Jin Dynasty (265-420)

The Jin Dynasty (晉 jin4, 265-420) followed the Three Kingdoms and preceded the Southern and Northern Dynasties in China. The dynasty was founded by the Sima family, 司馬 pinyin si1 ma3.

The first of the two periods, the Western Jin Dynasty (ch. 西晉, 265-317), was founded by Emperor Wu. Although providing a brief period of unity after conquering the Kingdom of Wu in AD 280, the Jin could not contain the invasion and uprising of nomadic peoples after the devastating War of the Eight Princes. The capital was Luoyang until 311 when Emperor Huai was captured by the forces of Han Zhao. Successive reign of Emperor Min lasted four years in Chang'an until its conquest by Former Zhao in 317.

Meanwhile remnants of the Jin court fled from the north to the south and reestablished the Jin court at Jiankang, whch was located south-eastward of Luoyang and Chang'an and near modern-day Nanjing, under Prince of Longya. Prominent local families of Zhu, Gan, Lu, Gu and Zhou supported the proclamation of Prince of Longya as Emperor Yuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (ch. 东晉 317-420) when the news of the fall of Chang'an reached the south.

Militaristic authorities and crises plagued the Eastern Jin court throughout its 104 years of existence. It survived the rebellions of Wang Dun and Su Jun. Huan Wen died in 373 before proclaiming himself emperor. Battle of Fei turned out to be a victory of Jin under a short-lived cooperation of Huan Chong, brother of Huan Wen and the Prime Minister (or Imperial Secretariat) Xie An. Huan Xuan, son of Huan Wen, usurped and changed the name of the dynasty to Chu. He was toppled by Liu Yu, who proclaimed himself Emperor Wu and forced the abdication of the last emperor, Emperor Gong, in 420.

Table of contents

1 Figure 2 Major events 3 See also

Figure

• Sima's family tree of the Western Jin dynasty

   Xianning (咸寧 xian2 ning2)275-280

   Taikang (太康 tai4 kang1) 280-289

   Taixi (太熙 tai4 xi1)   January 28,290-May 17,290
    

   Yongping (永平 yong3 ping)  February 16-April 23,291

   Yuankang (元康 yuan2 kang1) April 24,291-February 6,300

   Yongkang (永康 yong3 kang1) February 7,300-February 3,301

   Yongning (永寧 yong3 ning2) June 1,301-January 4303

   Taian (太安 tai4 an1) January 5,303-February 21, 304

   Yongan (永安 yong3 an1) February 22-August 15,304; December 25,304-February 3,305

   Jianwu (建武 jian4 wu3) August 16-December 24,304

   Yongxing (永興 yong3 xing1) February 4,305-July 12,306

   Guangxi (光熙 guang1 xi1) July 13,306-February 19,307

   

   Daxing (大興 da4 xing1)    318-321

   Yongchang (永昌 yong3 chang3) 321-322

   Taining (太寧 tai4 ning2)   323-325

   Xianhe (咸和 xian2 he2)   326-334

   Xiankang (咸康 xian2 kang1) 335-342

   Shengping (升平 sheng1 ping2) 357-361

   Xingning (興寧 xing1 ning2) 363-365

   Taiyuan (太元 tai4 yuan2)  376-396

   Yuanxing (元興 yuan2 xing1)     402-404

   Yixi (義熙 yi4 xi1)         405-418

Major events

• War of the Eight Princes
• Wu Hu ravaging
• Battle of Fei

• Chinese history
• Sixteen Kingdoms
• Chinese sovereign
• Northern Headquarters Troops