The Western Jin Dynasty existed during the period from 265 to 316. In the year of 265, Sima Yan replaced the Wei, one of the Three Kingdoms and established the Jing Dynasty, which is called the Western Jin Dynasty in Chinese history. Just as those foreign students who are learning Mandarin Chinese can see, the history of the Western Jin is only 52 years but it if of great significance. It ended the splitting situation since the Three Kingdoms and reunified China, providing good opportunity in short time for the development of society and economy at that time.

After the Western Jin Dynasty was established, the system of selecting the imperial officials in Wei period was inherited, which is called Nine-grade Controller System. However, the trouble after trouble came up and the inherited system became the tool for the families holding high official positions for generations to monopolize the political power. In this way, the aristocracy system with strictly grade was formed. In addition, the Western Jin Dynasty also ensured the economic privilege rights of the bureaucrats and nobles by making laws.

Even though it was only the period with 52 years, the Upheaval of the Eight Prince during the Western Jin Dynasty lasted for as many as 16 years, showing the intense contradiction in the inner of the dominance hierarchy. If you are interested in Chinese culture when learning Chinese, you might have learned that the economy in the Western Jin Dynasty was developed rapidly and the cultural degree was also really high. Here are some examples to show the achievements. The famous doctor Wang Shuhe wrote the medical book named Mai Jing. The geographer Pei Xiu compiled Yugong Regional Figure and the famous historical science book The History of the Three Kingdoms was also written by Chen Shou in this period.

In addition, the extension of Metaphysics from the Three Kingdoms in the Western Jin Dynasty also achieved much progress. And some relevant classical books were published. When it came to 311, Liu Cong led the Xiongnu army attacked and occupied Luoyang, the capital city of the Western Jin Dynasty. JInhuai Emperor was captured but the remained army selected another emperor to extend the political power of the Western Jin. After five years, which was 316, Liu Yao commanded Xiongnu army attacked and occupied Chang’an again and the emperor surrendered, symbolizing the end of the Western Jin Dynasty.