Jin dynasty (1115–1234) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Great Jin 大金
1115–1234
Location of Jin dynasty (blue), c. 1141
Circuits of Jin
Capital	Huining Prefecture (1122–1153) Zhongdu (1153–1214) Kaifeng (1214–1233) Caizhou (1233–1234)
Common languages	Middle Chinese (later Old Mandarin), Jurchen, Khitan
Religion	Buddhism Taoism Confucianism Chinese folk religion
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• 1115–1123	Taizu (first)
• 1161–1189	Shizong
• 1234	Modi (last)
Historical era	Medieval Asia
• Founded by Aguda	28 January 1115
• Destruction of the Liao dynasty	1125
• Capture of Bianliang from the Northern Song dynasty	9 January 1127
• Mongol invasion	1211
• Fall of Caizhou to the Mongol Empire	9 February 1234
Area
1142 est.	3,610,000 km2 (1,390,000 sq mi)
1186 est.	4,750,000 km2 (1,830,000 sq mi)
Population
• 1186 est.	53,000,000
Currency	Chinese coin, Chinese cash, and paper money See: Jin dynasty coinage (1115–1234)
Preceded by Succeeded by Liao dynasty Northern Song Mongol Empire Southern Song Western Liao Eastern Xia Eastern Liao
Today part of	China North Korea Russia

History of China
ANCIENT
Neolithic c. 8500 – c. 2070 BCE
Xia dynasty c. 2070 – c. 1600 BCE
Shang dynasty c. 1600 – c. 1046 BCE
Zhou dynasty c. 1046 – 256 BCE
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn
Warring States
IMPERIAL
Qin dynasty 221–206 BCE
Han dynasty 206 BCE – 220 CE
Western Han
Xin dynasty
Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220–280
Wei, Shu and Wu
Jin dynasty 265–420
Western Jin
Eastern Jin	Sixteen Kingdoms
Southern and Northern Dynasties 420–589
Sui dynasty 581–618
Tang dynasty 618–907
(Wu Zhou interregnum 690–705)
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907–960	Liao dynasty 907–1125
Song dynasty 960–1279
Northern Song		W. Xia
Southern Song	Jin
Yuan dynasty 1271–1368
Ming dynasty 1368–1644
Qing dynasty 1644–1911
MODERN
Republic of China 1912–1949
People's Republic of China 1949–present	Republic of China on Taiwan 1949–present
Related articles Chinese historiography Timeline of Chinese history Dynasties in Chinese history Linguistic history Art history Economic history Education history Science and technology history Legal history Media history Military history Naval history

The Jin dynasty (/dʒɪn/; Chinese: 金朝; pinyin: Jīn Cháo), also called the Great Jin, was an important empire in Chinese history. It existed from 1115 to 1234. People sometimes call it the "Jurchen dynasty" because its rulers were from the Jurchen people.

The Jin dynasty started when Wanyan Aguda led a rebellion against the Liao dynasty. The Jin forces pushed the Liao people far away into Central Asia. After defeating the Liao, the Jin dynasty fought against the Northern Song dynasty for many years. The Jin emperors, who were Jurchen, slowly adopted Chinese customs. They even strengthened the Great Wall of China to protect against the rising Mongols. The Jin period also saw new cultural ideas, like a fresh interest in Confucianism.

After being powerful for centuries, the Jin dynasty faced the Mongols led by Genghis Khan in 1211. The Jin armies suffered huge defeats. After many losses and internal problems, the Jin dynasty finally fell to the Mongols in 1234.

What's in a Name?

The Jin dynasty was officially known as the "Great Jin." The Jin emperors also called their state "China" (Zhongguo). This shows that even non-Chinese rulers saw their empire as the true China. They believed "China" included all people, not just the Han Chinese.

A Look at Jin History

Where the Jin Dynasty Began

The Jurchen people, who founded the Jin dynasty, likely came from the Mohe people. The Mohe lived in what is now Northeast China. They were mostly farmers and hunters. Horses were not common until later. The Mohe also practiced slavery.

