Emperor Xiaowu of Jin
Encyclopedia
| Jin Xiaowudi (晉孝武帝) | |
|---|---|
| Family name Chinese name Personal names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Most noticeably, a Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next, therefore "John-Paul Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John-Paul"... : |
Sima (司馬; sī mǎ) |
| Given name Chinese name Personal names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western cultures. Most noticeably, a Chinese name is written with the family name first and the given name next, therefore "John-Paul Smith" as a Chinese name would be "Smith John-Paul"... : |
Yao (曜, yaò) |
| Posthumous name Posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life... : |
Xiaowu (孝武, xiào wǔ), literary meaning: "filial and martial" |
Emperor Xiaowu of Jin (晋孝武帝/晉孝武帝, pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
Jìn Xiàowǔdì, Wade-Giles
Wade-Giles
Wade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
Chin Hsiao-wu-ti) (362–396), personal name Sima Yao (司馬曜), courtesy name Changming (昌明), was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (265–420) in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. During his reign, Jin saw his dynasty survive a major attempt by Former Qin
Former Qin
The Former Qin was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Founded by the Fu family of the Di ethnicity, it completed the unification of North China in 376. Its capital had been Xi'an up to the death of the ruler Fu Jiān. Despite its name, the Former Qin was much later and less powerful than...
to destroy it, but he would nevertheless be the last Jin emperor to actually exercise imperial power, as his sons Emperor An
Emperor An of Jin
Emperor An of Jin , personal name Sima Dezong , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He was described as so developmentally disabled that he was unable to speak, clothe himself, or be able to express whether he was hungry or full...
and Emperor Gong
Emperor Gong of Jin
Emperor Gong of Jin was last emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He became emperor in 419 after his developmentally disabled brother Emperor An was killed by the regent Liu Yu, and during his brief reign, actual power was in Liu Yu's hands. In 420, under pressure from Liu Yu, he...
would be controlled by regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
s and warlords. He himself died an unusual death—he was killed by his concubine Consort Zhang after he insulted her.
Early life
Sima Yao was born in 362, when his father Sima YuEmperor Jianwen of Jin
Emperor Jianwen of Jin , personal name Sima Yu , courtesy name Daowan , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He was the younger brother of Emperor Ming and installed by military leader Huan Wen...
was the Prince of Kuaiji and the prime minister for his grandnephew Emperor Ai
Emperor Ai of Jin
Emperor Ai of Jin , personal name Sima Pi , courtesy name Qianling , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty . During his brief reign, the actual powers were largely in the hands of his granduncle Sima Yu the Prince of Kuaiji, and the paramount general Huan Wen...
. His mother, Li Lingrong
Empress Dowager Li Lingrong
Empress Dowager Li Lingrong , formally Empress Dowager Xiaowuwen was an empress dowager during Jin Dynasty...
, was originally a servant involved in textile production, but based on a magician's words that she would bear his heir (his sons all having died early by that point), Sima Yu took her as his concubine, and she gave birth to Sima Yao. As he was born at dawn, she named him Yao, with the courtesy name Changming, both meaning "dawn". A year later she would give birth to his brother Sima Daozi
Sima Daozi
Sima Daozi , formally Prince Wenxiao of Kuaiji , was a regent during the reign of his nephew Emperor An of Jin, being the younger brother of Emperor Xiaowu.-Early life:...
. As the oldest surviving son of Sima Yu, Sima Yao was designated as the heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
early in his life, and in 365, when he was just three years old, Emperor Fei
Emperor Fei of Jin
Emperor Fei of Jin , personal name Sima Yi , courtesy name Yanling , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He was the younger brother of Emperor Ai and later deposed by military leader Huan Wen...
offered the greater title of Prince of Langye to his father and the title of Prince of Kuaiji to him. Sima Yu declined, both personally and on his son's behalf, and Emperor Fei did not insist on them taking on the greater titles.
