Misplaced Pages

#232767

40-415: Sima Pi was born in 341, during the reign of his father Emperor Cheng of Jin , as Emperor Cheng's oldest son. His mother was Consort Zhou , who in 342 gave birth to his younger brother Sima Yi . In summer 342, Emperor Cheng grew ill. The common succession protocol, as He Chong ( 何充 ) pointed out, would mean that his oldest son would succeed to the throne, but Emperor Cheng's uncle Yu Bing ( 庾冰 ), wanting

80-556: A Jin vassal with the Jin-bestowed title of Duke of Liaodong, claimed the title of Prince of Yan notwithstanding Jin's failure to grant him that title, effectively declaring independence and establishing Former Yan , although Murong Huang continued to claim to be a Jin vassal. In 339, Yu wanted to make a major attack against Later Zhao, hoping to recapture central China, and Wang initially agreed with him, but after opposition by Xi and Cai Mo , Emperor Cheng ordered Yu not to carry out

120-471: A campaign against Later Zhao, and this brought a major response by Later Zhao's emperor Shi Hu in late 339. Later Zhao forces inflicted great damage on many Jin cities and bases north of the Yangtze and captured Zhucheng (邾城, in modern Huanggang , Hubei ). Humiliated, Yu cancelled the plans for a northern expedition, and he died in early 340. Also in 340, Murong Huang formally requested that he be granted

160-430: A counterattack against Su. They invited Tao to join them, and Tao, initially refusing because of his residual anger against Yu, eventually accepted, but as Tao's forces were about to arrive, a rumor spread that Tao was going to kill Yu. Yu, hearing the rumor, decided to greet Tao and prostrate himself, apologizing for his errors. Tao's anger dissipated, and they joined forces, killing Su in battle in late 328 and defeating

200-875: A major attack against Luoyang, and Huan and Sima Yu considered a counterattack to relieve Luoyang. However, as Emperor Ai died in March 365, that plan was cancelled, and Luoyang soon fell. As he did not have a son, Emperor Ai was succeeded by his brother Sima Yi, as Emperor Fei. Emperor Ai was preceded in death by his wife Empress Wang, who died about a month before he died; they were buried together with imperial honors. Consorts and Issue: Emperor Cheng of Jin Emperor Cheng of Jin ( Chinese : 晉成帝 ; pinyin : Jìn Chéng Dì ; Wade–Giles : Chin Ch'eng-ti ; December 321 or January 322 – 26 July 342 ), personal name Sima Yan ( 司馬衍 ), courtesy name Shigen ( 世根 ),

240-425: A major attack north against Later Zhao . After opposing from Xi and Cai Mo , however, Emperor Cheng ordered Yu to stop his plans. After Wang died later that year, however, the government became in control of Wang's assistant He Chong and Yu Liang's brother Yu Bing , and Yu Liang resumed his battle preparations. This drew a response from Later Zhao's emperor Shi Hu , who attacked several major cities and bases on

280-523: A new emperor who would also be connected to his clan as well, persuaded Emperor Cheng to pass the throne to his younger brother Sima Yue the Prince of Langya, also a son of his sister Yu Wenjun , under the reasoning that with the powerful rival Later Zhao to the north, the empire needed an adult emperor. Emperor Cheng agreed, and named Sima Yue as the heir, and Sima Yue succeeded to the throne as Emperor Kang when he died soon after. The one-year-old Sima Pi

320-419: The aftermaths of Su Jun's defeat, with Jiankang having been heavily damaged by war, the top officials considered moving the capital to either Yuzhang (豫章, in modern Nanchang , Jiangxi ) or Kuaiji (in modern Shaoxing , Zhejiang ), but after Wang opposed, noting that Jiankang was in a better position to monitor the northern defenses against Northern archrival Later Zhao , the capital remained at Jiankang. Wen

360-472: The capital anyway. Before Wen arrived, Su was able to capture the capital in early 328 and take Emperor Cheng and Empress Dowager Yu hostage. Bian died in the battle, and Yu Liang was forced to flee to camp of Wen. Su allowed his soldiers to pillage the capital, and officials and commoners alike had their possessions—as well as clothes—stripped by Su's army, which even seized Empress Dowager Yu's servant girls. Empress Dowager Yu, humiliated by Su and fearful of what

400-516: The central government's aid, were unable to hold their positions and eventually lost most of central China to Later Zhao. Key cities lost during this time included the old capital Luoyang , Shouchun (壽春, in modern Lu'an , Anhui ), and Xiangyang (in modern Hubei ), although Xiangyang was recaptured in 332. In 333, Jin also lost Ning Province (寧州, modern Yunnan and Guizhou ) to Cheng Han (but regained it in 339). As regent, Wang largely restored his earlier policy of lenience and lax enforcement of

