Emperor Yuan of Jin

Emperor Yuan of Jin(Chinese:Tấn nguyên đế;pinyin:Jìn Yuán Dì;Wade–Giles:Chin Yüan-ti;276 – 3 January 323), personal nameSima Rui(Tư mã duệ),courtesy nameJingwen(Cảnh văn), was an emperor of theJin dynastyand the first emperor of the Eastern Jin. During theUpheaval of the Five Barbarians,he was stationed inJiankangsouth of theYangtze Riverwhere he avoided the chaos that befell northern China. Primarily through the help of the cousins,Wang DunandWang Dao,he emerged as an authority figure within the empire with the backing of the southern gentry clans and northern officials who fled to him for refuge. AfterEmperor Min of Jinwas executed by theHan-Zhao dynastyin 318, he took the title of Emperor and made Jiankang his capital. Though at the time of his death he left the state under the heel of Wang Dun, the Eastern Jin dynasty as it became known lasted until its fall in 420, contending with the so-calledSixteen Kingdomsin the north and occasionally in the southwest.

Emperor Yuan of Jin Tấn nguyên đế
FirstEmperor of Eastern Jin Dynasty
Reign	26 April 318– 3 January 323
Predecessor	Emperor Min
Successor	Emperor Ming
Born	276
Died	3 January 323(323-01-03)(aged 47) Jiankang,Eastern Jin
Burial	Jianping ling ( kiến bình lăng ),Nanjing,Jiangsu
Consorts	Empress Yuanjing Empress Dowager Jianwenxuan
Issue	Emperor Ming Sima Pou Sima Chong Sima Xi Emperor Jianwen Princess Xunyang
Full name Family name: Sima(Tư mã) Given name: Rui (Duệ) Era dates Jianwu (Kiến võ): 317–318 Taixing (Thái hưng): 318–322 Yongchang (Vĩnh xương): 322–323 Posthumous name Emperor Yuan Nguyên hoàng đế(lit. "original" ) Temple name Zhōngzōng (Trung tông)
House	House of Sima
Dynasty	Eastern Jin
Father	Sima Jin
Mother	Xiahou Guangji

Early career

Sima Rui was born in 276 in the then Jin capitalLuoyang,as the son of Sima Jin (Tư mã cận) the Prince ofLangyaand his wife Princess Xiahou Guangji (Hạ hầu quang cơ). (According to an alternative account at the end of his biography in theBook of Jin,he was actually the product of an affair between Princess Xiahou and a minor official from the family of theCao Weigeneral,Niu Jin.)His father died on 9 March 290,and he became the Prince of Langya. TheBook of Jinreferred to him as steady and dexterious, personality-wise.

In 304, in the midst of theWar of the Eight Princes,Sima Rui participated inSima Yuethe Prince of Donghai's campaign againstSima Yingthe Prince of Chengdu as a minor general. After Sima Ying defeated Sima Yue, Sima Yue executed Sima Rui's uncle Sima Yao (Tư mã diêu) the Prince of Dong'an, which caused Sima Rui much fear. He decided to flee back to his principality Langxie (roughly modernWeifang,Shandong), under counsel of Sima Yue's assistantWang Dao,whom he befriended during the campaign. He first tried to head back to Luoyang, but when he was about to cross theYellow River,he was stopped by guards instructed to stop any nobles or high level officials from crossing (as Sima Ying had ordered such, fearing that nobles would desert him or plot against him). His own guard Song Dian (Tống điển) then arrived and gave him a shove, pretending that they were just construction workers. The guards then allowed them to cross. After Sima Rui got to Luoyang, he took his mother Princess Dowager Xiahou and headed to Langxie, where they spent the next few years away from the War of the Eight Princes.

