Sima Yi 司馬懿

Sima Yi (179 – 7 September 251), courtesy name Zhongda, was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions. His success and subsequent rise in prominence paved the way for his grandson Sima Yan's founding of the Jin Dynasty, which would eventually bring an end to the Three Kingdoms era. In 265 after the Jin Dynasty was established, Sima Yi was posthumously honoured as Emperor Xuan of Jin with the temple name of Gaozu.

Biography
Sima Yi began his career as Secretary of Literature under Lord Cao after the pacification of the north. Zhongda’s first military assigned was against Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. Sima Yi’s strategies were a success and Lord Cao was greatly impressed. Sima Yi advised Lord Cao to press the attack further into Yi Zhou before giving time to Liu Bei establish himself, however Lord Cao wanted to rest the troops and did not advance.

Cao Pi had a great trust in Sima Yi, appointed him Chief of the Secretariat and titled him Lord of Hejin Precinct. Later in his career, Zhongda was appointed as Senior Assistant to the Prime Minister.

In the last year or Rebuilt Tranquility (AD 220), after the death of Lord Cao, his son Cao Pi took his place and wanted to force Emperor Xian to abdicate the throne. When the letter of Emperor Xian regarding the abdication came, Zhongda advised Cao Pi to reject the first offer to silence the murmurings of the people. Cao Pi took this advice and rejected the seal of rule three times before becoming the Wei Emperor.

When Cao Pi’s son Cao Rui succeeded the throne, Sima Yi was appointed as Great General of the Flying Cavalry, and was in charge of defending Xiliang district. By a plot of Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi was later dismissed from his office.

Without Sima Yi however, Cao Rui and Cao Zhen suffered many losses against Zhuge Liang and his officers. Thus Cao Rui appointed Sima Yi as Great Commander-in-Chief Who Pacifies the West.

Zhongda’s talents as military strategist and his able leadership prevented Zhuge Liang from gaining the upper hand in the battles between Wei and Shu. In the second year of Beginning Prospects (AD 238), Zhongda put down the rebellion of Gongsun Yuan and was promoted to Grand Commandant.

When Cao Fang succeeded the throne, Sima Yi was appointed as Grand Preceptor; however he lost the control of the military to the regent of the Emperor, Cao Shuang, the son of Cao Zhen.

In the first year of Joyous Stability (AD 249), Sima Yi decided that the reign of the weak Wei Emperors needed to stop and pulled off a Coup d’etat. In the process, Cao Shuang and his sympathizers were put to death.

Henceforth, Sima Yi was appointed as Prime Minister and received the Nine Dignities from Cao Fang. Sima Yi placed his sons Zhao and Shi in high positions and took away power or killed anyone who still supported the Cao Family.

In the third year of Joyous Stability (AD 251), Zhongda eradicated Wang Ling who usurped against his authority. In the same year, Sima Yi died of natural causes at the age of seventy-two. When his grandson Sima Yan united the land and established the Jin Dynasty, Sima Yi was posthumously titled King Wen.

Service under Cao Cao
Accounts on how Sima Yi joined the service of Cao Cao differ, but he accepted his first position in Cao's camp at the age of 30. According to the Book of Jin, Sima Yi believed that the Han Dynasty would soon come to an end, and felt no motivation to join Cao Cao, which had already taken control of the Han government. He refused Cao Cao's requests to serve, saying that he was suffering from a disease. Cao Cao did not believe Sima Yi's excuse, and sent agents to check on him at night. Sima Yi, knowing this in advance, stayed in bed all night and did not move. In 208, Cao Cao became Imperial Chancellor and ordered Sima Yi to serve him, saying "If he dallies, arrest him." Afraid of what would befall him, Sima Yi finally accepted the position of Wenxueyuan (文学掾).However, according to the Weilüe, Cao Hong, Cao Cao's younger cousin, requested the presence of Sima Yi in order to start a friendship with the latter, who did not have a very high opinion of Cao Hong and feigned illness by carrying a cane in order to avoid meeting him. Cao Hong went to Cao Cao in anger and told him what had happened, after which Cao Cao directly requested the presence of Sima Yi. Only then did Sima Yi officially enter Cao Cao's service.

Under Cao Cao, Sima Yi rose through the ranks of Dongcaoyuan (東曹掾; in charge of bringing officials into service), Registrar (主簿; an administrative position), and Major (司馬; position in charge of aids and advisors). In 215, when Cao Cao defeated Zhang Lu and forced him to surrender, Sima Yi advised that Cao Cao continue to advance south into Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing), since Liu Bei had still not stabilised his control of that area. However, Cao Cao did not listen to his advice. Sima Yi was among other advisors who urged for the implementation of the tuntian system and for Cao Cao to take the title of a vassal king - "King of Wei".

