Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
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The Jin dynasty, officially known as the Great Jin, (Dà Jīn 大金), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed between 1115 and 1234 founded by Emperor Taizu (first). It is also sometimes called the Jurchen dynasty or the Jurchen Jin. The empire covered much of Inner Asia and all of present-day North China.
The Jin dynasty emerged from Wanyan Aguda's rebellion against the Liao dynasty (916–1125), which held sway over northern China until being driven by the nascent Jin to the Western Regions, where they would become known in Chinese historiography as the Western Liao. After conquering the Liao territory, the Jin launched a century-long campaign against the Song dynasty (960–1279) based in southern China, whose rulers were ethnically Han Chinese. Over the course of the Jin's rule, their emperors adapted to Han customs and even fortified the Great Wall against the ascendant Mongol Empire. The Jin also oversaw a number of internal cultural advances, such as the revival of Confucianism.
Buddhism thrived during the Jin, both in its relation with the imperial court and in society in general.[1] Many sutras were also carved on stone tablets.[2] The donors who funded such inscriptions included members of the Jin imperial family, high officials, common people, and Buddhist priests.[2] Some sutras have only survived from these carvings, which are thus highly valuable to the study of Chinese Buddhism.[2]
A version of the Chinese Buddhist Canon ("Tripitaka") was printed in Shanxi. Completed in 1173, the "Jin Tripitaka" counted about 7,000 fascicles, "a major achievement in the history of Buddhist private printing."[3] It was further expanded during the Yuan.[3]
At the same time, the Jin court sold monk certificates for revenue. This practice was initiated in 1162 by Shizong to fund his wars, and stopped three years later when war was over.[4] His successor Zhanzong used the same method to raise military funds in 1197 and one year later to raise money to fight famine in the Western Capital.[4] The same practice was used again in 1207 (to fight the Song and more famine) as well as under the reigns of emperors Weishao (r. 1209–1213) and Xuanzong (r. 1213–1224) to fight the Mongols.[5]
The Mongols under Genghis Khan invaded in 1211, inflicting several crushing defeats upon Jin armies. After a sequence of defeats, revolts, defections, and coups over a span of 23 years, the Jin were ultimately conquered by the Mongols in 1234.
Further reading
Jin dynasty (1115–1234), Wikipedia
Notes
Sources
- Yao, Tao-chung (1995), "Buddhism and Taoism under the Chin", in Tillman, Hoyt Cleveland; West, Stephen H., China Under Jurchen Rule: Essays on Chin Intellectual and Cultural History, SUNY Press, pp. 145–180, ISBN 978-0-791-42273-1
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