Jin dynasty (266–420)

Quick Facts: Who was Jin dynasty (266–420)?

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Jin dynasty (266–420)

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Imperial Chinese dynasty (266–420 CE) that saw the reunification and subsequent division of China.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Jin dynasty or the Jin Empire, officially Jin, sometimes distinguished as the Sima Jin or the Two Jins, was an imperial dynasty in China that existed from 266 to 420 CE. It was founded by Sima Yan, posthumously known as Emperor Wu of Jin, who previously served as the regent of the Cao Wei dynasty. There are two main divisions in the history of the dynasty. The Western Jin (266–316 CE) was established as the successor to Cao Wei after Emperor Wu usurped the throne from Cao Huan. The capital of the Western Jin was initially in Luoyang, though it later moved to Chang'an (modern Xi'an).

Career & Major Achievements

In 280 CE, after conquering Eastern Wu, the Western Jin ended the Three Kingdoms period and reunited China proper for the first time since the end of the Han dynasty. From 291 to 306 CE, a series of civil wars known as the War of the Eight Princes were fought over control of the Jin state which weakened it considerably. In 304 CE, the dynasty experienced a wave of rebellions by non-Han ethnicities termed by exonym as "Five Barbarians". The "barbarians" went on to establish nonpermanent dynastic states in northern China. This helped to usher in the Sixteen Kingdoms era of Chinese history, in which states in the north rose and fell in rapid succession, constantly fighting both one another and the Jin.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Han-Zhao, one of the northern states established during the disorder, sacked Luoyang in 311, captured Chang'an in 316, and executed Emperor Min of Jin in 318 CE, ending the Western Jin era. Sima Rui, who succeeded Emperor Min, then reestablished the Jin dynasty with its capital in Jiankang (modern Nanjing), inaugurating the Eastern Jin (317–420 CE). The Eastern Jin dynasty remained in near-constant conflict with its northern neighbors for most of its existence, and it launched several invasions of the north with the aim of recovering its lost territories. In 383 CE, the Eastern Jin inflicted a devastating defeat on the Former Qin, a Di-ruled state that had briefly unified northern China. In the aftermath of that battle, the Former Qin state splintered, and Jin armies recaptured the lands south of the Yellow River.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Jin dynasty (266–420)

True or False: “The Western Jin period ended when Han-Zhao forces sacked Luoyang in 311 CE.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Han-Zhao sacked Luoyang in 311 CE, the formal end of the Western Jin era occurred later in 316 CE with the capture of Chang'an.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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Frequently Asked Questions about Jin dynasty (266–420)