Shih Le (274-333) was the founder of the Latter Chao empire and is an example of a man of the humblest social origins who, during troubled times, rose to the highest position of ruler of almost all of North China.

Shih Le was a Chieh, a Hsiung-nu tribe which seems to have spoken a Turkic language. He came from southeastern Shansi, and although his biography says he was descended from small-tribe chief-tains, his early life shows him to have been very poor indeed. In 285 he went to Lo-yang, the capital, accompanying a merchant from his native place. Shih reached the lowest point in his fortunes when he was sold into slavery to a Chinese in Shantung. He then joined, and eventually became the leader of, a group of bandits. At this time he took the Chinese name of Shih Le.

After some striking victories, in 307 Shih threw in...