The Jurchens first appeared in historical records in the 10th century. They sent gifts to the Liao, Later Tang, and Song courts. By the 10th century, the Jurchens were under the control of the Liao dynasty. However, they also traded with the Song dynasty.

In the 11th century, many Jurchens were unhappy with Liao rule. The Liao often took tribute (payments) from them by force. A Jurchen chief named Wugunai (1021–1074) became very powerful. He united many Jurchen tribes. His grandson, Aguda, would later start the Jin dynasty.

The Rise of Wanyan Aguda

The Jin dynasty was founded in 1115 by the Jurchen leader Aguda. He named his state "Jin," which means "gold." This name came from the "Anchuhu" River, which meant "golden" in the Jurchen language.

The Jurchens' early rulers were the Khitan-led Liao dynasty. The Liao controlled much of northern and northeastern China. In 1121, the Jurchens teamed up with the Northern Song dynasty to attack the Liao. The Jurchens succeeded in pushing the Liao into Central Asia.

After Aguda's death in 1125, the Jin dynasty broke its alliance with the Song. They invaded northern China. In 1127, the Jin army captured Kaifeng, the Song capital. They took both Emperor Qinzong and his father, Emperor Huizong, as prisoners.

The remaining Song leaders formed the Southern Song dynasty. They continued fighting the Jin for over ten years. In 1141, they signed the Treaty of Shaoxing. This treaty gave all Song lands north of the Huai River to the Jin. It also led to the execution of a Song general named Yue Fei.

Moving South and Changing Ways

After taking over northern China, the Jin dynasty started to adopt more Chinese ways. About three million people, including many Jurchens, moved south into northern China. This small group of Jurchens ruled over about 30 million people.

The Jurchens were given land and organized into military groups. Many Jurchens married Han Chinese people. Emperor Xizong (ruled 1135–1149) studied Chinese classics and wrote Chinese poetry. He adopted Chinese culture, but Jurchen nobles still held the most important positions.

Wanyan Liang became emperor in 1149. He moved the main capital from Huining Prefecture to Yanjing (modern Beijing) in 1153. He also rebuilt the old Song capital, Bianjing (modern Kaifeng), making it the Jin's southern capital.

Rebellions and Peace

The Chengling Pagoda of Zhengding, Hebei Province, built between 1161 and 1189.

Wanyan Liang wanted to rule all of China. He attacked the Southern Song dynasty in 1161. But two rebellions broke out in the north, one led by his cousin Wanyan Yong. Wanyan Liang had to pull his troops back from the south. His forces were defeated by the Song navy. He was killed by his own generals in December 1161.

Jin wood structure (model).

Jin tomb with stage scene.

Emperor Shizong (ruled 1161–1189) became the new emperor. He made peace with the Southern Song dynasty in 1164 with the Treaty of Longxing. This brought over 40 years of peace between the two empires.

Emperor Shizong helped the Jin Empire become rich and have plenty of grain. He also promoted Jurchen language and culture. His reign was known as a time of peace and success. His grandson, Emperor Zhangzong (ruled 1189–1208), also valued Jurchen traditions but loved Chinese culture too.

The Fall of the Jin Dynasty

In the early 1200s, the Jin dynasty faced a new threat: the Mongols from the north. Genghis Khan first attacked the Western Xia in 1205. In 1211, about 50,000 Mongol horsemen invaded the Jin Empire. The Jin had a large army, but they lost battles.

In 1213, the Mongols surrounded the Jin's "central capital," Zhongdu (modern Beijing). In 1214, the Jin made a difficult peace treaty. That summer, Emperor Xuanzong moved the government to Kaifeng, making it the new capital.

Cai Wenji returning to Han, Jin dynasty painting.

Many Chinese and Khitan people joined the Mongols to fight against the Jin dynasty. The Mongols even created a "Han Army" from Jin soldiers who switched sides.

Genghis Khan died in 1227. His successor, Ögedei Khan, invaded the Jin dynasty again in 1232. The Southern Song dynasty helped the Mongols. When the Mongols surrounded Kaifeng in 1233, Emperor Aizong fled south to Caizhou. The Jin dynasty finally fell in 1234. The Jin lands were divided between the Mongols and the Song. However, this led to new wars between the Song and the Mongols.