Service under Cao Pi
Even before Cao Cao's death, Sima Yi was close to his successor, Cao Pi. When Cao Pi was designated heir apparent to the vassal state of Wei in 216, Sima Yi was made his secretary. When Cao Cao wavered on choosing between Cao Pi and his younger brother Cao Zhi, Sima Yi was believed to be among those who backed Cao Pi and helped him secure the succession. Due to the fact that Sima Yi had been a long-time friend of Cao Pi since the latter held the position of General of the Household, he became greatly trusted when the latter ascended the throne. Sima Yi was also involved in Cao Zhi's demotion and removal from politics.

In 225, Cao Pi advanced against the rival state of Eastern Wu, and entrusted Sima Yi with command over the capital in his absence. He compared Sima Yi to Xiao He, whose quiet contributions behind the battle lines earned him much praise. Upon returning from the military expedition, Cao Pi once again praised his servant, saying "As I did battle in the east, you stayed in the capital and guarded our state against Shu in the west. When I go to battle in the west against Shu, I'll entrust you with defence against Wu in the east." Sima Yi was soon given the post of Lushang Shushi (録尚書事), which at that time held the same real power and responsibilities as Imperial Chancellor.

Service under Cao Rui
In 226, as Cao Pi laid on his deathbed, he entrusted his successor Cao Rui to the care of Sima Yi, Cao Zhen, and Chen Qun. When Cao Rui became Emperor of Wei, he trusted Sima Yi greatly and appointed him General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎大將軍)and military commander of Yu and Jing provinces, placed him on the border between Wei and Wu to defend against Sun Quan's forces, and created him Marquis of Wuyang.

Western Jin Dynasty
Western Jin Dynasty started from 265 AD and ended in 316 AD, including five monarchs. Although the Western Jin unified the whole nation, it was still an unstable and decayed dynasty with little social development.

Political History

In late time of the Three Kingdoms Period (220 - 280), Sima Yi grasped the real power of Kingdom of Wei. After he died, his two sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao successfully took power. Sima Zhao was more ambitious and was always plotting to replace Kingdom of Wei with Jin. As his power grew strong, he proclaimed himself to be 'King of Jin' and his son Sima Yan to be the prince. After Sima Zhao died, Sima Yan soon took the place of Cao Huan, the last emperor of Wei, changed the state title into Jin and reclaimed himself Emperor Wu - thus establishing the Western Jin.

Political Situation in the Early Period

After the founding of Jin Dynasty, the last kingdom of the Three Kingdoms Period - Kingdom of Wu still existed. In 280, the Jin army attacked the capital of Wu which made the emperor of Wu surrender. Since then, the Jin Dynasty unified the whole nation. Meanwhile, Sima Yan honored a list of his meritorious relatives to be kings.

However, the unified situation did not last long. During the reign of the second monarch Emperor Hui, the political power fell into the Empress Jia because of Emperor Hui's incapability. Resenting the ruling of Empress Jia, those honored kings all plotted to kill her and monopolize the Royal power. Therefore, the so-called 'Rebellion of the Eight Kings' started.

In the following years, battles took place constantly between those kings. In 306 when one of the kings poisoned Emperor Hui, Emperor Huai was arranged to succeed thus the rebellion ended. The rebellion could be seen as a catalyst which worsened the originally feeble regime of Jin.

Decline and Ruin

In late years of the Western Jin, not only did domestic people roused to revolt against the tyranny, but also the exotic ethnic groups such as Huns and Xianbei were covetous of the Jin Court.

In 308, Da Chanyu (the monarch) of Huns, Liu Yuan began to carry out his plan to ruin the Jin Court. He sent his army into Jin's capital Luoyang and captured Emperor Huai. Soon officials of Jin Court hurriedly enthroned a new monarch - Emperor Min in Chang'an (currently Xian). However, Chang'an City was encircled by the Hun troops in 316. Immediately after this, Emperor Min surrendered, putting Western Jin to an end.

Family

 * Grandparents
 * Sima Jun - grandfather
 * Parents
 * Sima Fang- father
 * Wives/Relationships
 * Zhang Chunhua
 * Lady Fu
 * Lady Zhang
 * Lady Bai
 * Children with Zhang chunhua
 * Sima Shi
 * Sima Zhao
 * Sima Gan
 * Princess Nanyang
 * Sons with Lady Fu
 * Sima Liang
 * Sima Zhou
 * Sima Jing
 * Sima Jun
 * Sons with Lady Zhang
 * Sima Rong
 * Sons with Lady Bai
 * Sima Lun
 * Brother
 * Sima Lang
 * Sima Fu
 * Sima Kui
 * Sima Xun
 * Sima Jin
 * Sima Tong
 * Sima Min
 * c'hild 'with other consorts
 * Princess Gaolingxuan