440-496: The commanderies that they were now living in. This pragmatic move allowed the local commanderies to have greater manpower and reduced redundancy in local administrations. In summer 342, Emperor Cheng grew gravely ill. He had two young sons -- Sima Pi and Sima Yi , then still in cradles, by his concubine Consort Zhou . Yu Bing, fearful that the Yu Clan would lose power if a young emperor were named, persuaded Emperor Cheng that in

SECTION 10

#1732772240233

480-583: The disastrous revolt of Su Jun , weakening Jin's military capability for years. When Yu Liang was young, he was known for his skills in rhetoric and knowledge in the Taoist philosophies of Laozi and Zhuang Zhou . When he was just 15, he was invited by Emperor Huai 's regent Sima Yue the Prince of Donghai to be on his staff, but he declined, instead staying in Kuaiji Commandery (the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay ) with his father Yu Chen (庾琛),

520-654: The empress dowager. However, the decision-making process was largely in the hands of the general Huan Wen and Emperor Ai's granduncle Sima Yu the Prince of Kuaiji. In 362, Huan, after securing the Luoyang region, requested that the capital be moved back to Luoyang, where it had been until it had been captured by Han Zhao in 311. The imperial government, under an edict issued by Emperor Ai, declined. In 363, Consort Dowager Zhou died. In accordance with proper protocol that he could no longer honor her as mother, out of respect for Empress Dowgaer Chu, Emperor Ai did not observe

560-412: The face of the powerful enemy Later Zhao that an older emperor should be named. Emperor Cheng agreed and designated his younger brother, Sima Yue the Prince of Langya be his heir, despite He Chong's opposition. He issued an edict entrusting his sons to Yu Bing, He, Sima Xi ( 司馬晞 ), Prince of Wuling, Sima Yu , Prince of Kuaiji (both paternal uncles), and Zhuge Hui ( 諸葛恢 ). He died soon thereafter and

600-429: The fortress of Shitou and put him and his attendants under virtual arrest. Meanwhile, Wang was secretly ordering the commanderies to the east to rise against Su, and he eventually persuaded Su's general Lu Yong ( 路永 ) to defect with him to Wen and Tao's army as well. Xi also arrived with his forces from Guangling (in modern Huai'an , Jiangsu ). The Su and anti-Su forces battled for months, indecisively, and despite

640-492: The four-year-old Crown Prince Yan to a group of high-level officials, including Sima Yang ( 司馬羕 ) the Prince of Xiyang, Wang Dao , Bian Kun ( 卞壼 ), Xi Jian , Lu Ye ( 陸瞱 ), Wen Jiao , and Empress Yu's brother Yu Liang , perhaps intending that they lead by group with a balance of power. He died soon thereafter. Crown Prince Yan took the throne as Emperor Cheng. Initially, the officials were in charge together, but as Empress Dowager Yu became regent, Yu Liang became effectively

680-502: The general Guo Mo ( 郭默 ) soon assassinated his successor Liu Yin ( 劉胤 ) and seized Jing Province for himself. Wang Dao initially wanted to avoid another war and placated Guo, but Tao Kan and Yu Liang opposed, and their forces quickly converged on Jiang Province's capital Xunyang (尋陽, in modern Jiujiang , Jiangxi ) in 330, killing Guo. Meanwhile, during and after the Su Jun Disturbance, Jin forces in central China, without

720-546: The generals Tao Kan and Zu Yue – neither of whom was mentioned in the list of honors and promotions announced by Emperor Ming's will and believed that Yu had erased their names from the will – and Su Jun, who had allowed many criminals to join his army. In 326, he alienated public opinion by falsely accusing Sima Yang's brother Sima Zong (司馬宗) the Prince of Nandun of treason and killing him and deposing Sima Yang. In 327, apprehensive of Su's ambitions, Yu became intent on stripping him of his military command, and he promoted Su to

760-465: The governor of Kuaiji . After Sima Rui the Prince of Langye was posted to Jianye as the military commander of the area south of the Yangtze in 307, he invited Yu Liang to serve on his staff, and during that time, he became impressed by Yu's abilities and solemn attitude, and he took Yu Liang's younger sister Yu Wenjun to be his son Sima Shao 's wife. It was while in Sima Rui's service that Yu

