The Former Liang (前涼 Qián Liáng; 320–376) was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin dynasty (266–420) in China. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han Chinese. Its territories included present-day Gansu and parts of Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang.

All rulers of the Former Liang remained largely titularly under the court of the Jin dynasty as the Duke of Xiping except Zhang Zuo who proclaimed himself wang (prince/king). However, at times the other Former Liang rulers also used the wang title when imposed on them when they were forced to submit to Han Zhao, Later Zhao, or Former Qin.

In 327, the Gaochang commandery was created by the Former Liang under the Han Chinese ruler Zhang Gui. After this, significant Han Chinese settlement occurred in Gaochang, a major, large part of the population becoming Chinese. In 383 The General Lu Guang of the Former Qin seized control of the region.

Read more...: Rulers of the Former Liang   Rulers family tree  

前涼（320年－376年）是十六國政權之一。都姑臧（今甘肅武威）。

301年，涼州大姓漢人張軌被晉朝封為涼州刺史，313年封西平公，課農桑、立學校，多所建樹。又鑄五銖錢，全境通行。314年張軌病死，其子張寔襲位。西晉滅亡後，仍然據守涼州，使用司馬鄴（晉愍帝）的建興年號，成為割據政權。

320年，前涼徹底成為獨立政權。

345年，張寔子張駿稱涼王，都姑臧，以所在地涼州為國號「涼」，史稱「前涼」，以別于其他以「涼」為國號的政權。張駿、張重華父子統治時期，前涼極盛。353年張重華病死，宗室內亂不止，國勢大衰。

前涼極盛之時，統治範圍包括甘肅、寧夏西部以及新疆大部。史載「南逾河、湟，東至秦、隴，西包蔥嶺，北暨居延」。張天錫時已失去甘肅南部。

376年，前秦天王苻堅以十三萬步騎大舉進攻，張天錫投降，前涼滅亡。

Read more...: 前涼君主列表   前涼世系圖