Marquess Wen of Wei in the context of "Li Kui (legalist)"

The Partition of Jin (simplified Chinese: 三家分晋; traditional Chinese: 三家分晉; pinyin: Sānjiā Fēn Jìn; lit. 'Three Families Partitioning Jin'), refers to the division of the State of Jin between rival families into the three states of Han, Zhao and Wei, a watershed event marking the division between the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Proceeding from the Jin, the three states were often referred to as the "Three Jins" (三晋; 三晉; Sān Jìn).

Because the process took several decades, there is some debate between scholars as to the year which best marks the true partition of Jin. Kiser & Cai (2003) state the most common dates picked by historians are 481, 475, 468, and 403 BCE. The last date, according to Sima Guang marks the conferring of Marquessates by King Weilie of Zhou on Wei Si, ruler of the State of Wei; Zhao Ji, ruler of the State of Zhao, and Han Qian, ruler of the State of Han.

King Hui of Wei (Chinese: 魏惠王; 400–319 BC), also known as King Hui of Liang (Chinese: 梁惠王), personal name Wei Ying, was a monarch of the Wei state, reigning from 369 BC to 319 BC. He initially ruled as marquess, but later elevated himself to kingship in 344 BC. He was a grandson of Marquess Wen, the founder of the state, and a son of his predecessor, Marquess Wu. He was succeeded by his son, King Xiang.

He came to the throne after a war of succession during which Wei was nearly partitioned by the Zhao and Han states.

Marquess Jing of Han (Chinese: 韓景侯; pinyin: Hán Jǐng Hóu; died 400 BC), personal name Han Qian, was leader of the Han clan in the Jin state from 408 BC to 403 BC, and the founding marquess of the Han state from 403 BC until his death in 400 BC. Marquess Jing was the son of Viscount Wu of Han (韓武子), whom he succeeded as leader of the Han clan. It was during Marquess Jing's rule that the Han state became a recognized vassal state of the Zhou dynasty.

In the first year of his reign, Marquess Jing attacked the Zheng state and took over Yongqiu (modern-day Qi County, Henan). The next year, his army lost to Zheng at Fushu (today's Dengfeng, Henan). In 403 BC, Marquess Jing, along with Marquess Wen of Wei and Marquess Lie of Zhao partitioned the powerful Jin state into the Han, Wei, and Zhao states, marking the beginning of the Warring States period of Chinese history and Han as an independent polity. King Weilie of Zhou was forced to elevate Marquess Jing's title from viscount (子) to marquess (侯). Marquess Jing then moved the capital of Han from Pingyang to Yangzhai. In 400 BC, Yangzhai was subject to a siege by the Zheng army. Marquess Jing died later that year and was succeeded by his son, Marquess Lie.