There were four Jin (Chin) dynasties in China – Western Jin, Eastern Jin, Later Jin, and Jin. The Western and Eastern Jin dynasties are sometimes called the Northern dynasty. The word Jin means gold making the use of Jin a popular selection for the name of a dynasty. For some of the rulers, it must have seemed a golden age, for others however, the gold did not last long as they quickly were removed as the ruler and another ruler took their place on the throne.
Western Jin Dynasty
The Western Jin dynasty was in place from 265 – 317 CE. There were four emperors during this dynasty: Wu (265 – 290), Hui (290 – 306), Huai (307 – 312), and Min (313 – 316).
Eastern Jin Dynasty
The Eastern Jin dynasty was in place from 317 – 420 CE. There were eleven emperors during this dynasty: Yuan (317 – 322), Min (323 – 325), Chan (326 – 342), Kan (343 – 344), Mu (345 – 361), Ai (361 – 365), Hai Xi Gong (366 – 370), Jian Wen (371 – 372), Xio Wu (373 – 396), Yao-Xiang (396 – 418), and Gongdi (419). The last ruler, Gongdi, was removed as ruler by Liu Yu, who started the Liu Song dynasty.
Although the Western and Jin dynasties were in place from 265 – 420 CE, there were other dynasties and kingdoms in place during some of this time. Each of these other dynasties or kingdoms had their own rulers, social customs, armies, and so on. In place was Cao Wei Kingdom (215 – 265), Sun Wu Kingdom (220 – 280), Shu Han Kingdom (221 – 265), Six dynasties (Linchao) (222 – 589), Cheng dynasty (301 – 347), Sixteen Kingdoms (304 – 439), and Former Liang dynasty (313 – 376).
Later Jin Dynasty
The Later Jin dynasty was part of the Five dynasties, which ruled in northern China from 907 – 960 CE. The Five dynasties included the Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han and Later Zhou. The Later Jin dynasty was in place from 936 – 947. There were two emperors of the Later Jin dynasty: Shi Jingtang (936 – 944) and Chudi (944 – 947). Chudi was removed as emperor by the Khitan people, who began the Later Han dynasty.
Jin Dynasty
The Jin dynasty was in place in northern China from 1115 – 1234 CE. There were two emperors of the Jin dynasty: Aguda (1115 – 1123) and Taizong (1123 – 1234). Chinggis Khan’s Mongols began invading northern China and Jin dynasty territory in 1210. Taizong committed suicide in 1234 and the Mongols continued their conquest of China overrunning the southern Song dynasty. The Mongol, Yuan dynasty began in 1260.
