Shanxi is one of the cradles of Chinese civilization, and there were signs of human activities as early as ancient times. Shanxi is referred to as "Jin", also known as "Sanjin". In 2008, People's Communications Publishing House published a book entitled "Damei Shanxi: Roaming the Land of Sanjin", which provided readers with information on transportation, budget, accommodation, food, scenic spots and many other aspects. In many news and literary works, "the land of Sanjin" refers to Shanxi.
The question is, why do people call Shanxi "Sanjin"? What is the historical origin behind it?
Things have to start from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
In the early Western Zhou Dynasty, the king of Zhou enfeoffed the governors and the state of Jin enfeoffed the central part of Shanxi. During the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Jin developed and became one of the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period after annexing several small governors around it. At its most prosperous time, the territory of the State of Jin included most of Shanxi Province today, plus parts of Shaanxi, Hebei and Henan. So now people call Shanxi "Jin" for short.
By the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, there were six powerful aristocratic families in the State of Jin, namely Zhao, Wei, Han, Zhi, Fan and Bank of China, which were called "Six Qing of the State of Jin" in history. They have their own army and territory, making the monarch of A Jin a puppet.
In order to gain greater benefits, the ministers of the six countries of Jin are also fighting fiercely with each other. After a contest, the weakest Fan and the Bank of China were defeated first, and the territory was merged by the other four big noble. Now only Zhao, Wei, Han and Zhi are left.
Of the remaining four big noble, Zhizhi is the strongest. Zhi Jia is called Zhi, and he is eyeing the other three and intends to eat them all at once. Therefore, Zhi thought of a way.
One day, Zhi found the heads of three nobles, Wei and Han Kang, and told them that Jin used to be the overlord of the Central Plains, but was later taken away by wuyue. In order to regain hegemony, Qi Xin needs to work together, turn their guns to the outside world, and give 100 Li of land and 1 household to the monarch of the State of Jin.
Such a thing is obviously beneficial to wisdom. Because he was in power at that time and mastered the political power. The land and hukou of these four families are all dedicated to the monarch of Jin State, that is to say, they are all dedicated to Zhi. In this way, Yao Zhibo will have more power than the other three.
Wei and Han Kang were afraid of arrogance, so they were forced to give up their land and hukou according to his request. Only Zhao Xiangzi resolutely refused to agree to cede land and registered permanent residence. Seeing this situation, they joined forces with Wei and Han Kangzi to send troops to attack.
Obviously, our strength is inferior to that of Zhi, Wei and Han Kang. Soon, Zhao Xiangzi lost all his land and retreated to Jinyang, the capital (now Taiyuan, Shanxi), where he made tenacious resistance. Prior to this, the Zhao family had prepared for a rainy day and built Jinyang City exceptionally strong, which was easy to defend but difficult to attack. Therefore, it will take a long time for Zhi, Wei and Han Kang to conquer Jinyang City.
Wisdom is very anxious. On this day, when he inspected the terrain outside Jinyang City, he saw Jinjiang, which flows through the northeast of the city. He came up with a method of water attack, ordered soldiers to build a dam on Jinjiang, and forced Jinjiang to divert to Jinyang City. It happened to be the rainy season, and the Jinshui River rose, which made the effect of water attack very good. Soon, Jinyang City was flooded and many people's houses were soaked in water. The people had to flee to high places to take refuge. Seeing that Jinyang City is going to be destroyed.
Wisdom proudly said to Wei and Han Kang, "Ha ha ha, now I know that rivers can destroy the country."
The speaker has no intention, but the listener has intention. Hearing this, both Wei and Han Kang were frightened. It turns out that there is a river next to their capital. If Zhi Yao Bo treats them like gourd paintings in the future, wouldn't he die miserably?
Just then, Zhao Xiangzi sent people out of the city, quietly found Wei and Han Kang, explained the truth, moved by emotion, and let them take turns to attack. Wei and Han Kang agreed. So, Wei and Han Kang defeated Zhi, killed him and divided his land and registered permanent residence.
Zhao Xiangzi, Wei and Han Kang were not satisfied with continuing to be nobles of the State of Jin. In 403 BC, they each sent envoys to Zhou Guo, asking King Wei Lie of Zhou to make himself a vassal. Seeing that it was no use crying over spilt milk, King Wei Lie of Zhou simply accepted their request and enfeoffed Zhao, Wei and Han. The state of Jin perished.
This historical event is called "the three tribes divided into Jin". The division of Jin among the three clans is the dividing line between the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Later, Zhao, Wei, Han and Qin, Chu, Qi and Yan were called the Seven Heroes of the Warring States.
Because Zhao, Wei and Han are three countries separated from Jin, they are customarily called Sanjin. Over time, people refer to Shanxi in the Sanjin period.