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Sima Yi | |||||
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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 Luoyang, Cao Wei | (aged 71–72)||||
Resting place | Mengjin County, Henan | ||||
Spouse | Zhang Chunhua | ||||
Domestic partners |
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Children | |||||
Parent |
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Relatives |
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Occupation | Military general, politician, regent | ||||
Courtesy name | Zhongda (仲達) | ||||
Temple name | Gaozu (高祖) | ||||
Peerage | Marquis of Wuyang (舞陽侯) | ||||
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Sima Yi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Traditional Chinese | 司馬懿 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 司马懿 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Courtesy name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Traditional Chinese | 仲達 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Simplified Chinese | 仲达 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sima Yi (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 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 251 he faced some opposition from Wang Ling's rebellion, with which he swiftly dealt. 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 266. After Sima Yan became emperor, he honoured his grandfather with the posthumous title Emperor Xuan of Jin and the temple name Gaozu.