Sima Yi

Sima Yi
Sima Yi
Traditional Chinese	司馬懿
Simplified Chinese	司马懿
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Sīmǎ Yì
Wade–Giles	Ssŭ1-ma3 I4
IPA	[sɹ̩́.mà î]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Sī-máh Yi
Jyutping	Si1-maa5 Ji3
IPA	[si˥.ma˩˧ ji˧]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ	Si-bé Ì
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese	sɨ.mˠaX ʔˠiɪH
Courtesy name
Traditional Chinese	仲達
Simplified Chinese	仲达
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Zhòngdá
IPA	[ʈʂʊ̂ŋ.tǎ]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Juhng-daaht
Jyutping	Zung6-daat6
IPA	[tsʊŋ˨.tat̚˨]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJ	Tiōng-ta̍t
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese	ɖɨuŋH.dɑt̚

Posthumous name
	Emperor Xuan (宣皇帝)

Sima Yi
Sima Yi
司馬懿
	A Ming dynasty illustration of Sima Yi
Grand Tutor (太傅)
	In office; 13 March 239 – 7 September 251
Monarch	Cao Fang
Preceded by	Zhong Yao
Succeeded by	Sima Fu
Manager of the Affairs of the Imperial Secretariat (錄尚書事)
	In office; 22 January – 13 March 239
Monarch	Cao Fang
Succeeded by	Cao Shuang
Palace Attendant (侍中)
	In office; 22 January – 13 March 239
Monarch	Cao Fang
	In office; 221–226
Monarch	Cao Pi
Grand Commandant (太尉)
	In office; 13 February 235 – 13 March 239
Monarch	Cao Rui / Cao Fang
Preceded by	Hua Xin
Succeeded by	Man Chong
General-in-Chief (大將軍)
	In office; 16 March 230 – 13 February 235
Monarch	Cao Rui
Preceded by	Cao Zhen
Succeeded by	Cao Yu
Chief Controller of Jing and Yu Provinces (荊、豫州牧)
	In office; July 227 – 16 March 230
Monarch	Cao Rui
General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍)
	In office; January or February 227 – 16 March 230
Monarch	Cao Rui
General Who Pacifies the Army (撫軍將軍)
	In office; 224 – January or February 227
Monarch	Cao Pi / Cao Rui
Right Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat (尚書右僕射)
	In office; 221–226
Monarch	Cao Pi
Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk (御史中丞)
	In office; 220–221
Monarch	Cao Pi
Master of Writing (尚書)
	In office; 220
Monarch	Cao Pi
Major to the Army of the Chancellor (丞相軍司馬)
	In office; 219–220
Monarch	Emperor Xian of Han
Chancellor	Cao Cao
Master of Records to the Chancellor (丞相主簿)
	In office; 215–?
Monarch	Emperor Xian of Han
Chancellor	Cao Cao
Senior Clerk for Literary Scholarship (文學掾)
	In office; 208–?
Monarch	Emperor Xian of Han
Chancellor	Cao Cao
Personal details
Born	179; Wen County, Henei Commandery
Died	September 7, 251 (aged 71–72); Luoyang, Cao Wei
Resting place	Mengjin County, Henan
Spouse	Zhang Chunhua
Domestic partners	Lady Fu; Lady Zhang; Lady Bai;
Children	Sima Shi; Sima Zhao; Sima Liang; Sima Zhou; Sima Lun;
Parent	Sima Fang (father);
Relatives	Sima Lang (brother); Sima Fu (brother); Sima Zhi (cousin); see also Family tree of Sima Yi;
Occupation	Military general, politician, regent
Courtesy name	Zhongda (仲達)
Temple name	Gaozu (高祖)
Peerage	Marquis of Wuyang (舞陽侯)
Posthumous name
Posthumous name
	Emperor Xuan (宣皇帝)

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).

^ Fang 1952: "Eighth month. On the day wu-yin (Sept. 7), Sima Yi, the Lord Xuan-Wen of Wu-Yang, died."
^ 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."
^ Sima (1084), vol. 74.
^ ^a ^b Sima (1084), vol. 75.

[1] Fang 1952: "Eighth month. On the day wu-yin (Sept. 7), Sima Yi, the Lord Xuan-Wen of Wu-Yang, died."

[2] 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."

[FOOTNOTESima1084vol._74-3] Sima (1084), vol. 74.

[FOOTNOTESima1084vol._75-4] Sima (1084), vol. 75.

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