In 220 AD, Cao Pi dethroned the emperor Xian, which ended the Han Dynasty. Cao Pi gain power when is father, Cao Cao, won the Three Kingdoms war and manipulated the emperor. Cao Cao was considered a blood thirsty warlord that preyed upon the weak. Cao Cao was also known for manipulating Lu Bei, the emperor of Shu, in his time of need. “… His son Cao Pi finally dethroned Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, and proclaimed himself as emperor, with the dynastic title as Wei and the reign motto as Yingchu.” (Beijing International) The Wei Dynasty is one of China’s shorter dynasties. “Altogether the Wei Dynasty had five emperors and the dynasty existed for 46 years.” (Beijing International) It lasted from 220-265 AD.
The Three Kingdoms war is where Wei fought Wu and Shu to gain influence in the failing Han Dynasty. Each had their own ideals on how to restore control to one of China’s most chaotic times. This war is one of the most famous wars in history. It also is known for one of the few wars having female warriors fight with men back then. One woman named Xing Cai proved her power and intelligence on the battlefi eld and was given the rank of captain of the Shu empyreal guard. She was also give the name “Northern Star”. This war is mentioned in the world famous book series Romance Of The Three Kingdoms. This where Wei is first mentioned.
After the war was over and Cao Pi took the throne the kingdom geographically split into North and South. “The Dynasties marked the end of the Han Dynasty and the unification of China by the Sui” (Lakeside Publishing Group) During this time a large migration was going on. “… Population movement caused conflicts both between the Han and minorities in the north and immigrants and natives in the south.” (Hu, Axiang) Both Dynasties had trouble with large numbers going from north to south and vice versa. The immigration prefecture was almost unable to keep up with. This was angering some natives.
Some tribes were created. “Prominent among these was a group called the Toba, a branch of the Xianbei people- comprised of nomadic tribes living in what is now eastern Mongolia and western Manchuria.” (Lakeside Publishing Croup). These people were not Chinese so they took in the Chinese culture because they were losing their identity. At the end of the fourth century, this tribe expanded their control on the north China plain. They not only had non-native under control but some Chinese.
The Wei dynasty was one of the shorter dynasties in China. “Altogether the Wei Dynasty hade five emperors and the dynasty existed for 46 years.” (Beijing International) Soon starting the famous Jin Dynasty. There some speculation on how the Jin stated. The Book of Jin, some people state that it was started by the grandson of Sima Yi, a strategist that worked under Cao Cao. The last emperor of Wei was thought as sickly giving the person an advantage to take the throne.
Jin or sometimes called Tsin lasted from 265 to 420. Then emperor at the time was Sima Yan. He was the grandson of Sima Yi and the son of Sima Zhao. The Sima family was known for the high intelligence but also known for acts of treason and planning an ally’s down fall to reach their goals. Sima Yan’s was also split into two parts. “It was divided into two phases: the Western Tsin (265-317) and the Eastern Tsin (317-420).” (Columbia University, Press) After the death of Sima Ye in 290 the Huns (Xiongnu) attacked northern China. Twenty years later the Huns destroyed two capitals in Western Tsin of Northern China.
References: Hu, Axiang. "The Population Migration And Its Influence In The Period Of The Eastern Jin, The Sixteen States, And The Northern And Southern Dynasties." Frontiers Of History In China 5.4 (2010): 576-615. History Reference Center. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. Lakeside Publishing Group, LLC. "Wei Dynasties." Wei Dynasties (2007): 1. History Reference Center. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. Columbia University, Press. "Tsin." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2011): 1. History Reference Center. Web. 12 Oct. 2012. Beijing Inernational, “Wei and Jin Dynasties”, Beijing Municipal Government Web. 12 Oct. 2012