The Early Political History of the Eastern Jin and Chancellor Wang Dao (279-339 AD)

Abstract

The article is devoted to a historical study of the political career of a Shandong aristocrat from the Langye district and the first chancellor of the southern Chinese dynasty of the Eastern Jin, as well as to identify factors that contributed to his rapid rise. Particular attention was paid to the religious and ideological aspects of the historical and political processes that took place at the court and the capital of the Eastern Jin. In the course of the study, we used specific historical methods of textual, historical-biographical and historical-geographical analysis of events and personalities associated with the personality of Chancellor Wang Dao. The main source of information about Wang Dao's political career is the official dynastic history "Jin shu" ("History of the [dynasty] Jin"), namely, chapter 65 (section "Liezhuan"), dedicated to representatives of the Shandong Wang clan. As a result of the historical and biographical analysis, it was found that the decisive factors in Wang Dao's successful career were personal business qualities, a successful matrimonial strategy for the ruling house of Sima, who founded the Eastern Jin dynasty, as well as the active support of influential Chinese Buddhist hierarchs. Family and confessional ties of court supporters of the Buddhist sangha with famous dignitaries and glorious men of the Eastern Jin were reconstructed.