Jin Zhun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jin Zhun 靳準 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor of Han-Zhao | |||||||||
| Emperor of Han-Zhao | |||||||||
| Reign | 318 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Liu Can | ||||||||
| Successor | Liu Yao | ||||||||
| Died | c.January 319 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Jin | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Han-Zhao (by usurpation) | ||||||||
Jin Zhun (Chinese: 靳準; died c.January 319[1]) was an official and a member of the consort kin of the Xiongnu-led Han-Zhao dynasty of China who briefly usurped the throne in 318. Jin Zhun staged a coup d'état against the Han emperor and his son-in-law Liu Can (Emperor Yin) and then massacred the Liu imperial family. He then proclaimed himself Heavenly King of Han and nominally submitted to the Eastern Jin dynasty as a vassal. His forces were subsequently squeezed in by the troops led by Liu Yao and Shi Le, and, facing probable defeat, his followers assassinated him. Liu Yao then succeeded Jin Zhun to the Han throne. Jin Zhun was probably an ethnic Xiongnu, although some sources claim that he was of Han descent.
The first reference to Jin Zhun in history was in 315, when he was mentioned as a minor Han general, whose two beautiful daughters Jin Yueguang and Jin Yuehua were taken by the Han emperor Liu Cong (Emperor Zhaowu) as consorts. Liu Cong, who was then starting the highly unorthodox practice of creating multiple empresses, creating Jin Yueguang as "Upper Empress" and Jin Yuehua as "Right Empress." That same year, Upper Empress Jin was revealed by the official Chen Yuanda as having committed adultery, causing Liu Cong to feel compelled to depose her. Ashamed, she committed suicide.
It was also mentioned that another daughter of Jin Zhun married Liu Cong's son, Liu Can, but the year is unknown. As years went by, Jin Zhun became closely associated with the Liu Can and several eunuchs and servants trusted by Liu Cong and Liu Can, including Wang Chen (王沈), Xuan Huai (宣懷), and Guo Yi (郭漪). Jin and Guo were instrumental in persuading Liu Can that his uncle, Liu Ai (劉乂) the crown prince was conspiring against him and his father, and subsequently participated heavily in Liu Can's plot to have his uncle falsely accused of treason and removed as crown prince in 317. Jin also assassinated the former Crown Prince Ai, on Liu Can's orders. Liu Can became crown prince, and Princess Jin became crown princess.
