The Jin dynasty (晋朝) was founded in 266 when Sima Yan received the abdication of Cao Huan, the last Cao Wei emperor. The Sima family had controlled Wei since Sima Yi’s coup at the Gaoping Tombs; Sima Yan’s accession formalised the end of Wei and the start of Jin.
Reunification
Jin inherited Wei’s territory, including the lands of former Shu Han after the Wei conquest of Shu. In 280, Jin forces conquered Eastern Wu, capturing Jianye and accepting Sun Hao’s surrender. China was reunified under a single dynasty for the first time since the fall of the Han.
After the Three Kingdoms
The Western Jin (266–316) held the reunified empire from Luoyang. Internal strife and northern incursions led to the fall of the north and the move of the court south, beginning the Eastern Jin period. The Jin dynasty is thus the immediate successor to the Three Kingdoms and the state that ended the tripartite division.
See also
- Sima Yan
- Sima Yi
- Cao Wei
- Fall of Wu
- Wei conquest of Shu