北魏 Traditional form: 北魏 Pinyin (reading): Běi Wèi Definitions: Wei of the Northern Dynasties (386-534), founded by the Tuoba 拓跋 branch of Xianbei 鮮卑/鲜卑 Characters: 北 - north; northern; northward 魏 - the kingdom of Wei; surname Traditional characters: 北 - north; northern; northward 魏 - the kingdom of Wei; surname