- 北洋军阀 běiyángjūnfá Northern WarlordsA group of military factions led by Yuan Shikai and his successors that controlled the Beijing government from 1912 to 1928, later splitting into the Zhili, Anhui, and Fengtian cliques after Yuan's death.
- 奉系军阀 fèngxìjūnfá Fengtian cliqueFengtian clique of northern warlords active during the early 20th century
- 皖系军阀 wǎnxìjūnfá Anhui faction warlordsThe Anhui faction of the Northern warlords from approximately 1911 to 1929
- 军阀混战 jūnfáhùnzhàn warlord fightingconstant or incessant fighting among rival warlords
- 桂系军阀 guìxìjūnfá Guangxi warlordsThe Guangxi warlord faction, active from 1911 to 1930.
- 直系军阀 zhíxìjūnfá Zhili factionthe Zhili faction of the Northern Warlords, a powerful group during the early years of the Republic of China
