Jin (state)
Jin ( Chinese 晉 / 晋 , Pinyin Jìn , W.-G. Chin ) was an ancient Chinese state from the 11th century BC. Chr. To 453 / 403 v. Chr. Its territory was on the territory of the province of Shanxi . It was one of the most powerful states in China during the spring and autumn annals , where Duke Wen of Jin , who had defeated the Chu state in the Battle of Chengpu ( 632 BC ), was appointed hegemon. At the end of this period, Jin was divided into three states, Han 韩 , Wei 魏 and Zhao 赵 . The partition of Jin is sometimes seen as the beginning event of the Warring States Period, with these three new states becoming the main actors of the period. Jin has remained the traditional name for the Shanxi region.
At the end of the 3rd century, at the beginning of the Jin dynasty of the same name, the bamboo annals were discovered, a chronicle which, among other things, reports the history of Jin from the beginning of the Eastern Zhou dynasty ( 771 BC ) up to its division.
history
The beginnings of Jin go back to the rule of King Cheng of Zhou (成 王 1110 BC - 1078 BC), who enfeoffed his brother Shuyu (叔 虞) with Tang (唐) in Shanxi. The latter's son changed the name of the fief to Jin. As a branch of the Zhou royal family, the rulers of Jin shared their family name, the name Ji (姬). You were margrave / marquis (hou 侯) until 679 BC. BC , then duke (gong 公). Marquis Wen (文 侯) supported King Ping (平王), the Chancellor of the Eastern Zhou , on his departure for the new capital Luoyi (洛 邑) and was rewarded with it.
745 BC Margrave / Marquis Zhao (昭侯) enfeoffed his uncle Chengshi (成 師) with Quwo (曲沃). This branch grew in importance and Ji Cheng (姬 稱), the third heir of the fief, was made Duke by the King of Zhou (Duke Wu of Quwo 曲沃 武 公). From now on it was his descendants who ruled Jin. Because he feared being the victim of a usurpation, his son, Duke Xian (獻 公675 - 651 BC ), had a large part of his relatives killed and appointed members from other clans as ministers. He made Jin the only state where the ruler's clan was not given important posts by order. Jin defeated Geng (耿), Huo (霍), Wei (魏), Yu (虞) and the barbarians Lirong (驪 戎) and Chidi (赤 狄) under his rule . Under Duke Wen (文公636 BC - 628 BC ), Jin defeated the Chu state in 632 BC. Chr. In Chengpu (城濮) and received from King Xiang of Zhou (周襄王) the title of Hegemon (bazhu霸主). From now on, neither Qin State nor Qi State dared to attack him, but the fighting with Chu continued with ups and downs.
Under the reign of Duke Ling (靈 公620 - 607 BC ), the Duke lost real control of power to Minister Zhao Dun (趙盾) and other powerful clans. Despite the attempt by Duke Li (厲- 580 - 573 BC ) to regain it, seven families (shi 氏), the families Fan (范氏), Zhongxing (中行 氏) and Zhi, dominated at the end of the 6th century (智 氏), Han (韓氏), Zhao (趙氏) and Wei (魏氏). In 453 BC Chr. , The three last-mentioned the other off. Their heads Han Qian (韓 虔), Zhao Ji (趙 籍) and Wei Si (魏斯) were taken over by the king of Zhou in 403 BC. . Chr appointed Marquis / Marquis. The last Duke of Jin was born in 349 BC. Chr. Killed by the clan Han and Zhao.
capital Cities
The capital of Jin was initially Tang (唐) in today's Yicheng County (翼 城縣) or Jin (晉) in Linfen (臨汾). 746 BC Chr. A second capital appears Quwo (曲沃) in today's Circle Wenxi (聞喜縣). A century later, Duke Xian (献 公) settled in Jiang (絳) in the southeast of Yicheng. The last capital was Xintian (新 田) in Houma (侯馬) from the reign of Duke Jing ( 599 - 581 BC ) on.