Jin was born in Liaoyang to a family in the Chinese Bordered Yellow Banner with ancestral roots in Jinan, Shandong.
[1] In 1676, he left his post as governor and was appointed director-general of river conservancy in response to the serious floods wreaking havoc in Jiangsu province.
[2] Along with grain transport to Beijing through the Grand Canal and the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, controlling the flow of the Yellow River was among the three most critical issues facing the Kangxi Emperor at the time.
[3] Accused by the censor Guo Xiu of forming a clique with Mingju and of obstructing Yu's attempt to deepen the river bed, Jin was dismissed and Chen Huang was sentenced to prison but died of illness.
Considered to be "one of the major engineering accomplishments of the Qing dynasty", it facilitated grain transport and greatly benefited the local people.
[2][3] Upon realizing Jin's accomplishment and his popular acclaim with the people, the emperor restored his official rank in 1689 and again appointed him Director General of River Conservancy in March 1692.