receive a detailed breakdown of your ancient geographical origins, including interactive ancestry maps showing where your ancestors lived, migrated, resettled, or governed across divided China. This includes regions controlled by Wei, Shu, and Wu, as well as territories shaped by the Jin Dynasty, the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and frontier zones influenced by steppe populations. You will also see your exact genetic similarity to each individual included in this dataset, reflecting population turnover, admixture, and resilience during centuries of instability.
- Compare your DNA with over 50 worldwide modern populations.
- Journey back more than 1,500 years to reconnect with people who endured one of the most unstable yet transformative eras in Chinese history—when empires collapsed, new identities formed, Buddhism spread, and the foundations were laid for China’s reunification and the rise of the Tang.
- Help us reconstruct population structure, migration, and demographic disruption during the post-Han and pre-Tang periods using the power of ancient DNA.
- Meet an Age of Division and Renewal — When China Fractured, Adapted, and Reunited, this can be Your Story.
- Basic test includes 5 members.
- Advanced test includes 41 members. Best Deal: Unlock access to a broader collection of ancient Chinese, late Han, medieval, and early Imperial DNA tests with our compendium: China: The post-Han Empire of the Dragon
About the test
China: From Three Kingdoms to Sui (150 AD–642 AD)
Step into one of the most dynamic and consequential centuries in East Asian history—an age that began with the fracturing of the Han world and ended with the restoration of imperial unity. This test explores your genetic connections to populations living between 150 AD and 642 AD, spanning the late Han collapse, the Three Kingdoms and Jin era, the north–south division, and the political rebuilding that culminated in the Sui and early Tang transformation.
These individuals lived through state collapse and state-making: soldiers and frontier communities, migrants and resettled families, traders moving along Inner Asian corridors, and local populations whose identities were shaped by warfare, regime change, and long-distance mobility across China’s northern frontiers, western oases, and southern highlands.
Historical context
After the weakening of the Eastern Han, China entered an era of fragmentation and intense military competition. The Three Kingdoms period and subsequent Jin reunification were followed by renewed division as northern polities—often governed by steppe or frontier elites—rose alongside southern dynasties that preserved many Central Plains administrative traditions. These centuries saw repeated population movements, the creation of new military colonies, and major demographic reshaping across northern and western regions.
At the same time, the importance of China’s borderlands surged. Inner Mongolia and the northern steppe frontier became key theaters of power, while Xinjiang’s oasis corridors remained essential nodes linking China to Inner Asia. Further south, the karst regions of Guangxi preserved distinct local communities whose genetic history reflects long-term regional continuity and interaction. By the late sixth century, the Sui re-established imperial unity, standardized governance, and rebuilt long-distance infrastructure—setting the stage for early Tang expansion and consolidation.
Collected and reconstructed from:
What these populations represent
Together, these sites capture the full demographic complexity of China’s post-Han centuries:
This is not a test of collapse alone—but of mobility, frontier integration, and the rebuilding of empire.
This test reveals:
Perfect for:
Your personalized report includes:
Discover your DNA from the age of division and reunification with respect to the people who lived at the crossroads between Han legacy and the rebuilding of imperial China.
Step into one of the most dynamic and consequential centuries in East Asian history—an age that began with the fracturing of the Han world and ended with the restoration of imperial unity. This test explores your genetic connections to populations living between 150 AD and 642 AD, spanning the late Han collapse, the Three Kingdoms and Jin era, the north–south division, and the political rebuilding that culminated in the Sui and early Tang transformation.
These individuals lived through state collapse and state-making: soldiers and frontier communities, migrants and resettled families, traders moving along Inner Asian corridors, and local populations whose identities were shaped by warfare, regime change, and long-distance mobility across China’s northern frontiers, western oases, and southern highlands.
Historical context
After the weakening of the Eastern Han, China entered an era of fragmentation and intense military competition. The Three Kingdoms period and subsequent Jin reunification were followed by renewed division as northern polities—often governed by steppe or frontier elites—rose alongside southern dynasties that preserved many Central Plains administrative traditions. These centuries saw repeated population movements, the creation of new military colonies, and major demographic reshaping across northern and western regions.
At the same time, the importance of China’s borderlands surged. Inner Mongolia and the northern steppe frontier became key theaters of power, while Xinjiang’s oasis corridors remained essential nodes linking China to Inner Asia. Further south, the karst regions of Guangxi preserved distinct local communities whose genetic history reflects long-term regional continuity and interaction. By the late sixth century, the Sui re-established imperial unity, standardized governance, and rebuilt long-distance infrastructure—setting the stage for early Tang expansion and consolidation.
Collected and reconstructed from:
- Mogushan Xianbei site (Inner Mongolia, Hulunbuir), A northern frontier context associated with Xianbei populations and the political transformations of the post-Han world.
- Zhalainuoer mining site (Inner Mongolia, Hulunbuir, Zhalainuoer), Frontier communities reflecting labor, mobility, and regional integration across the northern borderlands.
- Shanpula (Sampula) (Xinjiang, Hetian Region, Luopu County), Oasis communities of the southern Tarim Basin reflecting exchange, migration, and cultural mixing along Inner Asian routes.