In 307, Sima Yue, who had emerged victorious in the aftermaths of the War of the Eight Princes as theregentforEmperor Huai,under the advice of his wife Princess Pei, commissioned Sima Rui as the military commander of parts of Yang Province ( dương châu, modernZhejiangand southernJiangsuandAnhui) south of theYangtze River,with his post atJianye.Wang Dao became his chief advisor. As Sima Rui lacked fame, after he arrived in Jianye, few of the powerful local gentlemen would come visit and support him. Under Wang Dao's counsel, Sima Rui personally visited He Xun (Hạ tuần) and Gu Rong (Cố vinh) and invited them to serve in his administration. He and Gu were well regarded by the local population, which eventually began to trust Sima Rui's leadership. Wang Dao and his cousin, the generalWang Dun,served in key roles, and it was said at the time that the domain was ruled equally by the Simas and the Wangs.

After the fall of Luoyang

In 311, Luoyang fell toHan-Zhaoforces, and Emperor Huai was captured. A large number of refugees, fleeing Han-Zhao forces, crossed the Yangtze River and arrived in Sima Rui's domain. Under Wang Dao's suggestion, Sima Rui sought out the talented men among them and added them to his administration. Meanwhile, he began to exercise more imperial power, and began to put all other provinces south of theHuai Riverunder his own control—and, for the next few years, under the command of Wang Dun and other generals such asTao Kanand Zhou Fang (Chu phóng), the agrarian rebels resisting Jin rule in Jing (Kinh châu,modernHubei) and Xiang (Tương châu,modernHunan) Provinces were gradually subjugated. However, he made no effort to try to send armies north against Han-Zhao. Meanwhile, as his powerful assistants were largely refugees from the north, the native population began to be dissatisfied, and over the next few years there were constant frictions that decreased the effectiveness of Sima Rui's administration. In 315, members of the powerful Zhou clan intended to start an uprising against him, but the conspiracy was exposed by other members of the clan still loyal to Jin, and the conspiracy did not have a major impact. In 315, Wang Dun was finally able to suppress the remaining agrarian rebels in the west, and began to show ambitions and act independently of Sima Rui.

In 313, after Emperor Huai was executed by Han-Zhao, Sima Ye, a nephew of Emperor Huai, was declared emperor (asEmperor Min) inChang'an.Sima Rui was named the Left Prime Minister, a title that he accepted; however, he took no actual actions in aid of the emperor. Due to thenaming taboofor Emperor Min's name, Sima Rui's headquarters Jianye was renamed Jiankang, a name it would keep for several centuries. When his generalZu Tirequested to lead an army north to, he gave Zu only supplies for one thousand men with no actual troops; Zu had to seek out his own soldiers, but was eventually able to recover a number of cities south of the Yellow River.

In 316, Chang'an fell to Han-Zhao forces, and Emperor Min was captured. Sima Rui quickly declared that he was going to act against Han-Zhao, but then quickly claimed a lack of supplies and cancelled the campaign. In spring 317, his officials requested that he take the throne. After he declined initially, he took the title "King of Jin" —a title previously used bySima Zhaowhile regent of Cao Wei—rather than emperor on 6 April 317.He created his sonSima Shaocrown princeon 1 May of the same year.

Early reign and the loss of Northern China

In early 318,Liu Cong,the emperor of Han Zhao, executed Emperor Min, and three months later, news arrived in Jiankang. Sima Rui then declared himself emperor (as Emperor Yuan). At this time, the areas directly under his control were roughly south of the Yellow River and east of theThree Gorges,although pockets of Jin territory in the north—chief among which wasYouzhou(modernBeijing,Tianjin,and northernHebei), controlled by the ethnicXianbeigovernorDuan Pidi—largely also recognized him as emperor. However, while technically recognizing him as emperor,Zhang Shithe governor of Liang Province (modern central and westernGansu), chose not to use his era names and instead continued to use Emperor Min's era name of Jianxing—thus hinting non-recognition. (Also, he did not recognize and was non-committal toSima Baothe Prince of Nanyang's claim for emperor despite his alliance with his fatherZhang Guiand whose domain was closely related to the Zhang clan, believing Emperor Yuan would be a more effective emperor but retaining Emperor Min's era name—thus showing another sign that the Zhang clan sought independence from the Jin, though not immediately at the time.) Later in the same year, when the Han-Zhao emperorLiu Canwas overthrown by his officialJin Zhun,Jin Zhun initially indicated that he was submitting to Emperor Yuan's authority, and Emperor Yuan tried to take advantage by sending an army to assist Jin Zhun. However, long before the army could get there, Jin Zhun was defeated by the new Han-Zhao emperorLiu Yaoand the generalShi Le.

