Jin Dynasty (1115-1234)

This Jin dynasty was a Jurchen-led imperial dynasty of China, ruled by the Wanyan clan, that existed from 1115 to 1234. It was established by Wanyan Aguda, who took the title Emperor Taizu after rebelling against the Liao dynasty, which had until then dominated northern China and was subsequently driven west to survive as the Western Liao. At its height the Jin empire stretched from Outer Manchuria in the north to the Qinling-Huaihe line in the south, and after conquering Liao territory it fought a long campaign against the Han Chinese Song dynasty to its south; over time its Jurchen rulers adopted Han customs and presided over a revival of Confucian learning even as they built defensive walls against the rising Mongols. Genghis Khan's Mongol forces invaded in 1211, and after twenty-three years of defeats, internal revolts and defections the Jin dynasty was finally conquered by the Mongols in 1234.