Wu Hu (literally "Five Hu") is a collective term for various non-Chinese steppe tribes during the period from the Han Dynasty to the Northern Dynasties.

These nomadic tribes originally had resided outside China proper, but have gradually migrated into Chinese areas during the years of turmoil between the Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms.

These non-Chinese tribes, whom the Han had fought to a standstill, have seized the opportunity afforded by the weakness of the central government to extend their settlement of pastoral lands into the fertile North China Plain.The Rebellion of the Eight Kings during the Western Jin Dynasty triggers a large scale Wu Hu uprising from 304, which results in the sacking of the Chinese capitals at Luoyang (311) and Chang'an.

The Xiongnu Kingdom of Han-Former Zhao captures and executes the last two Jin emperors as the Western Jin Dynasty collapses in 317.

Many Chinese flee to the south of Yangtze River as numerous tribesmen of the Wu Hu and remnants of the Jin wreak havoc in the north.

Fu Jiān temporarily unifies the north but his brilliant achievement is destroyed after the Battle of Feishui.

The Northern Wei Dynasty unifies northern China again in 439 and ushers in the period of the Northern Dynasties.