In 319, Duan Pidi's forces fell to Shi Le—who had by that point declared independence from Former Zhao as declared by Liu Yao—establishingLater Zhaoin the same year) and Duan fled to another governor still loyal to Jin—Shao Xuthe governor of Ji Province (Ký châu,in what is now centralHebei). In the next year, Shi Le sent his generalsShi HuandKong Changto capture Shao. They captured him but Duan Pidi was able to take control of Shao's forces, thus once again leading the resistance in the north. While this is happening, remaining Jin resistance around west of Chang'an (or Northwest China, in this area Emperor Yuan has no control of these forces—instead this is where Zhang Shi (who technically recognized the emperor) has more control) began to falter as they entered internal conflict. Meanwhile, Sima Bao (who had by then declared himself as Prince of Jin in previous year, ostensibly following the steps ofSima Zhaoand did not recognize the emperor by this point) apparently suffering famine and facing Former Zhao invasion, tried to escape to Zhang Shi's domain but was denied by the force Zhang Shi sent to 'protect' him but whose orders were actually to prevent Sima Bao from entering his domain. Failing to rescue himself, he presumably faced resistance by remaining generals under him Yang Tao (Dương thao) andChen An(which had by this point defected to Han-Zhao, but bearing some loyalty to him) and was soon apparently murdered by his generals Zhang Chun (Trương xuân) and Yang Ci (Dương thứ), replacing him with his relative Sima Zhan (since Sima Bao had no sons). Soon after, Former Zhao forces led by Chen An attacked Sima Zhan's domain in revenge, killing him and in turn killing Zhang and capturing Yang, ending Jin resistance in the Qin Province.

Later in 320, Zhang Shi was assassinated by his guards Yan She (Diêm thiệp) and Zhao Ang (Triệu ngang), acting from the rumors spread by the magician Liu Hong (Lưu hoằng). BecauseZhang's sonwas still young at the time, his brother and successorZhang Maoexecuted Liu Hong and declared general pardon, effectively declaring his domain independent from the Jin. Additionally, Zhang Mao began to use the era name "Yongguang" (Vĩnh quang) internally, while using "Jianxing" as in communications with other states, which is seen as evidence that Zhang Mao's domain is effectively independent from the Jin. though he still continues to refer himself as Governor of the Liang Province. This action completely ended Jin rule in the Northwest China as his domain would continue evolving into the vacillating state ofFormer Liang,especially by the time Zhang Jun ruled the state. By 321, Shao Xu's forces finally collapsed and Duan Pidi was captured by Shi Le, ending his resistance and all resemblance of Jin rule in China north of theYellow River—although the Xianbei chiefMurong Huithe Duke of Liaodong was still in control of modernLiaoningand still considered himself a Jin vassal.

Late reign and confrontation with Wang Dun

By 320, Emperor Yuan's relationship with Wang Dun was at a breaking point, as Wang Dun had grown more and more arrogant and controlling of the western provinces. Emperor Yuan feared him, and therefore began to group men around him who were against Wang Dun as well, such as Liu Huai (Lưu ngỗi) and Diao Xie (Điêu hiệp) – men of mixed reputation who, in their efforts to suppress the Wangs' power offended many other people.