In 371, having lost a devastating battle to the Former Yan
Former Yan
The Former Yan was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.Initially, Murong Huang and his son Murong Jun claimed the Jin Dynasty -created title "Prince of Yan," but subsequently, in 352, after seizing most of the former Later Zhao territory, Murong Juan would...
general Murong Chui
Murong Chui
Murong Chui , courtesy name Daoming , formally Emperor Wucheng of Yan was a great general of the Chinese/Xianbei state Former Yan who later became the founding emperor of Later Yan...
in 369, the paramount general Huan Wen
Huan Wen
Huan Wen , courtesy name Yuanzi , formally Duke Xuanwu of Nan Commandery , was a general of the Jin Dynasty...
decided to display his power by falsely accusing Emperor Fei of impotence
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual performance....
and not being the actual father of his sons, and then deposing him. He made Sima Yu the new emperor (as Emperor Jianwen), although actual power was in his own hands, as he considered usurping the Jin throne. In 372, as Emperor Jianwen grew ill, he created Sima Yao crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
, but in his will initially offered the throne to Huan Wen if he wanted it, until his official Wang Tanzhi (王坦之) objected and authored, with his approval, an amendment wherein Huan was only compared to the statesmen Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
and Wang Dao
Wang Dao
Wang Dao , courtesy name Maohong , formally Duke Wenxian of Shixing , was a Jin Dynasty statesman who served important roles in the administrations of Emperor Yuan, Emperor Ming, and Emperor Cheng, including as Emperor Cheng's regent...
. Nevertheless, after Emperor Jianwen then died, many officials, apprehensive of Huan, were not immediately willing to declare Crown Prince Yao the new emperor, wanting to wait to see Huan's signal. At the instigation of one Wang Biaozhi (王彪之), however, Crown Prince Yao took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu.
Early reign
As the new emperor was only 10 years old, his cousin, Emperor KangEmperor Kang of Jin
Emperor Kang of Jin , personal name Sima Yue , courtesy name Shitong , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty . He was a son of Emperor Ming and younger brother of Emperor Cheng...
's wife Empress Dowager Chu
Empress Chu Suanzi
Empress Chu Suanzi , formally Empress Kangxian , at times as Empress Dowager Chongde , was an empress of Jin Dynasty...
, served as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
, but the decisions were actually being made by Xie An
Xie An
200px|right|thumb|Statue of xie anXie An , courtesy name Anshi , formally Duke Wenjing of Luling , was a Jin Dynasty statesman who, despite his lack of military ability, led Jin through a major crisis—attacks by Former Qin...
and Wang Tanzhi, as Huan, apparently fearful of being entrapped, declined an offer to be regent. However, there would continue to be fears that Huan was about to seize the throne, and in 373, when Huan finally visited the capital Jiankang
Jiankang
Jiankang was the capital city of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties. Its walls are extant ruins in the modern municipal region of Nanjing.-History:...
, it was rumored that Huan would execute Wang and Xie and seize the throne. However, Huan hesitated and did not do so, and after he died later that year, the fears of a Huan usurpation dissipated, as his brother and successor Huan Chong
Huan Chong
Huan Chong ), formally Duke Xuanmu of Fengcheng , was a Jin Dynasty governor and general and the youngest brother of Huan Wen. Contrary to the ambitious Huan Wen, who at times considered seizing the throne, Huan Chong was known to be dedicated to the preservation of the imperial government...
was committed to the survival of the imperial government.
A major issue for the Jin government early in Emperor Xiaowu's reign was the continued military pressure exerted by the powerful northern rival Former Qin
Former Qin
The Former Qin was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Founded by the Fu family of the Di ethnicity, it completed the unification of North China in 376. Its capital had been Xi'an up to the death of the ruler Fu Jiān. Despite its name, the Former Qin was much later and less powerful than...
. In 373, Former Qin would attack and seize Jin's Liang (梁州, modern southern Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
) and Yi (益州, modern Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
and Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
) provinces. Internally, however, Jin was apparently well-governed by Xie and Huan Chong.
In 375, Emperor Xiaowu married Wang Fahui
Empress Wang Fahui
Empress Wang Fahui , formally Empress Xiaowuding was an empress during Jin Dynasty . Her husband was Emperor Xiaowu....
, the daughter of the official Wang Yun (王蘊), as his empress. He was 13 and she was 16. He also started studying the Chinese classic texts
Chinese classic texts
Chinese classic texts, or Chinese canonical texts, today often refer to the pre-Qin Chinese texts, especially the Neo-Confucian titles of Four Books and Five Classics , a selection of short books and chapters from the voluminous collection called the Thirteen Classics. All of these pre-Qin texts...
and writing poetry. In 376, Empress Dowager Chu officially removed herself from the regent position and returned her powers to Emperor Xiaowu, although the decisions were still largely being made by Xie.
