Emperor Yuan of Jin

Emperor Yuan of Jin 晉元帝
Emperor of the 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 Mausoleum (建平陵), Nanjing, Jiangsu
Consorts	Empress Yuanjing Empress Dowager Jianwenxuan
Issue	Emperor Ming Emperor Jianwen
Full name Family name: Sima (司馬) Given name: Rui (睿) Era dates Jianwu (建武): 317–318 Taixing (太興): 318–322 Yongchang (永昌): 322–323 Posthumous name Emperor Yuan (元皇帝) Temple name Zhongzong (中宗)
House	House of Sima
Dynasty	Eastern Jin
Father	Sima Jin
Mother	Xiahou Guangji

Emperor Yuan of Jin (Chinese: 晉元帝; pinyin: Jìn Yuán Dì; Wade–Giles: Chin Yüan-ti; 276 – 3 January 323), personal name Sima Rui (司馬睿), courtesy name Jingwen (景文), was an emperor of the Jin dynasty and the first emperor of the Eastern Jin. During the Upheaval of the Five Barbarians, he was stationed south of the Yangtze in Jiankang where he avoided the chaos that befell northern China. Primarily through the help of the cousins, Wang Dun and Wang Dao, he emerged as an authority figure within the empire, aided with the backing of the southern gentry clans and northern officials who fled to him for refuge. After Emperor Min of Jin was executed by the Han-Zhao dynasty in 318, he took the title of Emperor and made Jiankang his capital. The Eastern Jin dynasty as it became known lasted until its fall in July 420, contending with the Sixteen Kingdoms in the north and occasionally in the southwest. At the time of his death, he left the state under the heel of Wang Dun.

Early career

Sima Rui was born in 276 in the Jin capital of Luoyang as the son of Sima Jin (司馬覲), who was the heir to the Princedom of Langya, and his wife, Xiahou Guangji (Chinese: 夏侯光姬; pinyin: Xiàhóu guāng jī). According to an alternative account at the end of his biography in the Book of Jin, Sima Rui may have been the product of an affair between Lady Xiahou and a minor official from the family of the Cao Wei general, Niu Jin. Sima Rui's grandfather Sima Zhou, Prince of Langya and uncle of Emperor Wu of Jin, died in June 283, leaving Sima Jin to inherit the princedom, with Lady Xiahou becoming Princess Consort. Sima Jin died on 9 March 290 at the age of 35 (by East Asian reckoning), and Sima Rui became the Prince of Langya. The Book of Jin referred to him as steady and dexterous.

About two months after Sima Rui became Prince of Langya, Emperor Wu died. Emperor Wu's successor, Emperor Hui, was developmentally disabled, and he was under the control of various regents throughout his reign. As the struggle to become Emperor Hui's regent (known as the War of the Eight Princes) grew in intensity, Sima Rui was humble in his dealings, and kept himself aloof from political developments in order to protect himself. His ability to hide his talents meant that most people were unaware of them. However, Ji Shao (Chinese: 嵇绍; pinyin: Jī Shào; son of Ji Kang), who was then Palace Attendant, saw that Sima Rui was special. He said to others, "The Prince of Langya has an extraordinary appearance, which does not belong to that of a subject."

In 304, in the midst of the War of the Eight Princes, Sima Rui joined Sima Yue, the Prince of Donghai, and his campaign against Sima Ying, the Prince of Chengdu, as a minor general. After Sima Ying defeated Sima Yue, Sima Ying executed Sima Rui's uncle Sima Yao (Chinese: 司馬繇; pinyin: Sīmǎ yáo), the Prince of Dong'an, on 18 September. He decided to flee back to his principality, Langxie (roughly modern Weifang, Shandong), under counsel of Sima Yue's assistant Wang Dao, whom he befriended during the campaign. He first attempted to head back to Luoyang, but when he was about to cross the Yellow River, he was stopped by guards who were instructed to stop any nobles or high level officials from crossing; Sima Ying had ordered such, fearing that nobles would desert him or plot against him. His own guard Song Dian (Chinese: 宋典; pinyin: Sòng diǎn) then arrived and shoved him under the ruse that they were both 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 August 307, Sima Yue had emerged victorious in the aftermath of the War of the Eight Princes as the regent for Emperor Huai (Emperor Hui's successor and half-brother) seven months earlier. Under the advice of his wife Princess Pei, he commissioned Sima Rui as the military commander of parts of Yang Province (Chinese: 揚州; pinyin: Yángzhōu, modern Zhejiang and southern Jiangsu and Anhui) south of the Yangtze River, with his post at Jianye. Prior to his appointment, the region had been under the control of the rebel general, Chen Min from 305 to 307. Many of the southern gentry clans initially backed Chen Min, but towards the end, they became discontented with his rule and returned to Jin by overthrowing him.

