Jin (Chinese state)


11th century BC–376 BC
Chinese plain 5c. BC-en.svg
Capital Tang (唐)

Quwo (曲沃)

Jiang (絳)

Xintian (新田)
Common languages Old Chinese
Taoism, Animism, Ancestor veneration
Government Monarchy
• Established
11th century BC
• Disestablished
376 BC
Currency Spade money
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Zhou dynasty
Han (state)
Zhao (state)
Wei (state)
Jin (Chinese characters).svg
"Jin" in seal script (top), Traditional (middle), and Simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese

Jin (Chinese: , Old Chinese: *tsi[n]-s), originally known as Tang (唐),[1] was a major state during the middle part of the Zhou dynasty, based near the centre of what was then China, on the lands attributed to the legendary Xia dynasty: the southern part of modern Shanxi. Although it grew in power during the Spring and Autumn period, its aristocratic structure saw it break apart when the duke lost power to his nobles. In 453 BC, Jin was split into three successor states: Han, Zhao and Wei. The Partition of Jin marks the end of the Spring and Autumn Period and the beginning of the Warring States period.

Geography [ edit ]

Jin was located in the lower Fen River drainage basin on the Shanxi plateau. To the north were the Xirong and Beidi peoples. To the west were the Lüliang Mountains and then the Loess Plateau of northern Shaanxi. To the southwest the Fen River turns west to join the south-flowing part of the Yellow River which soon leads to the Guanzhong, an area of the Wei River Valley that was the heartland of the Western Zhou and later of the Qin. To the south are the Zhongtiao Mountains and then the east-west valley of the Yellow River which was the main route to the Wei Valley to the west. To the east were the Taihang Mountains and then the North China Plain. This location gave ambitious Jin dukes the opportunity to move north to conquer and absorb the Xirong tribes, move southwest and fight Qin, and move southeast to absorb the many smaller Zhou states.

Also important to the region were the large states of Chu to the south in the Yangtze and Huai River regions and Qi to the east in Shandong.

Jin had multiple capitals. The first capital of Jin was Tang (唐).[2] The capital was later moved to E (), then Jiang (), then Xintian (新田).[3] From 746 to 677, Quwo (曲沃) was the capital of a fragment of Jin.

Western Zhou (1046-771 BC) [ edit ]

When the Zhou Dynasty was founded, the conquered lands were given to Zhou relatives and ministers as hereditary fiefs. King Cheng of Zhou, the second Zhou king, gave the land called Tang (唐), west of modern Yicheng County in Shanxi, to his younger brother, Tang Shuyu (唐叔虞) with the rank of a marquis. Tang Shuyu's son and successor, Marquis Xie of Jin (晉侯燮), changed the name of Tang to Jin. There is little information about Jin for this period beyond a list of rulers.

Spring and Autumn period [ edit ]

Jin and other states in 5th century BC

In 771 BC the Quanrong nomads drove the Zhou out of the Wei River valley and killed the king. Marquis Wen of Jin, the eleventh marquis of Jin, supported King Ping of Zhou by killing his rival, King Xie of Zhou, an act that King Ping heavily rewarded him for.

The breakaway state of Quwo (745-677 BC) [ edit ]

When Marquis Zhao of Jin (745-739 BC) acceded to the throne, he gave the land of Quwo to his uncle Chengshi who became Huan Shu of Quwo. In 739 BC, an official named Panfu (潘父) murdered Marquis Zhao and invited Huan Shu to take the throne. Huan Shu entered Jin but was driven out by the people and retreated to Quwo. All three Quwo rulers, Huan Shu (745-731), Zhuang Bo (731-716) and Duke Wu (716-678) made attempts to take over Jin. In 678 BC, Duke Wu of Quwo conquered Jin and killed Marquis Min of Jin (704-678). One year later, after receiving gifts from Duke Wu, King Xi of Zhou made Duke Wu the legal ruler of Jin, who became known as Duke Wu of Jin (679-677).

