Dynasties of ChinaWestern JinWestern Jin lineage
179—251
He served in the Cao and Wei Dynasties for four generations, resisted Zhuge Liang, pacified Liaodong, launched the Gaopingling Revolution, and laid the foundation for the Sima family to succeed the Wei Dynasty.
Sima Yi, named Zhongda, was from Wen County, Hanoi. He came from a famous family and his ancestors had been officials for generations. In his early years, he refused Cao Cao's conquest due to illness. After he became an official in about 208, he relied heavily on Cao Pi, and he was known as the "Four Friends of the Crown Prince" together with Chen Qun, Wu Zhi, and Zhu Shuo. After Cao Pi became emperor, he served as Shangshu and General of Fujun. When Cao Pi died, he, together with Cao Zhen, Chen Qun and Cao Xiu, received a posthumous edict to assist the government. During the Emperor Ming Dynasty, he sat in Guanzhong for many years and resisted the Northern Expedition of Zhuge Liang. In 228, he quickly pacified Mengda, the prefect of Xincheng. In 238, he went on an expedition to Liaodong and destroyed Gongsun Yuan, and his prestige grew.
Emperor Ming died of illness in 239, and Sima Yi and the general Cao Shuang jointly assisted the young leader Cao Fang. Cao Shuang monopolized power and respected him as Tai Tu but took away his actual power. Sima Yi claimed that he was ill and could not tolerate it. In the first month of 249, he took advantage of Cao Fang and Cao Shuang's visit to Gaopingling to launch a coup, occupied Luoyang, annihilated the Cao Shuang group, and then monopolized the military and political power of Cao Wei. In 251, he suppressed Taiwei Wang Ling's rebellion in Huainan and died of illness in August of the same year. His sons Sima Shi and Sima Zhao came to power one after another. In 266, his grandson Sima Yan replaced Wei and established Jin Dynasty, and he was honored as Emperor Xuan.
Sima Yi is patient and calm, good at using troops, resisted Zhuge Liang, pacified Liaodong, made great contributions to Cao Wei, and became a very popular minister. After the Gaopingling Incident, he used thunderous means to eradicate dissidents, allowing the Sima family to gain full control over the Wei state, paving the way for the establishment of Western Jin; however, his coup betrayed the trust of Emperor Ming in entrusting the heir, and later historians often ridiculed him for being too powerful and not loyal enough.
PeopleCalled to serve
After Cao Cao became the prime minister, he again conquered the country. Sima Yi had previously refused because of Feng Bi's request. This time, because Cao Cao threatened that "if Panhuan is restored, he will take it back", he accepted the order and was appointed as a literary minister. Soon he became a close confidant of Cao Pi.
MilitaryPing Mengda's Rebellion
Meng Da, the governor of Xincheng, secretly communicated with Shu Han. Sima Yi rushed to the city day and night for eight days without waiting for the court's approval. On the sixteenth day, the city was broken and Meng Da was beheaded. Zhuge Liang's first northern expedition lost the response from the southeast.
MilitaryRefuse Zhuge Liang's Northern Expedition
He served as a general and dealt with Zhuge Liang in Guanzhong. They fought with the Shu army in Lucheng in 231, and held out for more than a hundred days at Wuzhangyuan in 234. After Zhuge Liang died of illness, the Shu army retreated, and the Guanzhong defense line was stabilized.
MilitaryExpedition to Liaodong
Gongsun Yuan claimed to be King Yan in Liaodong. Sima Yi led an army of 40,000 to attack and besieged Xiangping for several months. After the city was broken, Gongsun Yuan and his son were killed. Liaodong, Daifang and other counties were returned to Cao Wei, and the northeastern border was stabilized.
PoliticsAppointed to assist the government
Emperor Wei Ming was critically ill, and Cao Shuang and Sima Yi were both ordered to assist the eight-year-old Cao Fang. Cao Shuang treated him with great respect at first, but soon respected him as Taifu and took the real power into his own hands.
EconomyAdopt Huainan farming
Deng Ai proposed the plan of digging canals and establishing large-scale farming in the N & S of the Huaihe River. Sima Yi believed in it and adopted it, which ensured the military supplies for the southeastern war and accumulated strength for the Wei army's subsequent expedition to Dongwu.
PoliticsIncident of Gaopingling
On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Cao Shuang's brothers followed Cao Fang out of Luoyang to visit Gaoping Mausoleum. Sima Yi followed the Queen Mother's order to close the city gates, control the arsenal, and dismissed Cao Shuang. After Cao Shuang handed over his military power, the three clans were soon exterminated, and the Sima family took charge of the government from then on.
CultureThe End of Zhengshi Metaphysics
The Cao Shuang Group was executed, He Yan and other famous metaphysical figures were killed, and Wang Bi died young in the same year. After that, scholars did not dare to interfere directly in politics. The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove and others turned to drinking and talking, and the trend of metaphysics shifted from politics to personal life.
MilitaryKing Ping Ling Chaos
Taiwei Wang Ling plotted to establish Chu King Cao Biao in Shouchun. Sima Yi personally led the army to advance by land and water. When he arrived, Wang Ling had no time to resist, so he had to tie himself up to plead guilty, and committed suicide by taking poison on the way. Cao Biao was sentenced to death, and the Cao Wei clan was under strict surveillance from then on.
PoliticsDied of illness in Luoyang
He died of illness in August at the age of seventy-three, and his son Sima Shi succeeded him as the general of the Fu army. In 266, Sima Yan proclaimed himself emperor on behalf of Wei and honored him as Emperor Xuan. His temple name was Gaozu, which was later renamed Emperor Xuan.
The eldest son of Sima Yi secretly raised three thousand dead soldiers during the Gaoping Ling Incident and gathered them together in one day. He took charge of the government in 251, abolished Cao Fang in 254, and died of illness the following year after putting down the rebellion of Guan Qiujian.
Sima Yi's second son, his elder brother Sima Shi inherited power after his death. Cao Mao was killed in 260, and Shu was destroyed in 263. He became the king of Jin Dynasty, and his son Sima Yan succeeded Wei Jianjin.
The son of Cao Zhen, he co-administered the government with Sima Yi and specialized in government affairs, ostracizing Sima Yi. He handed over military power during the Gaoping Ling Incident, and soon the three tribes were exterminated.
An important minister of Wei State wrote to Cao Shuang during the Gaoping Ling Incident, saying that Sima Yi only wanted to seize power and had no intention of killing people, and urged him to surrender. After Cao Shuang was executed, he felt that he had broken his promise and soon died of grief and anger.