Dynasties of ChinaSpring and Autumn periodEastern Zhou royal family lineage
Reign 585–572 BCE
During his reign, there was a stalemate between Jin and Chu for hegemony. Hua Yuan facilitated the first annihilation of troops. Jin defeated Chu in the Battle of Yanling, and the state of Wu began to rise.
Ji Yi is the son of King Ding. During his fourteen years in office, the struggle for hegemony between the two great powers of Jin and Chu entered a stalemate stage. Shen Gongwuchen of the state of Chu went to the state of Jin because of Xia Ji's incident, and also sent an envoy to the state of Wu to teach the Wu people to ride in chariots and shoot at the enemy. From then on, the state of Wu became strong and continued to harass the state of Chu. In 579 BC, Hua Yuan of the Song Dynasty brokered an alliance between Jin and Chu, which was known as the first annihilation of troops in history. However, it was broken a few years later. In 575 BC, the Jin army defeated the Chu army in Yanling. Within the Jin Kingdom, there were "difficulties in the imperial palace" and the murder of Duke Li of Jin. King Jian died in 572 BC, and his son Ji Xiexin succeeded him as King Ling.
PoliticsMoved to Xintian
Jin Jinggong adopted Han Jue's suggestion and moved the capital from Gujiang to Xintian, which is still called Jiang with thick soil and deep water. For more than two hundred years, Xintian has been the capital of Jin.
Lasting legacyThe former site of Xintian is in present-day Houma City, Shanxi Province. The ruins of the Jin Kingdom and the unearthed Houma League Book are important objects for studying the Jin Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn period.
DiplomacyWu Chen Tong Wu
After the Chu State Shen Gongwuchen and Xia Ji fled to the Jin State, the Chu generals Zizhong and Zi rebelled and killed their tribesmen. Wu Chen requested an envoy to the State of Wu to teach the people of Wu how to ride chariots, shoot arrows, and fight in battle formations. From then on, the State of Wu attacked Chu, and Zi Zhong and Zi Fan were "one year old and seven years old."
PoliticsThe difficulty of leaving the palace
Jin Jinggong believed the slander and had Zhao Tong and Zhao Kuo killed. The Zhao family was almost exterminated. Later, after Han Jue's advice, Zhao Wu was restored. "Historical Records" interprets this incident as the story of Cheng Ying and Gongsun Chujiu rescuing an orphan.
Lasting legacyThe Yuan drama "The Orphan of Zhao" was adapted from it, and was rewritten by Voltaire in the 18th century as "The Orphan of China". There are still many drama versions performed today.
DiplomacyFirst annihilation
Hua Yuan of the Song Dynasty had good relations with the rulers of Jin and Chu, and he brokered the establishment of an alliance between the two countries outside the west gate of the Song capital, agreeing not to send troops to each other and to jointly support each other in disasters. But three years later, Chu broke the agreement and went north.
MilitaryBattle of Ma Tunnel
Duke Li of Jin sent Prime Minister Lu as an envoy to Qin to submit a letter of renunciation detailing Qin's crimes. He then led a coalition of princes to attack Qin and defeated the Qin army at Ma Tunnel.
Lasting legacy"Lü Xiang Jue Qin" is included in "Gu Wen Guan Zhi" and is a famous piece of ancient diplomatic rhetoric.
MilitaryBattle of Yanling
The Chu army rescued Zheng and fought with the Jin army at Yanling. Jin general Lu Qi shot Chu Gongwang in the eye, and the Chu army retreated; Chu commander Zifan got drunk and made trouble, Chu Gongwang retreated overnight, and Zifan committed suicide.
PoliticsDuke Li of Jin was killed
Duke Li of Jin executed Que Qi, Que Ji, and Que Zhi San Que, and was subsequently imprisoned and killed by Luan Shu and Zhongxing Yan. The people of Jin welcomed Prince Zhou, who was only fourteen years old, back from the capital to ascend the throne as Jin Daogong, and the Jin Kingdom subsequently revived.
The chief of Shen County in Chu State was named Qu Wu and given the courtesy name Ziling. He once advised Chu Zhuangwang not to marry Xia Ji, but later he took Xia Ji and fled to Jin. After the tribesman was killed, he went to Wu as an envoy to teach the Wu people chariot fighting, which made Wu a serious problem for Chu.
Posthumous title of son. It was suggested that Jin Jinggong move the capital to Xintian; after the disaster in the lower palace, he proposed to reinstate Zhao Wu; Jin Daogong was then the general of the Central Army and in charge of the Jin government.
Mingjian, the son of Chu Zhuangwang, ascended the throne at the age of ten. In the Battle of Yanling, he was shot and wounded by a Jin general. On his deathbed, he asked himself to be given the posthumous title of "Ling" or "Li" to show his repentance. After his death, he was posthumously named "Gong" by his ministers.