---
node: jin_and_northern_southern
type: period
slug: jin_and_northern_and_southern_dynasties
title: "Jin and the Northern and Southern dynasties"
lead: "The Jin and the Northern and Southern dynasties (265–589) cover a brief Jin reunification followed by nearly three centuries of division between north and south. Buddhism spread widely across China during this era."
published: 2026-07-09
updated: 2026-07-09
image_file: jin_and_northern_and_southern_dynasties.jpg
image_source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tomb_Brick_of_Wei,_Jin,_or_Southern-Northern_Dynasties_-_1.jpg"
image_author: "Gary Todd"
image_license: "CC0"
---

## Overview

The Western Jin (265–316; some sources date its founding to 266, but this site uses 265) reunified China in 280 yet was weakened by the War of the Eight Princes. Non-Han peoples founded a succession of northern states known as the Sixteen Kingdoms, and the Jin court fled south to Jiankang (modern Nanjing) as the Eastern Jin (317–420).

## Key developments

From 420, the southern dynasties — Song, Qi, Liang, and Chen — faced the northern dynasties, the Northern Wei and its successors. Buddhism spread widely in both north and south, and Northern Wei rulers, notably Emperor Xiaowen, pushed sinicization.

## End and transition

The Sui conquered Chen in 589, reuniting China after nearly three centuries of division.