In 376, the Jin vassal Former Liang
Former Liang
The Former Liang was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin dynasty in China. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han Chinese...
was attacked by Former Qin, and Jin forces, under Huan Chong's command, attempted to relieve the pressure on Former Liang by attacking Former Qin, but Former Liang fell quickly, and Huan withdrew his forces. In apprehension of a Former Qin attack, Jin evacuated much of its population north of the Huai River
Huai River
The Huai River is a major river in China. The Huai River is located about mid-way between the Yellow River and Yangtze River, the two largest rivers in China, and like them runs from west to east...
to regions south of the Huai River.
In 378, Former Qin made major attacks against the important Jin cities of Xiangyang, Weixing (魏興, in modern Ankang
Ankang
Ankang is a city in Shaanxi province, China.- Geography :Ankang is geographically considered to be part of southern China. However, on administrative terms, as Shaanxi is officially part of Northwestern China, it is considered to be part of the Northwest....
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
), and Pengcheng. While the general Xie Xuan
Xie Xuan
Xie Xuan , courtesy name Youdu , formally Duke Xianwu of Kangle , was a Jin Dynasty general who is best known for repelling the Former Qin army at the Battle of Fei River, preventing the Former Qin emperor Fu Jiān from destroying Jin and uniting China.- Early career :Xie Xuan's father Xie Yi was...
was able to immediately recapture Pengcheng after it fell, Xiangyang and Weixing were taken by Former Qin forces in 379.
In 380, Empress Wang died. Emperor Xiaowu would not have another empress for the rest of his life.
In 381, Emperor Xiaowu began to study Buddhist sutra
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
s, and he established a Buddhist study hall inside his palace, inviting monks to live within.
In 383, Huan Chong made a counterattack against Former Qin, hoping to recapture Xiangyang and the southwest. However, after some initial losses, Huan abandoned the campaign.
The Battle of Fei River
Later in 383, Former Qin's emperor, Fu JiānFu Jian
Fu Jian may refer to:* Fú Jiàn , founding emperor of Former Qin, posthumous name Emperor Jingming* Fú Jiān , ruler of Former Qin, posthumous name Emperor Xuanzhao-See also:...
, launched a major attack against Jin, intending to destroy it and unite China. At the Battle of Fei River, however, his forces panicked after trying to retreat to draw Jin forces across the Fei River, and his army was routed with great losses, including his brother and prime minister Fu Rong
Fu Rong
Fu Rong , style name Boxiu , formally Duke Ai of Yangping , was an official and general of the Chinese/Di state Former Qin. He was a younger brother of Fu Jiān, the third emperor of the state.-Early life:...
. Former Qin would start collapsing in 384 after this defeat and would not again pose a threat to Jin.
Middle reign
After defeating Former Qin forces, in light of Former Qin's collapse, Xie Xuan spearheaded a campaign to regain lost territory, and Jin captured most of the Former Qin provinces south of the Yellow RiverYellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
in fairly rapid succession, as well as regaining Liang and Yi provinces. Prime Minister Xie An, however, whom most credited with the victory, began to lose favor in Emperor Xiaowu's eyes, as Xie's son-in-law Wang Guobao (王國寶), unhappy that Xie did not give him important posts, began to flatter both Emperor Xiaowu and his brother Sima Daozi the Prince of Kuaiji and attack Xie. Xie remained prime minister, however, until his death in 385. He was replaced by Sima Daozi. Both Emperor Xiaowu and Sima Daozi became obsessed with feasting and drinking, and neither spent a great amount of time on affairs of state.
In 387, Emperor Xiaowu created his oldest son, five-year-old Sima Dezong
Emperor An of Jin
Emperor An of Jin , personal name Sima Dezong , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He was described as so developmentally disabled that he was unable to speak, clothe himself, or be able to express whether he was hungry or full...
, crown prince, notwithstanding the fact that Sima Dezong was developmentally disabled
Developmental disability
Developmental disability is a term used in the United States and Canada to describe lifelong disabilities attributable to mental or physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. It is not synonymous with "developmental delay" which is often a consequence of a temporary illness or trauma during...
