The Jin Dynasty at its greatest extent
The Jin Dynasty (晉朝, Jìn Cháo, Western period 266–316, Eastern period 317–420) is the sixth Chinese dynasty following the Three Kingdoms Era. Sometimes called the Sima Jin to prevent confusion with the later Jurchen Jin Dynasty.
Founded by the Sima family, descendants of the Wei strategist Sima Yi, who was himself a descendant of Sima Ang, a warlord during the Chu-Han Contention era after the end of the Qin Dynasty.note Famous for its Decadent Court and incompetent line of Emperors. Confucianism became disregarded while Taoism was in turn embraced. The Jin dynasty underwent a Civil War called the War of the Eight Princes in which three generations of the Sima family butchered each other, hiring foreign nomads as mercenaries in the process which left the country vulnerable to northern ethnic uprisings
. A mass migration from Northern China to the South ensued, leading to the establishment of the Eastern Jin and the development of the South as a new economic base. The power vacuum left by the Jin was filled by sixteen kingdoms (304-439).
Of the "24 Histories", the "Book of Jin" (晉書/晋书, Jìnshū) covered the history of the dynasty.
Western Jin
- Sima Yan, Emperor Wu of Jin (236 AD - 290 AD): Grandson of Sima Yi and son of Sima Zhao. Usurped the throne from Cao Huan. He unified China from the three kingdoms. However he was also too kind and tolerant of corruption, and gave his relatives high positions, which led to the War of Eight Princes after his death.
- Sima Zhong, Emperor Hui of Jin (259 AD - 307 AD): an intellectually disabled ruler. His reign was marred by civil war (as described above), as his wife and relatives fought to control him. He was eventually murdered.
The eight princes
- Sima Ai, Prince of Changsha (277 AD - 304 AD): Sima Zhong’s half-brother, despite being 18 years younger than him. He is considered the best of the eight princes due to his attempts at reform. However, he was killed by Sima Yong’s generals. Ai was also Wei's full brother.
- Sima Jiong, Prince of Qi (before 283 AD - Jan 303 AD): Sima Zhong’s cousin. He briefly served as regent for him. However he became arrogant and was executed after multiple princes raised a rebellion.
- Sima Liang, Prince of Ru'nan (d.291 AD): Sima Zhong’s great uncle. Empress Jia Nanfeng, Sima Zhong’s wife, raised an edict deposing them, however he was executed against the orders of the edict.
- Sima Lun (247/8 AD - 301 AD): Sima Zhong’s great uncle. He usurped the throne from Sima Zhong and killed his wife Jia Nanfeng. Several princes and officials raised a rebellion and he was forced to commit suicide.
- Sima Wei, Prince of Chu (271 AD - 291 AD): Sima Zhong’s half-brother and Sima Ai's full brother. He was hot-tempered but also generous and he was missed by the people. When he was only 20, he was executed by Empress Jia.
- Sima Ying, Prince of Chengdu (279 AD - 306 AD): Sima Zhong’s half-brother. Became crown prince for Sima Zhong after his two grandsons died in childhood. He and his two sons were forced to commit suicide.
- Sima Yong, Prince of Hejian (d.306 AD): Sima Zhong’s second cousin. Briefly became regent for Sima Zhong, but was strangled with his three sons.
- Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai (d.311 AD): A cousin of Sima Zhong. He was the ultimate victor of the War of Eight Princes. He ended up controlling Sima Chi, the much younger brother of Sima Zhong. He died in anger and distress in 311. His sons were captured and executed by his enemies.
- Empress Jia Nanfeng (258 AD - 300 AD): Not one of the eight princes herself, but she was very instrumental in the war. She controlled both Sima Wei and her husband Sima Zhong. Her downfall came when she framed the Crown Prince, her stepson, for treason and had him executed. She was forced to commit suicide.
Western Jin continued
- Sima Chi, Emperor Huai of Jin (284 AD - 313 AD): Sima Zhong’s brother. He was largely under the control of Sima Yue during his reign. It was in his reign that the ‘Disaster of Yongjia’ happened, which led to his capture by the Xiongnü-led Former Zhao. Liu Cong of Former Zhao humiliated him by forcing him to work as a servant for him. He was eventually poisoned.
- Sima Ye, Emperor Min of Jin (300 AD - 318 AD): Sima Chi’s nephew. He became emperor aged 13. Eventually he was forced to surrender to Han Zhao. Like his uncle Emperor Huai, he was also humiliated by being forced to work as a servant for Liu Cong. He was eventually executed by Liu Cong.
Eastern Jin
- Sima Rui, Emperor Yuan of Jin (276 AD - 323 AD): He created the Eastern Jin after Emperor Min was captured. His kingdom was not threatened by northerners for years despite his loss of territory.
- Sima Shao, Emperor Ming of Jin (299 AD - 325 AD): He led the Eastern Jin out of domination by the general Wang Dun, however he died young at only 26.
- Sima Yan, Emperor Cheng of Jin (321/2 AD - 342 AD): He became emperor aged only four. He spent the rest of his reign under the control of regents before dying aged 20.
- Sima Yue, Emperor Kang of Jin (322 AD - 344 AD): He reigned for only two years before dying aged 22, so therefore did not have many political achievements.
- Sima Dan, Emperor Mu of Jin (343 AD - 361 AD): Became emperor aged only one. He was a minor for almost all of his reign, and his regents expanded Jin to its greatest extent. He died aged 18.
- Sima Pi, Emperor Ai of Jin (341 AD - 365 AD): Emperor Cheng’s son. During his reign, he was too busy seeking immortality via mercury pills than actually running the country. He died of mercury poisoning aged 24.
- Sima Yi, Emperor Fei of Jin (342 AD - 386 AD): Emperor Ai’s brother. He was deposed by the powerful Huan Wen based on false accusations that two of his concubines were having an affair. He was allowed to live, however the concubines and their sons were executed.
- Sima Yu, Emperor Jianwen of Jin (320 AD - 372 AD): Sima Rui’s youngest son. He reigned for less than a year before his death, and was seen as weak-willed.
- Sima Yao, Emperor Xiaowu of Jin (362 AD - 396 AD): He became emperor aged ten, and was the last emperor to have his own authority. He was killed by his concubine Honoured Lady Zhang.
- Sima Dezong, Emperor An of Jin (382 AD - 417 AD): He was even more developmentally disabled than Emperor Hui, to the point that he could not speak or clothe himself. He was dominated by regents, the last of whom, Liu Yu, had him killed.
- Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin (386 AD - 421 AD): Another puppet of Liu Yu. He was deposed and murdered by Liu Yu, who created Liu Song, the first of the Southern dynasties.
Depictions in fiction
- General and I
- Total War: Three Kingdoms DLC, "The Eight Princes", is set in this period.