Ascendency [ edit ]

Duke Wen of Jin Recovering His State attributed to Li Tang, 1140 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

With the establishment of the Quwo line, Jin became the most powerful state for three generations and remained powerful for a century or more after that. Duke Wu died soon after gaining control of Jin. He was followed by Duke Xian of Jin (676-651 BC). Xian broke with Zhou feudalism by killing or exiling his cousins and ruling with appointees of various social backgrounds. He annexed 16 or 17 small states in Shanxi, dominated 38 others, and absorbed a number of Rong tribes. Some of the states conquered were Geng (耿), Huo (霍), old Wei (魏), Yu (虞) and Western Guo. His death led to a succession struggle which ended with the enthronement of Duke Hui of Jin (650-637). In 646 BC, Duke Hui was captured by Qin and restored as a vassal.

Another son of Duke Xian was Duke Wen of Jin (636-628), who spent 19 years exile in various courts. He came to the throne in 636 escorted by the troops of his father-in-law, Duke Mu of Qin. Duke Wen quickly established himself as an independent ruler by driving the Di barbarians west of the Yellow River. In 635 BC he supported King Xiang of Zhou against a rival and was rewarded with lands near the royal capital. In 633 BC, he confronted the rising power of the southern state of Chu which was then besieging Song. Instead of directly assisting Song, he attacked two vassals of Chu, Cao and Wei. The following year, he formed a military alliance with Qin, Qi and Song that defeated Chu at the Battle of Chengpu, perhaps the largest battle in the Spring and Autumn period. Shortly after the battle, he held an interstate conference at Jitu (踐土) with King Xiang of Zhou and the rulers of six other states. He affirmed the lords' loyalty and received from the King the title of "ba" or hegemon. At some point there was a war with Qin which ended in peace. Duke Wen erected monuments to the fallen on both sides. The Chinese proverb "The Friendship of Qin and Jin", meaning an unbreakable bond, dates from this period.

Over the next century, a four-way balance of power developed between Qin (west), Jin (west-center), Chu (south) and Qi (east), with a number of smaller states between Jin and Qi. In 627 BC, Jin defeated Qin while it was attacking Zheng. Jin invaded Qin in 625 BC and was driven back the following year. In 598 BC, Chu defeated Jin at the Battle of Mi. In 589 BC, Jin defeated Qi, which had invaded Lu and Wei. About this time Jin began to support the southeastern state of Wu as a means of weakening Chu. Duke Li of Jin (580-573) allied with Qin and Qi to make an east-west front against the threat of Chu from the south. In 579 BC, a minister of the state of Song arranged a four-power conference in which the states agreed to limit their military strength. Four years later, fighting broke out again; Jin and its allies defeated Chu at the battle of Yingling. Duke Dao of Jin (572-558) strengthened the state by internal improvements rather than external wars. He absorbed a number of Rong tribes and was recognized as Hegemon.

Decline and fall [ edit ]

In 607 BC, Duke Ling of Jin (620-607) was killed by Zhao Chuan (趙穿) under the orders of his uncle Zhao Dun. Prince Heitun was placed on the throne as Duke Cheng of Jin (606-600). This was the beginning of the slow shift of power from the Jin dukes to the ministerial clans. Duke Li of Jin (580-573), the grandson of Duke Cheng, tried to break the power of the clans by fostering conflicts between them. In 573 BC, he was killed by the Luan (欒氏) and Zhonghang (中行氏) clans. Duke Dao of Jin (572-558) strengthened the ducal power, but could not eliminate the power of the other aristocratic families.

After the reign of Duke Zhao of Jin (531-526), the Jin dukes were figureheads and the state was controlled by six clans: Fan (范) , Zhonghang (中行), Zhi (智), Han (韓), Zhao (趙) and Wei (魏).