Among Sima Rui's staff, Wang Dao was entrusted by him as a chief advisor. As Sima Rui lacked fame, after he arrived in Jianye, few of the gentlemen from the southern gentry clans would come visit and support him. Under Wang Dao's counsel, Sima Rui personally visited He Xun (Chinese: 賀循; pinyin: Hè xún; great-grandson of He Qi) and Gu Rong (Chinese: 顧榮; pinyin: Gù róng; grandson of Gu Yong) 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 general Wang Dun, served in key roles, and it was said at the time that the domain was ruled equally by the Simas and the Wangs.

While Sima Rui was in the south, Sima Yue was preoccupied in quelling rebellions and fighting the Han-Zhao dynasty in the north. Sima Rui was essentially out of Sima Yue's reach, but for the first few years, he had to keep in check with the commander, Zhou Fu, who controlled Yang province north of the Yangtze. The deadlock was finally broken in February 311, when Zhou Fu, under fire by the imperial court for suggesting that they move to his base in Shouchun, was forced into rebellion. Sima Rui, now with grounds to attack Zhou Fu, ordered his forces to march north of the Yangtze and annexed the rest of Yang province.

After the fall of Luoyang

In July 311, not long after Sima Yue died in April, Luoyang fell to Han forces and Emperor Huai was captured during the Disaster of Yongjia. A high-ranking minister, Xun Fan was able to escape Luoyang and founded a provisional government near the former capital. Through Xun Fan's assent, Sima Rui began to exercise more imperial power as he was acclaimed the leader of the Jin alliance and granted special authority to appoint and dismiss chief officials. With many officials fleeing south of the Yangtze, Wang Dao advised Sima Rui to scout for and recruit the talented men the northern emigres families to serve in his administration. All in all, Sima Rui was able to pick out more than a hundred officials from the northern emigres, and they were collectively known as the "106 Officials".

South of the Huai river and to the west of Sima Rui, the Inspector of Jiang province (Chinese: 江州; pinyin: Jīangzhōu, modern Jiangxi), Hua Yi and the Inspector of Yu province (Chinese: 豫州; pinyin: Yùzhōu, modern central Anhui at this time), Pei Xian both outrightly refused to acknowledge Sima Rui's new authority. In response, the prince sent Wang Dun to campaign against them, killing Hua and forcing Pei to flee before replacing them with his own followers. In the central Yangtze region, the two provinces of Jing (Chinese: 荊州; pinyin: Jīngzhōu, modern Hubei) and Xiang (Chinese: 湘州; pinyin: Xiāng zhōu, modern Hunan) had long been struggling with a refugee crisis, due to many people fleeing from the ongoing war with the Cheng-Han dynasty in Sichuan. These refugees, mainly led by Du Tao, eventually rebelled in 311, ousting the Inspector of Xiang and repeatedly defeating the Inspector of Jing, Wang Cheng. Sima Rui took the opportunity to further expand his influence into the central Yangtze, installing his own Inspector of Xiang and convincing Wang Cheng to give up his office. Under the command of Wang Dun and other generals such as Tao Kan and Zhou Fang, the agrarian rebels resisting Jin rule in Jing and Xiang were gradually subjugated.

Though Sima Rui had initially relied on the southern gentry clans to consolidate his rule in the Jiangnan, he eventually began relying more on the northern emigres families as they continued to flock to him. The southern gentry were divided on his shift of trust; while most were willing to tolerate it, others such as Zhou Qi from the Zhou clan of Yixing became resentful towards the northern emigres. The hardliners rallied around Zhou Qi and his family to oust the northern emigres and force Sima Rui to restore the southern clans to power. However, their conspiracies in 313 and 315, were both exposed and did not garner enough support, thus failing to have a major impact on Sima Rui's stance.

In 313, after Emperor Huai was executed by the Han, Sima Ye, a nephew of Emperor Huai, was declared emperor (posthumously known as Emperor Min) in Chang'an. Due to the naming taboo for Emperor Min's given name of "Ye" (業), Sima Rui's headquarters Jianye (建業) was renamed Jiankang (建康), a name it would keep for several centuries. Sima Rui was named the Left Prime Minister, a title that he accepted; however, he took no actual actions in aid of the emperor. Indeed, even when Sima Yue was still alive, the prince showed little interest in lending his forces to help pacify the north. When his general and the refugee leader, Zu Ti requested to lead an army north, 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 forces, and Emperor Min was captured. Sima Rui quickly declared that he was going to act against Han, 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 by Sima Zhao and Emperor Wu while they were regents of Cao Wei—rather than emperor on 6 April 317. He created his son Sima Shao crown prince on 1 May of the same year.

