Sima Yi

This article is about the Cao Wei official of the Three Kingdoms period and ancestor of the Jin dynasty. For the emperor of the Eastern Jin dynasty, see Emperor Fei of Jin.

Sima Yi
司馬懿
A Ming dynasty illustration of Sima Yi
Grand Tutor (太傅)
In office
13 March 239 (13 March 239) – 7 September 251 (7 September 251)
MonarchCao Fang
Preceded byZhong Yao
Succeeded bySima Fu
Manager of the Affairs of the Imperial Secretariat (錄尚書事)
In office
22 January (22 January) – 13 March 239 (13 March 239)
MonarchCao Fang
Succeeded byCao Shuang
Palace Attendant (侍中)
In office
22 January (22 January) – 13 March 239 (13 March 239)
MonarchCao Fang
In office
221–226
MonarchCao Pi
Grand Commandant (太尉)
In office
13 February 235 (13 February 235) – 13 March 239 (13 March 239)
MonarchCao Rui / Cao Fang
Preceded byHua Xin
Succeeded byMan Chong
General-in-Chief (大將軍)
In office
16 March 230 (16 March 230) – 13 February 235 (13 February 235)
MonarchCao Rui
Preceded byCao Zhen
Succeeded byCao Yu
Chief Controller of Jing and Yu Provinces (荊、豫州牧)
In office
July 227 (July 227) – 16 March 230 (16 March 230)
MonarchCao Rui
General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍)
In office
January or February 227 (January or February 227) – 16 March 230 (16 March 230)
MonarchCao Rui
General Who Pacifies the Army (撫軍將軍)
In office
224 (224) – January or February 227 (January or February 227)
MonarchCao Pi / Cao Rui
Right Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat (尚書右僕射)
In office
221–226
MonarchCao Pi
Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk (御史中丞)
In office
220–221
MonarchCao Pi
Master of Writing (尚書)
In office
220
MonarchCao Pi
Major to the Army of the Chancellor (丞相軍司馬)
In office
219–220
MonarchEmperor Xian of Han
ChancellorCao Cao
Master of Records to the Chancellor (丞相主簿)
In office
215–?
MonarchEmperor Xian of Han
ChancellorCao Cao
Senior Clerk for Literary Scholarship (文學掾)
In office
208–?
MonarchEmperor Xian of Han
ChancellorCao Cao
Personal details
Born179
Wen County, Henei Commandery
DiedSeptember 7, 251(251-09-07) (aged 71–72)
Luoyang, Cao Wei
Resting placeMengjin County, Henan
SpouseZhang Chunhua
Domestic partners
  • Lady Fu
  • Lady Zhang
  • Lady Bai
Children
Parent
Relatives
OccupationMilitary general, politician, regent
Courtesy nameZhongda (仲達)
Temple nameGaozu (高祖)
PeerageMarquis of Wuyang (舞陽侯)
Posthumous name
Emperor Xuan (宣皇帝)
Sima Yi
Traditional Chinese司馬懿
Simplified Chinese司马懿
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinSīmǎ Yì
Wade–GilesSsŭ1-ma3 I4
IPA[sɹ̩́.mà î]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationSī-máh Yi
JyutpingSi1-maa5 Ji3
IPA[si˥.ma˩˧ ji˧]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJSi-bé Ì
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinesesɨ.mˠaX ʔˠiɪH
Courtesy name
Traditional Chinese仲達
Simplified Chinese仲达
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhòngdá
IPA[ʈʂʊ̂ŋ.tǎ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale RomanizationJuhng-daaht
JyutpingZung6-daat6
IPA[tsʊŋ˨.tat̚˨]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJTiōng-ta̍t
Middle Chinese
Middle ChineseɖɨuŋH.dɑt̚
In this Chinese name, the family name is Sima.

Sima Yi (pronunciationⓘ 司馬懿; 179 CE – 7 September[1] 251 CE), courtesy name Zhongda, was a Chinese military general, politician, and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China.

He formally began his political career in 208 under the Han dynasty's Imperial Chancellor Cao Cao,[2] and was quickly promoted to higher office. His success in handling domestic and military affairs such as governance and the promotion of agriculture, serving as an adviser, repelling incursions and invasions led by Shu and Wu forces, speedily defeating Meng Da's Xincheng Rebellion, and conquering the Gongsun-led Liaodong commandery, garnered him great prestige. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from a series of invasions that were led by Wei's rival state Shu between 231 and 234.

In 239, along with another co-regent Cao Shuang, he was made to preside as a regent for the young Cao Fang after the death of latter's adoptive father, Cao Rui. Although amicable at first, the relationship soon deteriorated in light of Cao Shuang's corruption, extravagance, and attempts to curtail Sima Yi's political influence.[3] In February 249, after carefully planning and building up support, Sima Yi ousted Cao Shuang from power in a coup d'état and had him and his associates executed.[4]

Afterwards, Sima Yi became the primary authority in Wei, although in June 251 he faced some opposition from Wang Ling's rebellion, which he swiftly dealt with. Sima Yi died on 7 September 251, at the age of 71 or 72, and was succeeded by his eldest son Sima Shi.[4]

For the remainder of Wei's history, state power was increasingly vested in the Sima clan, which led to the establishment of the Jin dynasty, which was founded by Sima Yi's grandson Sima Yan in February 266. After Sima Yan became emperor, he honoured his grandfather with the posthumous title Emperor Xuan of Jin and the temple name Gaozu. He was also the last common ancestor of all emperors of the Jin dynasty; while emperors of the Western Jin descended from Sima Zhao (his son with wife Zhang Chunhua), emperors of the Eastern Jin descended from Sima Zhou (his son with concubine Lady Fu).

  1. ^ Fang 1952: "Eighth month. On the day wu-yin (Sept. 7), Sima Yi, the Lord Xuan-Wen of Wu-Yang, died."
  2. ^ de Crespigny 1996: "When Sima Yi was young he was already intelligent, and he had ambitious plans. Cui Yan said to his elder brother Sima Lang, "Your young brother has a clear intelligence and a keen sense of justice, firm decision and exceptional bravery. You are not so good as that!" Cao Cao heard about this and appointed Sima Yi to office, but Sima Yi sought to excuse himself on the grounds that he had rheumatism. Cao Cao was angry and was going to have him arrested. Sima Yi was frightened and took the post."
    Rafe de Crespigny notes: "Sima Yi, known by his honorary posthumous title as Emperor Xuan of Jin, was the founder of the imperial fortunes of his family, and destroyer of the Cao dynasty of Wei. There is thus a certain irony in the story that he had to be dragooned by Cao Cao into service; and it may be too good to be true."
  3. ^ Sima (1084), vol. 74.
  4. ^ a b Sima (1084), vol. 75.