—so severely that even after he grew older, he was described as not being able to talk or dress himself, and not even being able to tell whether he was full or hungry while eating.
In 390 Emperor Xiaowu began to tire of how Sima Daozi was taking his favors for granted and being disrespectful, and he decided to look for counterbalancing forces. He decided to make the officials Wang Gong (王恭, Empress Wang's brother) and Yin Zhongkan (殷仲堪) key regional governors, despite warnings that both Wang and Yin were talented but narrow-minded and might create issues later.
Late reign
In 394, Emperor Xiaowu honored his mother, Consort Li, as empress dowagerEmpress Dowager
Empress Dowager was the title given to the mother of a Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese emperor.The title was also given occasionally to another woman of the same generation, while a woman from the previous generation was sometimes given the title of Grand empress dowager. Numerous empress...
.
By 395, the conflict between Emperor Xiaowu and Sima Daozi had flared into the open, but because of the intercession of Empress Dowager Li, Emperor Xiaowu did not remove his brother. After further mediation by Xu Miao (徐邈), the relationship between the brothers seemed to be restored.
By 396, Emperor Xiaowu was spending so much of his time in drinking and women that he was not seeing his officials on important matters of state on a regular basis. His favorite consort was the beautiful Consort Zhang. In late fall 396, at a feast, Emperor Xiaowu joked at her, who was then almost 30 years old, "Based on your age, you should yield your position. I want someone younger." She was very angered, but hid her emotions. That night, after Emperor Xiaowu again fell drunk, she ordered all the eunuchs away, bribing them with wine, and then ordered her servant girls to suffocate Emperor Xiaowu by putting a blanket over his face. She then further bribed many attendants and claimed that the emperor died suddenly in his sleep. Because Sima Dezong the crown prince was developmentally disabled, and Sima Daozi was foolish and unthinking, no one investigated the death of the emperor. The next day, Sima Dezong assumed the throne as Emperor An, with Sima Daozi as regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
.
Era names
- Ningkang (寧康 níng kāng) February 19, 373 – February 8, 376
- Taiyuan (太元 tài yuán) February 9, 376 – February 12, 397
Personal information
- Father
- Emperor Jianwen of JinEmperor Jianwen of JinEmperor Jianwen of Jin , personal name Sima Yu , courtesy name Daowan , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He was the younger brother of Emperor Ming and installed by military leader Huan Wen...
- Emperor Jianwen of Jin
- Mother
- Consort Li LingrongEmpress Dowager Li LingrongEmpress Dowager Li Lingrong , formally Empress Dowager Xiaowuwen was an empress dowager during Jin Dynasty...
(d. 400)
- Consort Li Lingrong
- Wife
- Empress Wang FahuiEmpress Wang FahuiEmpress Wang Fahui , formally Empress Xiaowuding was an empress during Jin Dynasty . Her husband was Emperor Xiaowu....
(created 375, d. 380)
- Empress Wang Fahui
- Major Concubines
- Consort Chen GuinüConsort Chen GuinüConsort Chen Guinü , formally Empress Dowager Ande was an imperial consort during the Chinese Jin Dynasty . She was Emperor Xiaowu's concubine....
, mother of Crown Prince Dezong and Prince Dewen - Consort Xu, mother of Princess Xin'an
- Consort Zhang
- Consort Chen Guinü
- Children
- Sima Dezong (司馬德宗), the Crown Prince (created 387), later Emperor An of JinEmperor An of JinEmperor An of Jin , personal name Sima Dezong , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He was described as so developmentally disabled that he was unable to speak, clothe himself, or be able to express whether he was hungry or full...
- Sima Dewen (司馬德文), the Prince of Langye (created 392), later Emperor Gong of JinEmperor Gong of JinEmperor Gong of Jin was last emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He became emperor in 419 after his developmentally disabled brother Emperor An was killed by the regent Liu Yu, and during his brief reign, actual power was in Liu Yu's hands. In 420, under pressure from Liu Yu, he...
- Princess Jinling (d. 432)
- Pirncess Xin'an
- Princess Poyang
- Sima Dezong (司馬德宗), the Crown Prince (created 387), later Emperor An of Jin