Early reign and the loss of Northern China

On 7 February 318, Liu Cong, the emperor of Han Zhao, executed Emperor Min. About two and a half months later, on 23 April, news of Emperor Min's execution reached Jiankang. Sima Rui then declared himself emperor three days later. At this time, the areas directly under his control were roughly south of the Yellow River and east of the Three Gorges, although pockets of Jin territory in the north—chief among which was Youzhou (modern Beijing, Tianjin, and northern Hebei), controlled by the ethnic Xianbei governor Duan Pidi—largely also recognized him as emperor. However, while technically recognizing him as emperor, Zhang Shi the governor of Liang Province (modern central and western Gansu), chose not to use his era names and instead continued to use Emperor Min's era name of Jianxing, thus hinting non-recognition. Additionally, he did not recognize and was non-committal to Sima Bao the Prince of Nanyang's claim for emperor, despite his alliance with his father Zhang Gui and 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: another sign that the Zhang clan sought independence from the Jin, though not immediately at the time. Later that year, when the Han-Zhao emperor Liu Can was overthrown by his official Jin Zhun who initially indicated that he was submitting to Emperor Yuan's authority, 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 emperor Liu Yao and the general Shi 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, establishing Later Zhao in the same year—and Duan fled to another governor still loyal to Jin, Shao Xu the governor of Ji Province (Chinese: 冀州; pinyin: Jìzhōu, in what is now central Hebei). In the next year, Shi Le sent his generals Shi Hu and Kong Chang to capture Shao. They were successful but Duan Pidi was able to take control of Shao's forces, thus once again leading the resistance in the north. While this was 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 of Sima Zhao and 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 (楊韜) and Chen 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 (Chinese: 張春; pinyin: Zhāng chūn) and Yang Ci (Chinese: 楊次; pinyin: Yáng cì), 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 (閻涉) and Zhao Ang (趙卬), acting from the rumors spread by the magician Liu Hong (劉弘). Because Zhang's son was still young at the time, his brother and successor Zhang Mao executed Liu Hong and declared a general pardon, effectively declaring his domain independent from the Jin. Additionally, Zhang Mao began to use the era name "Yongguang" (永光) 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 Liang Province. This action completely ended Jin rule in Northwest China as his domain would continue evolving into the vacillating state of Former 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 the Yellow River—although the Xianbei chief Murong Hui the Duke of Liaodong was still in control of modern Liaoning and 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 (劉隗) and Diao Xie (刁協) – men of mixed reputation who, in their efforts to suppress the Wangs' power, offended many other people.

In 321, Emperor Yuan commissioned Dai Yuan (戴淵) 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 (陳川) 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 was no one on the Jin side checking the Later Zhao expansion against Jin. After Zu Ti died, the balance of power in the region often vacillated between the Jin and Zhao clans; other players include Cao Ni, a renegade general who ruled Qing Province, and Xu Kan, the general who ultimately surrendered to Jin. Both often had a history of conflicts with the Jin, and both was defeated very quickly by Later Zhao general Shi Hu. Because of these reasons, Jin was unable to hold onto these territories between the Yellow and Huai Rivers and gradually lost them. By the time Cao Ni died, it is likely that Jin does not have any of these territories left; thus these lands were lost for decades until their recovery by Huan Wen during the reign of Emperor 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, the governor of Liang Province (what is now northwestern Hubei and southeastern Shaanxi) and Sima Cheng (司馬承) 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 (周顗) 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 of Wuchang. 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 (建武): 6 April 317 – 26 April 318
• Taixing (太興): 26 April 318 – 3 February 322
• Yongchang (永昌): 3 February 322 – 22 April 323

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Yuanjing, of the Yu clan (元敬皇后 虞氏; 277–312), personal name Mengmu (孟母)
• Empress Dowager Jianwenxuan, of the Zheng clan of Xingyang (簡文宣皇太后 滎陽鄭氏; d. 326), personal name Achun (阿春)
  • Sima Huan, Prince Dao of Langxie (琅邪悼王 司馬煥; 317–318), fifth son
  • Sima Yu, Emperor Jianwen (簡文皇帝 司馬昱; 320–372), sixth son
  • Princess Xunyang (尋陽公主; b. 323)
    • Married Xun Xian of Yingchuan (潁川 荀羨; 322–359) in 336
• Jieyu, of the Shi clan (婕妤 石氏)
  • Sima Chong, Prince Ai of Donghai (東海哀王 司馬衝; 311–341), third son
• Cairen, of the Wang clan (才人 王氏)
  • Sima Xi, Prince Wei of Wuling (武陵威王 司馬晞; 316–381), fourth son
• Lady, of the Xun clan (豫章君 荀氏; d. 335)
  • Sima Shao, Emperor Ming (明皇帝 司馬紹; 299–325), first son
  • Sima Pou, Prince Xiao of Langxie (琅邪孝王 司馬裒; 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.