Western Jin

Refers to a Chinese dynasty of the period 265 to 316 CE, the first dynasty of the so-called Six Dynasties to succeed one another in southern China. The Western Jin capital was at Luoyang in Henan province. The dynasty was founded by Sima Yan, later known as the emperor Wudi (reigned 265-289 CE). Sima Yan deposed the last Wei ruler and defeated the state of Wu, thus briefly uniting China. The Western Jin period is noted for the high-fired, green-glazed stoneware that was to imitate bronzes. Such ceramics, as well as grave models and bronze mirrors, were found in Western Jin tombs. Fighting between powerful families prevented an effective government from forming and provoked civil war; drought and famine made the situation worse. In 311 the Xiongnu, a northern nomadic people, invaded, bringing an end to the Western Jin dynasty. China would be divided into northern and southern dynasties until the Sui dynasty.