was met by an Oppossing force under the Wei commander Sze-ma I, of
whom Chinese historians say that "he led armies like a god," and who,
by adopting a Fabian policy, completely discomfited his adversary. But
the close of this campaign brought no peace to the country. Wars
became chronic, and the reins of power slipped out of the hands of
emperors into those of their generals. Foremost among these were the
members of the Sze-ma family of Wei. Sze-ma I left a son, Sze-ma Chao,
scarcely less distinguished than himself, and when Sze-ma Chao died
his honours descended to Sze-ma Yen, who deposed the ruling sovereign
of Wei, and proclaimed himself emperor of China (A.D. 265). His
dynasty he styled the Western Tsin dynasty, and he adopted for himself
the title of Wu-ti. The most noticeable event in this reign was the
advent of the ambassadors of the emperor Diocletian in 284. For some
years the neighbouring states appear to have transferred their
allegiance from the house of Wei to that of Tsin. Wu-ti's successors
proving, however, weak and incapable, the country soon fell again into
disorder. The Hiung-nu renewed incursions into the empire at the
beginning of the 4th century, and in the confusion which followed, an
adventurer named Liu Yuen established himself (in 311) as emperor,
first at P'ing-yang in Shan-si and afterwards in Lo-yang and Chang-an.
The history of this period is very chaotic. Numerous states sprang
into existence, some founded by the Hiung-nu and others by the Sien-pi
tribe, a Tungusic clan, inhabiting a territory to the north of China,
which afterwards established the Liao dynasty in China. In 419 the
Eastern Tsin dynasty came to an end, and with it disappeared for
nearly two hundred years all semblance of united authority. The
country became divided into two parts, the north and the south. In the
north four families reigned successively, two of which were of Sien-pi
origin, viz. the Wei and the How Chow, the other two, the Pih Ts'i and
the How Liang, being Chinese. In the south five different houses
supplied rulers, who were all of Chinese descent.

Suy dynasty.

This period of disorder was brought to a close by the establishment of
the Suy dynasty (590). Among the officials of the ephemeral dynasty of
Chow was one Yang Kien, who on his daughter becoming empress (578) was
created duke of Suy. Two years later Yang Kien proclaimed hi