WEI, JIN, NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN DYNASTIES (AD220-581):
Although this period was characterized primarily by its political instability, there were economic and cultural advances that far surpassed anything evident in previous dynasties. The most prominent regional rivalry was between North and South, although there was a strong feeling that China was united by a common culture and should remain as one entity.
The Wei Dynasty was founded in the north in AD220 and took the southwest 43 years later. China, however, remained divided because of two other powers. The first was the state of Wu in the central and lower Yangtze Valley and and areas to its south. The second was the state of Shu in the southwest which was surrounded by mountains.
The Western Jin replaced the Wei in AD265 and in AD280 defeated the state of Wu. Some sort of unification looked possible, but the new regime relied too heavily on the nobility. Ethnic uprisings followed and by AD316, Jin power had come to an end. Rival warlords battled over the north for the next 150 years. Control over the south by the Eastern Jin lasted from AD317-420. Repeated attempts were made to capture the north, however, Eastern Jin rulers were suspicious of their own military leaders and never gave the campaigns their full support.
From AD387-534 the Northern Wei reorganized almost every aspect of society in the north, including labor, taxes, language, the civil service and the legal system. But the splendor the Northern Wei created in some 30 years did not last long. Non-Chinese, who were sadly mistreated, rebelled. The rebellion was crushed by another tribe and the Northern Wei Dynasty was split into the Eastern and Western Wei. In AD552 the Eastern Wei was overthrown and five years later the Western Wei succumbed. These were replaced by the Zhou dynasty which lasted until AD581.
