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The Madness of Excess: How Elites Competed in Conspicuous Consumption [Jin & Southern-Northern Dynasties]
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A Culture of Conspicuous Consumption In the early Western Jin dynasty (265–316 CE), extravagance became a badge of honor among the aristocracy. Whether veteran ministers or newly risen nobles, all measured status not by virtue or service – but by how lavishly they could spend. Take He Zeng, one of the founding elders of…
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The Tragic Throne: Decadence, Delusion, and the Fall of an Heir [Jin & Southern-Northern Dynasties]
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The Emperor’s Early Austerity When Emperor Wu of Jin (Sima Yan) first ascended the throne in 265 CE, he publicly championed frugality. He ordered civil and military officials to live modestly, setting an example himself. One day at court, he summoned his guards to display a magnificent ‘zhi-tou qiu’ – a luxurious fur coat…
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The Bitter Aftertaste of Victory: Rivalry and Reward after the Conquest of Wu [Jin & Southern-Northern Dynasties]
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Triumph and Tears in Luoyang In the year 280 CE, the Jin dynasty finally extinguished the state of Wu, completing the reunification of China. When Emperor Wu of Jin (Sima Yan) received news in Luoyang that Sun Hao, the last ruler of Wu, had surrendered, he first laughed with joy – then burst into…