1556 Shaanxi Earthquake
- When
- 1556
- Where
- Wei River Valley, Shaanxi; Shaanxi Province
- Episodes
- 2
On 23 January 1556, a major earthquake struck the Wei River Valley in Shaanxi during the Ming dynasty. Modern estimates place direct deaths at roughly 100,000, with a total population reduction of 830,000 due to subsequent famine and emigration.
Episodes
- Demographic Collapse
Direct deaths were estimated at 100,000, with a total population reduction of 830,000 due to famine and emigration.
- Seismic Event
A major earthquake struck the Wei River Valley in Shaanxi on the morning of 23 January 1556.
Background and detail
Event Overview. The earthquake occurred in the early morning of 23 January 1556 in Huaxian, Shaanxi. It is considered one of the deadliest in history, with the epicenter located in the Wei River Valley near Huaxian, Weinan, and Huayin.
Casualties and Demographic Impact. China Earthquake Administration publications estimate direct deaths at approximately 100,000. An additional 700,000 to 730,000 people died from famine and plagues or migrated away, resulting in a total registered population reduction of 830,000.
Geological Context. Studies suggest the earthquake produced scarps along the Huashan and Weinan faults, some exceeding 8 meters in height. However, research has not definitively confirmed whether these features resulted from this single event or multiple seismic occurrences.
People involved
- Gaspar da Cruz · Portuguese Dominican friar and chronicler
Sources
- 1556 Shaanxi earthquake Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-23
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.