800-415: The governor of Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi ) to defend against Tao, the governor of Jing Province (modern Hubei ), wanted to quickly move to help defend the capital Jiankang , as did the local forces to the east of the capital, but Yu declined all help, wanting Wen to remain in position against Tao and believing that he can defeat Su easily. Fearful that Yu would be defeated by Su, Wen headed toward

840-453: The laws, greatly stabilizing the political scene but also leading to the spreading of corruption and incompetence. Eventually, in 338, Yu Liang tried to persuade Xi Jian to join him in moving to depose Wang, but after Xi refused, Yu did not carry out his plan. In 336, Emperor Cheng married his wife Empress Du . Both of them were 15. In 337, Murong Huang , the Xianbei chief who had been

SECTION 20

#1732772240233

880-479: The most powerful official in the administration. He changed from the lenient policies of Wang (who was prime minister during Emperor Ming's reign) to stricter applications of laws and regulations, which offended the officials accustomed to Wang's lenience. Further, he became apprehensive of the generals Tao Kan and Zu Yue —neither of whom was mentioned in the list of honors and promotions announced by Emperor Ming's will and believed that Yu had erased their names from

920-400: The normal mourning period due to a mother. Emperor Ai was obsessed with seeking immortality, and despite his young age, he died from Chinese alchemical elixir poisoning . In 364, he became poisoned by pills given him by magicians, and he grew so ill that he was unable to handle important matters. Empress Dowager Chu had to resume regency on his behalf. Later in 364, Former Yan launched

960-584: The numeric advantage the anti-Su forces had, they were unable to prevail, leading Tao to at one point consider withdrawing. However, Wen was able to persuade him to stay and continuing the battles against Su. In the fall, during an assault on Shitou, the anti-Su forces initially suffered losses, but as Su was making a counterattack against them, he fell off his horse and was hit by spears. The anti-Su soldiers rushed him and decapitated him. Su's forces initially supported his brother Su Yi ( 蘇逸 ) as leader and continued to defend Shitou, but by early 329 were defeated. In

1000-555: The post of minister of agriculture in order to do so. Su refused and rebelled, in alliance with Zu. Yu, initially believing that he could defeat Su easily, declined assistance from provincial officials, including Wen's Jiang Province (江州, modern Jiangxi ) forces, but instead Su quickly descended on the capital Jiankang (name changed from Jianye due to naming taboo of Emperor Min's name) and captured it in early 328, taking Emperor Cheng and Empress Dowager Yu and forcing Yu Liang to flee to Wen. Yu and Wen quickly prepared their forces for

1040-410: The remnants of his forces in early 329. Initially, Yu tendered many resignations to the emperor, his nephew. Wang Dao, as regent, turned those resignations down in the emperor's name and but instead commissioned Yu as the governor of Yu Province (豫州, by that point referring to modern central Anhui ). After Tao's death in 334, Yu succeeded him as the governor of Jing (荊州, modern Hubei and Hunan ); he

1080-465: The throne as Emperor Ai, at age 20. He created his wife Princess Consort Wang as empress in October 361, and his brother Sima Yi, who previously carried the title the Prince of Donghai, as the Prince of Langya. Since he was an adult, Empress Dowager Chu did not serve as regent for him, and he honored his mother Consort Zhou as Consort Dowager ( 皇太妃 ) in 362, but with supplies and ceremonies similar to

1120-561: The throne, the disastrous rebellion of Su Jun weakened Jin forces for decades. Sima Yan was born as the oldest son of Emperor Ming of Jin , who was crown prince at that time, by his wife Crown Princess Yu Wenjun , in December 321 or January 322. After Emperor Ming took the throne in 323 following the death of his father Emperor Yuan , he created Crown Princess Yu empress , but did not immediately create Prince Yan crown prince, until 325. In fall 325, Emperor Ming grew ill. He entrusted

1160-575: The title Prince of Yan. After protracted debates among key officials about whether Murong Huang was still a faithful vassal, Emperor Cheng himself ruled that the request be granted. In spring 341, Empress Du died. Emperor Cheng would not create another empress. Later that year, Emperor Cheng decreed that the refugees from northern and central China, who had fled south during the times of Emperor Huai and Emperor Min due to Five Barbarians Uprising , who had retained household registrations according to their native commanderies, be henceforth registered with

1200-447: The war plans. Wang died in the fall of that year, and was succeeded by his assistant He Chong ( 何充 ) and Yu Liang's younger brother Yu Bing . Emperor Cheng let He and Yu Bing decide most important matters, but also appeared to start making some decisions of his own. Yu Bing and He tried to reform some of the problems with Wang's regency, but did not appear very effective at doing so. After Wang Dao's death, Yu Liang resumed his plans for

