Period of Disunion (220-589)

It is in 220 A.D. that the last Han emperor was abdicated by one of the powerful warlords. All warlords took advantage of the weakened state of the government and started to establish their own private armies and proclaimed himself ruler. Many dynasties were established during this time. China entered the stage of disunion and turmoil. Beginning of this period is known as the Three Kingdoms Period (220-265).

Among the three kingdoms, the northern state of Wei, was the strongest. After years conquering, it finally succeeded in annexing the other two states, and founded the Jin dynasty in around 270 A.D. The unification was only temporary because the Jin emperor's princes began fighting among themselves. By this time, nomadic groups in the north garbed the opportunity to attack In 317 A.D., the Jin dynasty finally lost its territory in northern China. For the next 250 years, northern China was split and ruled by numerous nomadic dynasties, while the south was controlled by a sequence of four short-lived Chinese dynasties, all with the capitals at present-day Nanjing. This particular period is Northern and Southern Dynasty.

The Southern Dynasty practiced a powerful, hereditary aristocracy that had become entrenched in government posts. The Wei had adopted the new public offices system based on the nine rank, which was originally determined by evaluations of character and talent. Inversely this system did not work that way out. The social status of the candidate's family determined his post in the government. The status of their ancestors was used to judge themselves and others. The nobles would marry only with families of equivalent social status, and compiled lists and genealogies of the most eminent families. The priorities of the aristocrats were assured of imperial government salaries and exemptions from taxes and labor service. Intellectual, literary, and artistic endeavors of these families rejuvenated and flourished. Many of the families were prominent in landscape painting, poetry writing and witty conversation.

Although the south dynasties rules were not stable, the economy was prospered continuously. Many Chinese escaped to the south from the realm of north nomadic dynasties. Immigrants to the south expended farming land and made the productivity of the south dynasties increasing. The potential of the south for agriculture was greater than that of the north because of its temperate climate and abundant water supply.

In the north, none of the states established by nomadic people lasted very long, except Xianbei People. The Xianbei tribe founded the Northern Wei dynasty (386-534). One of the Xianbei emperors saw the advanced culture of Chinese, started to implement a series of reforming policies designed to strengthen the state. The Xianbei emperors employed Chinese officials, adopted Chinese-style clothing and customs at court, and made Chinese the official language. A new system of distributing land to the farmers promoted agricultural production. The capital was moved from the frontier to inland Luoyang, the old capital of the Jin dynasty.

However, the reform damaged some priorities of the conservative Xianbei nobles. They rebelled in 524 A.D., brought about a decade of constant warfare. For the next 50 years, north China was torn apart by struggles among different powers.

During this turmoil period, Buddhism firmly established as a new religion in China. In around 1st century AD, it was introduced to China along the Silk Road by travelers and monks. Buddhism was different from other native Chinese religions. As a universal religion, it embraced all people, regardless of their ethnicity or social status. It provided an ideal solution for Chinese escaping away from the inability world. The Buddhism temples grew rapidly in China. Many Chinese were concerted into Buddhists.