The clans soon began to fight among themselves. During the time of Duke Ding of Jin (511-475), the Fan and Zhonghang clans were eliminated by Xiangzi of Zhi. By about 450 BC, the Zhi were dominant and began demanding territory from the other clans. When Zhao resisted, Zhi attacked Zhao and brought along Han and Wei as allies. After a long siege at Taiyuan, Han and Wei switched sides and the three weaker clans annihilated the Zhi. They then divided the Zhi lands, as well as most of the rest of Jin, among themselves. When Duke You of Jin (433-416) came to the throne, the three clans had taken over much of the remaining Jin lands, leaving the dukes only the area around Jiang and Quwo. From then on, the three clans were known as the "Three Jins" (三晉).

In 403 BC, during the reign of Duke Lie of Jin (415-389), King Weilie of Zhou recognized Marquis Jing of Han, Marquis Wen of Wei and Marquess Lie of Zhao, as marquises of Han in the south, Wei in the center and Zhao in the north, completing the partition of Jin. The state of Jin still nominally existed for several decades afterwards. The Bamboo Annals mentions that in the 20th year of Duke Huan's reign (369 BC), Marquess Cheng of Zhao and Marquess Gong of Han moved Duke Huan to Tunliu, and after that there were no more records of Duke Huan or any other Jin ruler.[4] Modern historians such as Yang Kuan, Ch'ien Mu, and Han Zhaoqi generally consider 369 BC the final year of Jin's existence.[5]

Military forces [ edit ]

Jin united civil and military authority.[6] Traditionally, Jin had three armies: the upper army, the central army and the lower army. Three more armies were later added. Each army contained 12500 soldiers.[7][8]

According to the convention of Zhou dynasty, a large fiefdom was allowed to have as many as three armies.[9] Since Jin was a large fiefdom, it was permitted by the Zhou king to own three armies. However, Jin originally had only one army: the limitation was imposed by the Zhou dynasty king in order to observe the rite of Zhou. In 679 BCE, Duke Wu of Quwo assassinated Marquis Xiaozi of Jin and became the ruler of Jin. Quwo was a cadet branch of Jin's ruling house; Ji clan descended from Shu Yu of Tang. The Zhou court, which regarded the lineal legitimacy as an extremely important matter, could not agree with such an usurpation. As a consequence, the king revoked Jin's permission to have three armies.[10][11]

In 661 BCE, Duke Xian of Jin lifted this prohibition by establishing the upper army; led by himself and the lower army; commanded by his son Shengshen. Jin's central army was established in the year of 633 BCE by Duke Wen of Jin. In 634 BCE, Duke Wen additionally formed three "ranks" (三行) with the purpose of defending against a Beidi invasion.[11] The three ranks were later redeployed into the "New armies" (新軍). The new armies were largely dependent on the actual military necessity instead of being permanent units. Due to their flexibility, the new armies were sometimes omitted.[10]

According to Tang dynasty scholar Kong Yingda, The central army was the most prestigious army among Jin's three armies.[12] Its commander Zhongjunjiang (中軍將) also governs the state of Jin as Zhengqing (正卿)----Jin's prime minister.[10][13] Commander of the upper army (Shangjunjiang, 上軍將) and commander of the lower army (Xiajunjiang, 下軍將) did not have the access of political influence in Jin's court and were merely military staffs. Every commander (Junjiang) of an Jin army was accompanied by a Junzuo (軍佐) who was the assistant of Junjiang (軍將). Other posts in Jin' army were: Junsima (軍司馬) and Junwei (軍尉). The two were subordinated under Junjiang and Junzuo.[14]

Military ranks[13][6][15] [ edit ]

  • Zhongjunjiang (中軍將), also known as Yuanshuai (元帥), Jiangjun (將軍) and Zhengqing; Prime minister of Jin.
  • Zhongjunzuo (中軍佐)
  • Zhongjunwei (中軍尉), when the country is not at war, Zhongjunwei is in charge of the actual affairs of the central army.[12]
  • Shangjunjiang (上軍將)
  • Shangjunzuo (上軍佐)
  • Shangjunwei (上軍尉), when the country is not at war, Shangjunwei is in charge of the actual affairs of the upper army.[12]
  • Xiajunjiang (下軍將)
  • Xiajunzuo (下軍佐)
  • Zhongjunsima (中軍司馬)
  • Shangjunsima (上軍司馬)

