Wei and Jin Politics and the Transfer of Imperial Power

This book focuses on the political changes brought about by the transfer of imperial power between the Cao Wei and Western Jin Dynasties. Starting from the transfer of imperial power, this book explores the political unrest brought about by the short-term situation of a weak king and a strong minister. The battles faced by Emperor Tuogu of Wei Ming and Emperor Hui of Jin when they were crown princes were two representative transfers of imperial power in the history of the Wei, Jin and Southern Dynasties. Emperor Wei Ming's change of orders largely determined the direction of Cao Wei's Zhengshi situation, and even determined that Cao Wei would eventually be replaced by the Sima family. The status of the crown prince during the period of Emperor Wu of the Western Jin Dynasty and the protracted battle for the title of crown prince, directly affected the layout of the power structure of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty. His reliance on and abandonment of Jia Chong and his use of Yang Jun made the Western Jin Dynasty finally form a political and military structure in which the emperor and his relatives were combined, which became the cause of the chaos in the Western Jin Dynasty.