The Western Jin (265-316) was the first era of the Jin dynasty, with its capital being at Luoyang from 265 to 311 and Chang'an until 316. The dynasty reunited China after the Three Kingdoms era in 280 CE, but the War of the Eight Princes destroyed the Jin dynasty's infrastructure, allowing for the Wu Hu to invade Jin from the north and force the government to Jiankang, starting the Eastern Jin era.
History[]
The Western Jin at its height in 280 CE.
The Jin dynasty was founded in 265 CE by Sima Yan, the son of the regent of Cao Wei Sima Zhao. Sima Yan overthrew the Wei emperor, Cao Huan when he replaced his father as regent, uniting the former states of Wei and Shu Han as Jin. This ended the Three Kingdoms era, and in 280 the Jin reunited China after conquering Eastern Wu to the south.
Western Jin set its capital at Luoyang, and an era of tranquility occurred under Sima Yan (Emperor Wu). This peace was shattered in 290 when Sima Yan died and his mentally-ill son, Emperor Hui of Jin became the incapable new emperor, and a several members of the Sima clan fought for control over the regency.
In the "War of the Eight Princes", the family killed itself off, and it allowed for the tribes on the borders of the empire to move in. The Di captured Chengdu in 304 CE, with the Kingdom of Cheng Han having power in western China while Han Zhao was formed by the Xiongnu after conquering northern China.
The uprising by the non-Han Chinese people of the Jin dynasty led to several dynasties of non-Chinese origin being formed, and by 316 CE the Jin had lost control of Luoyang and Chang'an to the invading Wu Hu tribes. The Jin moved their capital to Jiankang in the east, ending the Western Jin.