Rulers [ edit ]

List of Jin rulers based on the Records of the Grand Historian and the Bamboo Annals.[5]

The original branch:

Title Given name Reign
Shu Yu of Tang 唐叔虞 Yú 虞 1042 BC–?
Xie, Marquis of Jin 晉侯燮 Xiè 燮
Marquis Wu of Jin 晉武侯 Níngzú 寧族
Marquis Cheng of Jin 晉成侯 Fúrén 服人
Marquis Li of Jin 晉厲侯 Fú 福 ?–859 BC
Marquis Jing of Jin 晉靖侯 Yíjìu 宜臼 858–841 BC
Marquis Xi of Jin 晉釐侯 Sītú 司徒 840–823 BC
Marquis Xian of Jin 晉獻侯 Jí 籍 822–812 BC
Marquis Mu of Jin 晉穆侯 Fèiwáng 費王 811–785 BC
Shang Shu 殤叔 unknown 784–781 BC
Marquis Wen of Jin 晉文侯 Chóu 仇 780–746 BC
Marquis Zhao of Jin 晉昭侯 Bó 伯 745–740 BC
Marquis Xiao of Jin 晉孝侯 Píng 平 739–724 BC
Marquis E of Jin 晉鄂侯 Xì 郤 723–718 BC
Marquis Ai of Jin 晉哀侯 Guāng 光 717–709 BC
Marquis Xiaozi of Jin 晉小子侯 unknown 708–705 BC
Min, Marquis of Jin 晉侯緡 Mín 緡 704–678 BC

The Quwo branch, replacing the original branch in 678 BC:

Title Given name Reign
Huan Shu of Quwo 曲沃桓叔 Chéngshī 成師 745–732 BC
Zhuang Bo of Quwo 曲沃莊伯 Shàn 鱓 731–716 BC
Duke Wu of Quwo and Jin 曲沃(晉)武公 Chēng 稱 715–679 BC as Duke of Quwo

678–677 BC as Duke of Jin
Duke Xian of Jin 晉獻公 Guǐzhū 詭諸 676–651 BC
none Xīqí 奚齊 651 BC
Zhuozi 卓子 Zhuō 卓 651 BC
Duke Hui of Jin 晉恵公 Yíwú 夷吾 650–637 BC
Duke Huai of Jin 晉懷公 Yǔ 圉 637 BC
Duke Wen of Jin 晉文公 Chóng'ěr 重耳 636–628 BC
Duke Xiang of Jin 晉襄公 Huān 驩 627–621 BC
Duke Ling of Jin 晉靈公 Yígāo 夷皋 620–607 BC
Duke Cheng of Jin 晉成公 Hēitún 黑臀 606–600 BC
Duke Jing of Jin 晉景公 Jù 據 599–581 BC
Duke Li of Jin 晉厲公 Shòumàn 壽曼 580–573 BC
Duke Dao of Jin 晉悼公 Zhōu 周 573–558 BC
Duke Ping of Jin 晉平公 Biāo 彪 557–532 BC
Duke Zhao of Jin 晉昭公 Yí 夷 531–526 BC
Duke Qing of Jin 晉頃公 Qùjí 去疾 525–512 BC
Duke Ding of Jin 晉定公 Wǔ 午 511–475 BC
Duke Chu of Jin 晉出公 Záo 鑿 474–452 BC
Duke Jing (or Ai or Yi) 晉敬公/哀公/懿公 Jiāo 驕 451–434 BC
Duke You of Jin 晉幽公 Liǔ 柳 433–416 BC
Duke Lie of Jin 晉烈公 Zhǐ 止 415–389 BC
Duke Huan (or Xiao) 晉桓公/孝公 Qí 頎 388–369 BC

The Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji) also has another Duke Jing after Duke Xiao. However, Shiji's account of the last rulers of Jin is often self-contradictory, and is further contradicted by the Bamboo Annals, which does not mention any Jin ruler after Duke Huan of Jin.[4] Historians such as Yang Kuan, Ch'ien Mu, and Han Zhaoqi generally regard the Bamboo Annals as more reliable, as it was unearthed from the tomb of King Xiang (died 296 BC) of the State of Wei, one of the three successor states of Jin. Duke Huan is therefore generally considered the final ruler of Jin.[5]

Later tradition [ edit ]

Claimed descendants [ edit ]

The Sui dynasty Emperors were from the northwest military aristocracy, and emphasized that their patrilineal ancestry was ethnic Han, claiming descent from the Han official Yang Zhen.[16] and the New Book of Tang traced his patrilineal ancestry to the Zhou dynasty kings via Ji Boqiao 姬伯僑, who was the son of Duke Wu of Jin.[17] Ji Boqiao's family became known as the "sheep tongue family" 羊舌氏.

The Yang of Hongnong 弘農楊氏[18][19][20][21][22] were asserted as ancestors by the Sui Emperors like the Longxi Li's were asserted as ancestors of the Tang Emperors.[23] The Li of Zhaojun and the Lu of Fanyang hailed from Shandong and were related to the Liu clan which was also linked to the Yang of Hongnong and other clans of Guanlong.[24] Duke Wu of Jin was claimed as the ancestors of the Hongnong Yang.[25]



Astrology [ edit ]

Jin is represented by the star 36 Capricorni (b Capricorni) in the asterism Twelve States, Girl mansion.[28] Jin is also represented by the star Kappa Herculis in asterism Right Wall, Heavenly Market enclosure (see Chinese constellation).[29]

References [ edit ]

  1. ^ Zuo Zhuan, 5th Year of Duke Ding of Lu (魯定公): 懷姓九宗，職官五正。命以《唐誥》，而封於夏虚，啓以夏政，疆以戎索。
  2. ^ near modern Qucun (曲村).
  3. ^ in modern Houma
  4. ^ a b Annals of Wei, Bamboo Annals.
  5. ^ a b c Han, Zhaoqi (2010). "House of Jin". Annotated Shiji (in Chinese). Zhonghua Book Company. pp. 3093–3094. ISBN 978-7-101-07272-3.
  6. ^ a b 中國早期國家性質. Zhishufang press. 2003. p. 304. ISBN 9789867938176.
  7. ^ Zuo Zhuan, Duke Cheng, 3rd year of
  8. ^ Du Yu, Kong Yingda, Zuo Zhuan Zhengyi
  9. ^ Commentaries on Rites of Zhou. Shanghai: Shanghai Guji Press. 2010. ISBN 9787532548514.
  10. ^ a b c Gu, Donggao (1993). 春秋大事表. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company. pp. 1777–1778. ISBN 9787101012187.
  11. ^ a b Lin, Tianren (2003). 先秦三晉區域文化研究. Taipei: 五南圖書出版股份有限公司. p. 194. ISBN 9789867743466.
  12. ^ a b c Kong, Yingda (1990). 春秋左传正义. Shanghai: Shanghai Guji Press. ISBN 9787532509546.
  13. ^ a b Jiang, Yihua (2005). 中国通史教程, Volume 1. Shanghai: Fudan University press. pp. 222–227. ISBN 9787309047974.
  14. ^ Shuo, Xuehan. 孫子兵法論正. pp. 115–116.
  15. ^ Li, Longxian (1989). 晉文公復國定霸考. Taipei: National Taiwan University publishing centre. p. 232. ISBN 9788010200917.
  16. ^ 'Book of Sui, vol. 1
  17. ^ New Book of Tang, zh:s:新唐書
  19. ^ Bulletin. The Museum. 1992. p. 154.
  25. ^ 《氏族志》
  28. ^ Richard Hinckley Allen: Star Names — Their Lore and Meaning: Capricornus

External links [ edit ]

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