Wei, Jin, On The Occasion Of Political Power And The Family Network

Many scholars much attention has to been paid the political transition during Wei and Jin Dynasties. Based on the previous researches this dissertation intends to discourse the political changes and find out the role the family network played in Wei and Jin Dynasties in light of political history and family history which differentiates itself from the previous focus on the 'political group' nor 'partisan struggle' paradigm. The Sima family was not a typical Confucius one and experienced transformation from military attache to civil service in the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties. Hence it was culturally tinted by new changes in cultural atmosphere during the second half of the Eastern Dynasty. The Sima family were esteemed in Henei Jun (Henei Prefecture) and were rooted deeply in local society in marriage and communication network sense. Taking advantage of the local commentary, the Sima family gained entry into the political system of the Wei Dynasty. After dozens of years in Sima Yi's official career, the family won extensive human resources and became a national prominent family. Sima Yi by making full use of old establishments' dissatisfaction over Cao Shuang's reform, launched the Gaopingling Coup and controlled Cao's regime. Yet it failed to pave the way for the birth of Jin Dynasty as other families involved were not expecting a new dynasty. During Sima Shi's rule, he conquered challenges within and outside the court, fostered political power laid a solid foundation for a new dynasty. Sima Zhao rebuilt the power structure within the Sima family and conquered Shu, which eased the accusations of regicide. When Sima Yan took the ready throne, he had to keep the balance between two political forces---monarchy heroes and royal clan, especially in Taishi years. But he changed the policy when the conspiracy to put Qi Wang, Sima You into power occurred in 276 AD. Availing the power he fostered in his wife's clan and the prestige he gained by conquering Wu, he forced Sima You to leave his region. This action met strong protest from ministers and resulted in great and long-term conflict between the emperor and his ministers. During the Three Kingdoms Period, the possibility of foreign invasion kept the Sima family from any political reform. Hence the Jin Dynasty shared a lot with the Wei in bureaucracy. Mainly composed by the Wei royal clan, the ruling class in the Western Jin Dynasty were self-closed and exclusive to outsiders. The standing-still political system undermined the Western Jin Dynasty's social foundation.