Again, local warlords came into power by 200 CE. Bitter wars
between differing factions led to the split of the empire
into three kingdoms: Wei, Shu, and Wu. After decades of war,
Wei conquered all by 280 CE, only to have the throne of Wei
disputed into the next century. Just as the Jin family gained
control, the barbaric Xiongnu invaded from the north. They
seized gigantic areas of the empire, including the capital,
for occupation, forcing the Jins to consolidate power in the
south. The Xiongnu eventually settled, integrated into Chinese
society, and became Buddhists. As the southerners retook the
north in 417 CE, both the southern Jins and the northern Lius
were deposed from their own realms, leaving control of the
empire up for grabs.
A succession of families withered on the throne, each eventually
murdered and cast-off by the usurpers. The Sui family held
on until a failed war in Korea caused another civil war in
618 CE, when the Tang dynasty began. Failing to hold onto
western trade, losing the Silk Road to Islamic forces in 751
CE, and unable to control the lords, the Tangs fell in 907
CE. The next fifty years saw five failed dynasties, civil
war, and foreign invasion from the kingdom of Liao. The emperor
Taizu, first of the Song dynasty, settled the state in 960
CE. Barely holding onto power, the family ignored defense
and let foreigners consolidate power over occupied China.