Jin Military Power

Cataphracts with Jin dynasty (Jurchen) flags. Ruiyingtu (瑞應圖, Illustrations of Auspicious Omens), Song dynasty painting.

Chinese writers at the time said the Jurchens were successful because of their strong cavalry (soldiers on horseback). Jurchen horsemen wore heavy armor. Sometimes, they even used teams of horses chained together.

The Jin army also used many weapons from the Song military, like siege machines and artillery. In 1233, the Jin military used cannons, grenades, and rockets to defend Kaifeng against the Mongols. This is thought to be one of the first times gunpowder was used so effectively in battle.

However, the Jin military was not good at naval warfare. They were defeated by the Southern Song navies when trying to cross the Yangtze River in 1129–30 and 1161.

Jin cavalry.

The Jin military was organized using a system called meng-an mou-k'o. This system was similar to the later Eight Banners of the Qing dynasty. It grouped all Jurchen families for both military and daily life. All men in a household had to serve in the military. Chinese and Khitan soldiers who joined the Jin were also part of this system.

The Jin Great Wall

"Great Golden Central State O-Giao Jeo-Shio" (1196), found in now Mongolia.

To stop attacks from the Mongols, the Jin dynasty built a large section of the Great Wall of China. This Jin Great Wall was different from earlier ones. It was made by digging ditches and building walls inside them. Sometimes, extra walls and ditches were added for more strength.

Construction started around 1123 and finished by 1198. The two main parts built by the Jin dynasty are over 2,000 kilometers long.

How the Jin Government Worked

The Jin dynasty's government mixed Jurchen traditions with ideas from the Liao and Song dynasties. Before the dynasty, Jurchen tribes were ruled by tribal councils. There wasn't a strong central leader. These tribal customs stayed even after Aguda united the tribes.

The Jin dynasty had five capitals, a practice they learned from earlier empires. The early Jin government had to figure out how to rule an empire with many different ethnic groups. They did this by setting up separate government structures for different groups.

Jin Culture and Beliefs

The Jin dynasty had less contact with the Southern Song dynasty. Because of this, their cultures developed differently. For example, a new form of Confucianism that became popular in the Song dynasty did not take hold in the Jin. Jin scholars preferred the work of an earlier Song poet, Su Shi.

Buildings and Cities

The Jin dynasty brought back old city designs from the Tang dynasty. They built bell towers and drum towers in cities like Kaifeng and Zhongdu (Beijing). These towers would announce the night curfew. The Jurchens often lived in tents even within their Chinese-style cities.

Religion in the Jin Dynasty

Jin dynasty fresco of a Bodhisattva from Chongfu Temple (崇福寺), Shuozhou, Shanxi.

Taoism

An important branch of Taoism called the Quanzhen School was founded during the Jin dynasty. It was started by a Chinese man named Wang Zhe (1113–1170). Many poems written during the Jin period were by Quanzhen Taoists.

Jade ornament with flower design, Jin dynasty, Shanghai Museum.

Chinese gold plates and a chalice from the Jin Dynasty's Zhongdu.

Jin tomb with stage scene.

The Jin government also supported the creation of a large collection of Taoist writings. This collection, called the Precious Canon of the Mysterious Metropolis of the Great Jin, was finished in 1192. It contained 6,455 books! Sadly, not a single piece of it has survived today.

Buddhism

Buddhism also grew strong during the Jin dynasty. A large collection of Buddhist texts, called the Jin Tripitaka, was completed in 1173. It had about 7,000 books. This was a huge achievement in printing Buddhist texts.

Many Buddhist writings were also carved onto stone tablets. Members of the Jin imperial family and common people helped pay for these carvings. These stone carvings are very important for studying Chinese Buddhism today.

List of Emperors

Emperors Family Tree

See Also

In Spanish: Dinastía Jin (1115-1234) para niños

• Eastern Xia
• Jurchen Jin emperors family tree
• Korean–Jurchen border conflicts
• Timeline of the Jin–Song Wars