Sima Yu 司馬昱, Emperor Jianwen of Eastern Jin

Sima Yu 司馬昱 (320–372), zi Daowan 道萬. Eastern Jin emperor and writer.

Sima Yu was Emperor Jianwen 簡文 (r. 371–372) of the Eastern Jin. His ancestral home was Wen 溫 county in Henei 河內 (modern Henan). He was the youngest son of Emperor Yuan 元 (r. 317–322). He was a bright child and was much favored by his father. When the celebrated writer Guo Pu 郭璞 (276–324) first met him, he said, “The one who will revive the fortunes of the Jin dynasty must be this person.” He had little interest in material things, and had a strong interest in discussions of arcane (xuan 玄) thought.

In 322, Emperor Yuan named Sima Yu Prince of Langye 琅邪. In 326, his mother died. He cried so hard he shed tears of blood. In 328 he was desginated Prince of Guiji 會稽, and appointed cavalier attendant-in-ordinary. In 340, he was further promoted to General of the Pacification Army, and concurrently served as director of the palace library. In 346, Sima Dan 司馬聃 (343–361), at age of two, succeeded to the throne. This was Emperor Mu 穆 (r. 344–361). At the request of Empress Dowager Chongde 崇德 (324–384), Sima Yu took charge of all court affairs on behalf of Emperor Mu. In 352, Sima Yu was promoted to the post of minister of education. He firmly declined the offer. When Sima Dan reached majority at the age of fifteen, Sima Yu planned to return imperial power back to Emperor Mu, but he was not allowed to do so.

In 361, Emperor Mu passed away at the age of nineteen. Sima Pi 司馬丕 (341–365) succeeded him. This was Emperor Ai 哀 (r. 361–365). Four years later, in 365, Emperor Ai died. His younger brother Sima Yi 司馬奕 (342–386), Emperor Fei 廢 (r. 365–371), succeeded him. In 366, Sima Yu was named counselor-in-chief and put in charge of matters involving the Department of State Affiars.

On 4 January 372, Commander-in-chief Huan Wen 桓溫 (312–373) demoted Sima Yi to Prince of Donghai 東海. On 9 January Huan Wen had his title reduced to Duke of Haixi county 海西縣. Huan Wen then installed Sima Yu as emperor on 6 January 372. He reigned for only one year and died of illness on 19 August 373 at the age of fifty-three.

Sima Yu was known as an accomplished writer. Liu Xie writes in the Wenxin diaolong: “Emperor Cheng [r. 326–342] was short-lived and Emperor Kang [343–344] had a short reign. Emperor Jianwen conspiciously arose, and he was profoundly immersed in the pure and lofty. Profound words and subtle principles filled the mats of the arcane thinkers, and dispassionate thought in rich elegance sprinkled the garden of literature.”

The monograph on bibliography of the Sui shu lists Sima Yu's collected works in five juan as do the two Tang histories. Yan Kejun collects twelve of his prose writings in Quan shanggu Sandai Qin Han Sanguo Liuchao wen, most of which are imperial edicts and letters, including “Shou zhao bao Huan Wen” 手詔報桓溫 (Personal edict to Huan Wen), “Da she zhao” 大赦詔 (Edict of general amnesty), “Zhao baiguan” 詔百官 (Edict to court officials), and “Yu Huan Wen shu” 與桓溫書 (letter to Huan Wen).

Taiping Chang

Citation

• 司馬昱 Sima Yu, Brill’s Chinese Reference Shelf. Brill Online, 2017. http://chinesereferenceshelf.brillonline.com/ancient-literature/ent...

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Sima Yu 司馬昱 [30910] Eighth emperor of the Eastern Jin. Giles, p. 676. — RMH