- Hetian (Xinjiang, Hetian Region, Luopu County), Repeatedly sampled contexts capturing long-term demographic continuity and change in a major Silk Road oasis region.
- Abusanteer (Xinjiang, Yili Region, Chabuchaer (Qapqal) County), Ili Valley populations reflecting movement and interaction across the northwest corridor.
- Jirentaigoukou (Xinjiang, Yili Region, Nileke County), A strategic corridor site illustrating sustained occupation and regional mobility.
- Keqikesubutai (Xinjiang, Yili Region, Nileke (Nilka) County), Northwest communities reflecting frontier diversity within broader imperial networks.
- Junmachanyilian (Xinjiang, Yili Region, Tekesi County), Ili/Tekesi populations illustrating local life under shifting political authority.
- Xikakandasayi (Xinjiang, Bayinguoleng (Bayingolin) Region, Qiemo (Cherchen) County), Desert-edge communities reflecting adaptation and connectivity along the southern Tarim corridor.
- Dacaozi site (Qinghai Province, Ping’an County), Highland populations representing western expansion, ecological adaptation, and corridor connectivity.
- Balong Cave (Guangxi, Hechi City, Dahua Yao Autonomous County), Southern karst-region communities reflecting deep regional continuity and local demographic structure.
- Qinchang Cave (Guangxi, Hechi City, Dahua Yao Autonomous County), Cave contexts capturing genetic diversity within Guangxi’s mountain populations.
- Layi Cave (Guangxi, Hechi City, Dahua Yao Autonomous County), Southern communities illustrating micro-regional structure in the Guangxi highlands.
- Banda Cave (Guangxi, Hechi City, Dahua Yao Autonomous County), Mountain-region populations reflecting long-term settlement and regional continuity.
- Cenxun Cave (Guangxi, Baise City, Pingguo County, Taiping Town), Southern contexts highlighting diversity and connectivity within the Guangxi corridor.
- Lada Cave (Guangxi, Hechi City, Jinchengjiang District), A regional reference for local population structure in the south.
- Yiyang Cave (Guangxi, Baise City, Pingguo County), Populations reflecting southern demographic continuity under changing imperial frontiers.
- Shenxian Cave (Guangxi, Baise City, Pingguo County), Cave contexts representing local communities within the broader south China landscape.
What these populations represent
Together, these sites capture the full demographic complexity of China’s post-Han centuries:
- Northern frontier societies shaped by steppe interaction and regime change
- Oasis communities of Xinjiang embedded in Silk Road mobility and exchange
- Highland and corridor populations bridging China’s interior and western regions
- Southern karst-region communities reflecting deep local continuity and diversity
- The human landscape that preceded reunification and early medieval state-building
This is not a test of collapse alone—but of mobility, frontier integration, and the rebuilding of empire.
This test reveals:
- The genetic profile of populations living from the late Han through early medieval China
- Diversity across northern frontiers, western oases, and southern mountain regions
- Connections between steppe-linked societies and imperial Chinese networks
- Demographic processes leading toward reunification under the Sui and early Tang era
Perfect for:
- Individuals with East Asian ancestry seeking deeper historical resolution
- Those interested in the Three Kingdoms, Northern/Southern Dynasties, and Sui reunification
- Enthusiasts of Silk Road history and frontier interaction
- Anyone curious about the genetic history of China’s transition into the medieval era
Your personalized report includes:
- Direct genetic comparison to individuals living between 150 AD and 642 AD across China and its frontiers
- mtDNA and Y-DNA haplogroups associated with late Han and early medieval populations
- Affinity analysis linking you to frontier societies, oasis communities, and southern regional groups
- Archaeological and historical context covering fragmentation, migration, and reunification
Discover your DNA from the age of division and reunification with respect to the people who lived at the crossroads between Han legacy and the rebuilding of imperial China.
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Why take this test
Up until 2010, reading the DNA of ancient people was a dream. Since then, the DNA of a Neanderthal who lived over 30,000 years ago has been sequenced. After that reading, the DNA of ancient people who lived from 15,000 BC to 1,800 AD all over the world became the main object of paleogenomic research. This leap forward in technology allowed the creation of a new type of DNA test — tests that do not use modern-day populations as stand-ins for the ancient tribes but rather go right to the source and study these ancient peoples themselves.
The Ancient DNA Hub DNA test is the first next-generation DNA test. It is designed solely using the DNA of ancient people throughout history using our novel technologies.
With this test, you will receive a precise ancient ethnicity estimate with far greater geographical details than you could imagine. You will make new connections with historical people and places where your ancestors lived, walked, battled, created, and dreamed thousands of years ago. Using genetic data and evidence from history and archeology, we can revive the past and allow you to take part in this story at the most personal level.
The Ancient DNA Hub DNA test is the first next-generation DNA test. It is designed solely using the DNA of ancient people throughout history using our novel technologies.
With this test, you will receive a precise ancient ethnicity estimate with far greater geographical details than you could imagine. You will make new connections with historical people and places where your ancestors lived, walked, battled, created, and dreamed thousands of years ago. Using genetic data and evidence from history and archeology, we can revive the past and allow you to take part in this story at the most personal level.