In 321, Emperor Yuan commissioned Dai Yuan (Đái uyên) and Liu with substantial forces, claiming that they were to defend against Later Zhao attacks, but instead was intending to have them defend against a potential Wang Dun attack. The general who actually had a charge of protecting Later Zhao attacks remains held by Zu Ti. By this time, he was a governor of Yu Province under Jin. Zu Ti was popular with the people he governed, was successfully held off attacks from Later Zhao. The next year, Chen Chuan (Trần xuyên) defected and Zu was defeated but Shi was not able to advance further. In the end, this led into a stalemate, and then informal détente in which peace and trade relations are instituted with Yellow River as the border. When Zu Ti died, there is no one on the Jin checking the Later Zhao expansion against Jin. Because after Zu Ti died Chinese power left in the region often vacillated between the Jin and Zhao clans, these areCao Ni,a renegade general who ruled Qing Province, andXu Kan,the general who ultimately surrendered to Jin. Both two often had a history of conflicts with the Jin, and both was defeated very quickly by Shi Hu, Later Zhao general. Because of these reasons, Jin was unable to do with these territories and gradually lost these territories between Yellow River and Huai River. By the time Cao Ni died, it is likely that Jin does not have any of these territories left thus losing it for decades until recovery byHuan WenduringEmperor Mu of Jin.

In spring 322, Wang Dun started his campaign against Emperor Yuan, claiming that Emperor Yuan was being deluded by Liu and Diao, and that his only intent was to clean up the government. He tried to persuade Gan Zhuo (Cam trác), the governor of Liang Province (what is now northwesternHubeiand southeasternShaanxi) and Sima Cheng (Tư mã thừa) the governor of Xiang Province to join him, and while both resisted, neither was effective in their campaigns against his rear guards. Wang quickly arrived in Jiankang, defeating Emperor Yuan's forces and entering and pillaging Jiankang easily. Liu fled to Later Zhao, while Diao, Dai, and Zhou Yi (Chu nghĩ) were killed. Emperor Yuan was forced to submit and grant Wang Dun additional powers in the west. Wang Dun, satisfied, allowed Emperor Yuan to remain on the throne, and personally withdrew back to his home base ofWuchang.His forces then defeated and killed Sima Cheng, while a subordinate of Gan's, acting on Wang's orders, assassinated Gan.

After his defeat, Emperor Yuan grew despondent and ill, and died in January 323. Crown Prince Shao succeeded to the throne as Emperor Ming.

Era names

• Jianwu (Kiến võ): 6 April 317 – 26 April 318
• Taixing (Thái hưng): 26 April 318 – 3 February 322
• Yongchang (Vĩnh xương): 3 February 322 – 22 April 323

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Yuanjing, of the Yu clan (Nguyên kính hoàng hậu ngu thị;277–312), personal name Mengmu (Mạnh mẫu)
• Empress Dowager Jianwenxuan,of the Zheng clan of Xingyang (Giản văn tuyên hoàng thái hậu huỳnh dương trịnh thị;d. 326), personal name Achun (A xuân)
  • Sima Huan, Prince Dao of Langxie(Lang tà điệu vương tư mã hoán;317–318), fifth son
  • Sima Yu,Emperor Jianwen (Giản văn hoàng đế tư mã dục;320–372), sixth son
  • Princess Xunyang (Tầm dương công chủ;b. 323)
    • MarriedXun Xianof Yingchuan (Dĩnh xuyên tuân tiện;322–359) in 336
• Jieyu,of the Shi clan (Tiệp dư thạch thị)
  • Sima Chong, Prince Ai of Donghai (Đông hải ai vương tư mã trùng;311–341), third son
• Cairen,of the Wang clan (Tài nhân vương thị)
  • Sima Xi, Prince Wei of Wuling (Võ lăng uy vương tư mã hi;316–381), fourth son
• Lady,of the Xun clan (Dự chương quân tuân thị;d. 335)
  • Sima Shao,Emperor Ming (Minh hoàng đế tư mã thiệu;299–325), first son
  • Sima Pou, Prince Xiao of Langxie (Lang tà hiếu vương tư mã bầu;300–317), second son

Ancestry

Sima Yi(179–251)

Sima Zhou(227–283)

Lady Fu

Sima Jin (256–290)

Zhuge Dan(d. 258)

Lady Zhuge of Langya

Emperor Yuan of Jin (276–323)

Xiahou Wei(201–249)

Xiahou Zhuang

Xiahou Guangji (d. 307)

Yang Dan

Lady Yang of Taishan

Xin Xianying(191–269)

References

Sources

• Book of Jin,vol. 6.
• Zizhi Tongjian,vols.85,86,87,88,89,90,91.