Chinese Culture

Jin Dynasty

The Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) was established by the outstanding leader Wanyan Aguda of the Nvzhen tribe, living in the lower reaches of the Songhuajiang and Heilongjiang Rivers in the latter period of the Northern Song, with their capital located first at Huining (the present Acheng in Heilongjiang Province), and then at Zhongdu (the present Beijing).

The Jin was a deadly threat to the Liao. The Jin combined with the Northern Song to attack the Liao and finally in 1125 the Liao was defeated. The Northern Song was also defeated later by the Jin, in 1127. From that time, the Jin took total control of Northern China. Later, in 1140, the Jin continued to attack the newly-established Southern Song. Faced with the prowess of the famous general Yuefei's troops of the Southern Song, the Jin army suffered severe setbacks. As a consequence, coexistence was established between the two confronting powers the Southern Song and the Jin.

In order to resist the attack from the West Xia and the northern Mongols, the Jin moved their capital from Zhongdu (the present Beijing) to the south Bianjing (the present Kaifeng) City. However, which was at last conquered by the Mongolian army with the help of the Southern Song army. In 1234, the last emperor of the Jin was captured, and the Jin Dynasty collapsed. The Yuan Dynasty, another new dynasty established by the Mongols, was at hand.