Battle of Jinyang

Battle of Jinyang
Part of Spring and Autumn period
Date455 BC – May 8, 453 BC[1]
Location
Result Zhao victory, Zhi annihilated
Belligerents
House of Zhi
House of Wei (until 453 BC)
House of Han (until 453 BC)
House of Zhao
House of Wei (453 BC)
House of Han (453 BC)
Commanders and leaders
Zhi Yao Zhao Xiangzi

The Battle of Jinyang (Chinese: 晉陽之戰) was fought in modern-day Taiyuan between the elite families of the State of Jin, the house of Zhao and the house of Zhi (智), in the Spring and Autumn period of China. The other houses of Wei and Han first participated in the battle in alliance with the Zhi, but later defected to ally with Zhao to annihilate the Zhi house. This event was a catalyst to the Tripartition of Jin in 434 BC, the forming of the three states of Zhao, Wei, and Han, and the start to the Warring States period. It is the first battle described in the Song Dynasty history compendium Zizhi Tongjian.

  1. ^ Sima Qian vol. 43: "On the 1st day of the eighth month, the three states eliminated the Zhi house and partitioned its lands." (以三月丙戌,三國反滅知氏,共分其地。) The 23rd day of the third month in 453 BC in the Chinese calendar corresponds to May 8th in the Gregorian calendar.