zh-cn:晋朝zh-tw:晉朝

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History of China series.
 Shang Dynasty
 Zhou Dynasty
 Qin Dynasty
 Han Dynasty
 Three Kingdoms
 Jin Dynasty
 Southern and Northern Dynasties
 Sui Dynasty 
 Tang Dynasty
 Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
 Song Dynasty
 Yuan Dynasty
 Ming Dynasty
 Qing Dynasty
 History of the Republic of China
 History of the PRC (1949-1976)
 History of the PRC (1976-present)
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Table of contents
1 Overview
2 Figure
3 Sovereigns of Jin Dynasty
4 Major events
5 Related Articles

Overview

The Jin Dynasty (晉 pinyin jėn, 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 Sīmǎ.

The first of the two periods, the Western Jin Dynasty (ch. 西晉, 265-316), 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 316.

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.

Figure

Sovereigns of Jin Dynasty

Posthumous names Family name and given names Durations of reigns Era names and their according range of years
Chinese convention: "Jin" + posthumous name + "di"
Western Jin Dynasty 265-316
Wu Sima Yan 265-290 Taishi 265-274
   Xianning 275-280

   Taikang 280-289

   Taixi January 28,290-May 17,290
Hui Sima Zhong 290-307 Yongxi May 17, 290-February 15,291
   Yongping February 16-April 23,291

   Yuankang April 24,291-February 6,300

   Yongkang February 7,300-February 3,301

   Yongning June 1,301-January 4303

   Taian January 5,303-February 21, 304

   Yongan February 22-August 15,304; December 25,304-February 3,305

   Jianwu August 16-December 24,304

   Yongxing February 4,305-July 12,306

   Guangxi July 13,306-February 19,307
unknown Sima Lun 301 Jianshi February 3-June 1,301
Huai Sima Chi 307-311 Yongjia 307-313
Min Sima Ye 313-316 Jianxing 313-317
Eastern Jin Dynasty 317-420
Yuan Sima Rui 317-323 Jianwu 317-318
   Daxing 318-322

   Yongchang 322-323
Ming Sima Shao 323-325 Taining 323-326
Cheng Sima Yan 325-342 Xianhe 326-335
   Xiankang 335-342
Kang Sima Yue 342-344 Jianyuan 343-344
Mu Sima Dan 344-361 Yonghe 345-357
   Shengping 357-361
Ai Sima Pi 361-365 Longhe 362-363
   Xingning 363-365
Fei Sima Yi 365-372 Taihe 365-372
Jianwen (簡文 jian3 wen2) Sima Yu (司馬昱 si1 ma3 yu4) 372 Xianan (咸安 xian2 an1) 372
Xiaowu (孝武 xiao4 wu3) Sima Yao (司馬曜 si1 ma3 yao4) 372-396 Ningkang (寧康 ning2 kang1) 373-375
   Taiyuan (太元 tai4 yuan2)  376-396
An (安 an1) Sima Dezong (司馬德宗 si1 ma3 de2 zong1) 396-418 Longan (隆安 long2 an1) 397-401
   Yuanxing (元興 yuan2 xing1)     402-404

   Yixi (義熙 yi4 xi1)         405-418
Gong (恭 gong1) Sima Dewen (司馬德文 si1 ma3 de2 wen2) 419-420 Yuanxi (元熙 yuan2 xi1) 419-420

Major events

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