The Western Qin (Chinese: 西秦; pinyin: Xī Qín; 385–400, 409–431) was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Qifu clan of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms.

Their ancestor was Rufu (如弗), who led the Qifu and three other tribes, Siyin (斯引), Chulian (出連) and Chilu (叱盧) from the north of the Gobi Desert to move south to the Yin Mountains.

Under Qifu Youlin, they initially moved westward to an area known as Xiayuan (夏緣) and later settled along the Gaoping River (高平川; in modern Guyuan, Ningxia), where they annexed the Xianbei Lujie (鹿結) tribe who had a following of 70,000 people.

In 371, Sifan submitted to the Di-led Former Qin dynasty, and he was given control over the Yongshi River (勇士川; in modern Lanzhou, Gansu) after helping them defeat a Xianbei revolt in 373.

In 383, Guoren was meant to serve in Former Qin’s campaign against the Eastern Jin, but when his uncle, Qifu Butui (乞伏步頹) rebelled in the Longxi, he was sent to quell the rebellion instead.

Surely enough, Qin suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Fei River later that year, sending the state into a rapid decline.

After the Former Qin ruler, Fu Jian was killed in 385, Guoren claimed the title of Grand Chanyu, introduced a new reign era and built his capital city around Yongshi.

The Qifu occupied the whole of Longxi after killing Fu Chong and the Chouchi ruler, Yang Ding in battle, bringing a formal end to Former Qin.

While he still kept the Grand Chanyu title and its auxiliary offices, he established a governmental structure that was similar to the Eastern Han and Cao Wei dynasties.

Due to pressure from the Xia and Eastern Jin, Later Qin could only convince Gangui to remain as a nominal vassal by appointing him the King of Henan.

Liu Yu appointed him Duke of Henan and left his territory unscathed, but in 418, the Helian Xia conquered the Guanzhong region from Jin, and Western Qin had a new threat from the east.

In 431, Helian Ding, in a last-ditch effort to expand westward, attacked Nan'an and forced Mumo to surrender, thus ending the Western Qin dynasty.