Eastern Jin

When the Western Jin fell, Sima Rui rebuilt the dynasty in the south with its capital at Jiankang — the Eastern Jin. As northern families "crossed south in robes and caps", the Jiangnan region grew ever richer.

Great clans shared power with the throne, Zu Ti rose at cockcrow to drill, the few routed the many at the Battle of Fei River, Wang Xizhi wrote the Orchid Pavilion, and Tao Yuanming went home to farm. A dynasty huddled in the south, yet its arts thrived.

In 420 the general Liu Yu replaced Jin with his own Song, and history entered the Northern and Southern Dynasties.