1240-497: The warlord Wang Dun 's forces in 324. However, Yu declined all monetary awards and the title of the Duke of Yongchang. As Emperor Ming neared death in 325, he entrusted his four-year-old son Crown Prince Yan , by Yu Liang's sister Empress Yu, to a number of high-level officials, including Yu, Sima Yang (司馬羕) the Prince of Xiyang, Wang Dao , Bian Kun (卞壼), Xi Jian , Lu Ye (陸瞱), and Wen Jiao. Initially, after he died later that year and

Emperor Ai of Jin - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-552: The will—and Su Jun , who had allowed many criminals to join his army. In 326, he alienated public opinion by falsely accusing Sima Yang's brother Sima Zong ( 司馬宗 ) the Prince of Nandun of treason and killing him and deposing Sima Yang. In 327, apprehensive of Su, Yu decided to try to strip his military command by promoting him to the minister of agriculture—a position that did not involve commanding troops. After initially hesitating, Su eventually refused and formed an alliance with Zu against Yu. Upon hearing this, Wen, whom Yu had made

1320-484: Was an emperor of the Chinese Eastern Jin dynasty . He was the eldest son of Emperor Ming and became the crown prince on April 1, 325. During his reign, the administration was largely dominated by a succession of regents—initially his uncle Yu Liang , then Wang Dao , then the joint administration of He Chong and another uncle Yu Bing . He became emperor at age four, and soon after his accession to

1360-484: Was created the Marquess of Duting. Later, after Sima Rui claimed the imperial title after Emperor Min 's death in 318 (as Emperor Yuan), Yu, along with Wen Jiao , were friends and key advisors of Sima Shao, who became crown prince . After Emperor Yuan's death and succession by Crown Prince Shao (as Emperor Ming), Yu continued to be a key advisor, and was heavily involved in his planning against and subsequent defeat of

1400-532: Was instead created the Prince of Langya on 1 August 342. He continued in that title after Emperor Kang's death in November 344, as Emperor Kang chose to pass the throne to his infant son Sima Dan (as Emperor Mu). It is not known when he married his wife Wang Muzhi , only that she carried the title Princess Consort of Langya. In July 361, Emperor Mu died without a son. Emperor Mu's mother Empress Dowager Chu thus ordered that Sima Pi be made emperor, and he took

1440-522: Was posted to Wuchang (武昌, modern Ezhou , Hubei ), Yu, and Jiang Provinces and the military commander of the western provinces. Even though he was not in control of the government, he continued to have great influence from his post as the emperor's uncle. In 338, angry at what he saw as Wang's overly lenient attitude and not sufficiently grooming Emperor Cheng to rule, Yu tried to convince Xi to join him in an effort to depose Wang, but Xi refused, and Yu never carried out his plans. Instead, in 339, he planned

1480-517: Was requested to remain in Jiankang as regent, but he, believing that Emperor Ming intended Wang to serve that role, yielded the position to Wang. Meanwhile, Yu Liang, initially offering to resign all of his posts and go into exile, accepted a provincial governor post. In light of his mother's death, the eight-year-old Emperor Cheng appeared to have been raised by his paternal grandmother, Lady Xun , from this point on. In late 329, Wen Jiao died, and

1520-456: Was succeeded by Crown Prince Yan (as Emperor Cheng), the officials were in charge together, but as Empress Dowager Yu became regent, Yu Liang became effectively the most powerful official in the administration. He changed from the lenient policies of Wang (who was prime minister during Emperor Ming's reign) to stricter applications of laws and regulations, which offended the officials accustomed to Wang's lenience. Further, he became apprehensive of

1560-457: Was succeeded by Prince Yue (as Emperor Kang). Consorts and Issue: Yu Liang Yu Liang (庾亮; 289 – 14 February 340 ), courtesy name Yuangui (元規), formally Marquess Wenkang of Duting (都亭文康侯), was a Chinese military general and politician of the Jin dynasty who impressed many with his knowledge but whose inability to tolerate dissent and overly high evaluation of his own abilities led to

1600-607: Was to come, soon died in anxiety. Su organized a new government, with Wang Dao, whom Su respected, as the titular regent, but with Su himself in actual power. Meanwhile, Yu and Wen organized efforts to recapture the capital. Wen's cousin Wen Chong ( 溫充 ) suggested inviting Tao, a capable general with a sizable army, to be the supreme commander of the army. However, Tao, still resentful of Yu, initially refused. Eventually he relented and joined Wen and Yu. They advanced east toward Jiankang. In response, Su forcibly took Emperor Cheng to

#232767