Biography of Sima Zhou and his sons
[From JS038]
Emperor Xuan [Sima Ji] had nine sons.
The Majestic Empress Zhang gave birth to Emperor Jing [Sima Shi]; Emperor Wen [Sima Zhao]; the King of Pingyuan, Gan.
Lady Fu gave birth to King Wencheng of Runan, Liang; King Wu of Langye, Zhou; the Marquis of Qinghui village, Jing; King Wu of Fufeng, Jun.
Lady Zhang gave birth to the King of Liang, Rong.
Lady Bai gave birth to the King of Zhao, Lun.
Liang and Lun are in a separate Biography.
[In JS059, they were respectively the First and the Third of the Eight Kings.]
…
[I'm skipping Sima Gan for now.]
The Martial King of Langye, Zhou, [b. 227, d. 283], courtesy name Zijiang, at the beginning of Zhengshi [240 – 249] was enfeoffed as Marquis of Nan'an village. He soon became talented and respected, rising to the post of General who Tranquillizes the Boreal and Supervisor of the Defences of Ye city. He had a reputation for a soothing embrace.
He was reassigned to Cavalier in Regular Attendance, advanced in fief to Marquis of Dongwu district, designated General of the Right, Supervisor of All Army Affairs of Yan province and Inspector of Yan province. When the Five Ranks were first established, he was enfeoffed Earl of Nanpi. He shifted to General who Conquers the Caitiffs, Acting with the Tally.
When Emperor Wu walked the eastern stairs, he was enfeoffed as King of Donggyan commandery, with a district of 10 600 households [on 9 February 266, JS003]. When first set up the two ministers [?], specially decreed the various kings to themselves select Prefects and Chiefs. Zhou petitioned to concede [the honour], it was not permitted.
He returned to be Supervisor of the Right of the Masters of Writing and General who Calms the Army, was sent out to be Great General who Garrisons the East, Acting with the Tally, [Commander-in-Chief?] of the All Army Affairs of Xu province, replacing Wei Guan at the Xiapi garrison. Zhou's garrisons and defences had the region [?], obtaining all the strength of the generals and soldiers. The people of Wu dreaded him. He was promoted to Opening Office with the Same Ceremonies as the Three Ministers, changing his fief to King of Langye, using Dongguan to benefit his state.
He served during the pacification of Wu, leading the multitude, several tens of thousands, setting out from Tuzhong. Sun Hao offered a note dispatched with the imperial seal and ribbon, reaching Zhou to request surrender.
A decree said: “The King of Langye, Zhou, supervised, led and commanded, advancing to take possession of Tuzhong. The traitor's envoys did not obtain each other's help. Also sent the Chancellor of Langye, Liu Hong [JS066], and others to advance the army and pressure Jiang. The traitors shook with fear, and dispatched messengers to offer their false seal and ribbon. Also sent the Senior Clerk, Wang Heng, to lead the various armies and cross the Jiang, routing the traitors defending the border, obtaining the supervisor Cai Ji, beheading on the way close to fifty or sixty thousand. Zhuge Jing, Sun Yi all instructed to request death. His achievements and merits are thickly displayed. Enfeoff his two sons as Marquises of villages, each with 3 000 households, bestow 6 000 bolts of tabby silk.”
Soon after he was also Controller of All Army Affairs of Qing Province, with promotions to the clothes of Palace Attendant. He was advanced to the designation Great General, Opening Office with the Same Ceremonies as the Three Ministers.
Zhou was already in the class of relatives honoured heavily, and in addition had achievements in the pacification of Wu. He subdued himself and was respectful and frugal. He did not appear self-important or self-satisfied. Companions and magistrates exhausted their strengths. The hundred families cherished the changes.
When very ill, he was bestowed bed screen, clothes and dresses, money and silks, rice and bridges, and other things. He was advanced to Palace Attendant Inquiring How. In the 4th Year of Taikang [283 AD], he passed away. At the time he was 57 years. Approaching the end, he expressed a request to be buried next to the tomb of his mother, the Lady Dowager. He also begged to divide his state to enfeoff his four sons. The Emperor permitted it.
His son, the Reverent [gong] King, Jin, was established. Also enfeoffed the next son Dan as King of Wuling, Yao as king of Dong'an, Cui as King of Huailing.
[As their own biographies make clear, Dan, Yao and Cui were first made Dukes, they only became Kings later. According to JS003, on 22 December 290, Emperor Wu enfeoffed “Jin's younger brothers Dan to be Duke of Dongwu, Yao to be Duke of Dong'an, Cui to be Duke of Guangling, Juan to be Duke of Dongguan.” This Sima Juan is mentioned nowhere else in the JS, presumably he died without doing anything notable.]
Jin, [b. 256, d. 290], courtesy name Sizu, was designated Director of the Extra Retinue. In the 1st Year of Taixi [290], he passed away. At the time he was 35 years.
His son Rui was established. This was Emperor Yuan. At the beginning of the Restoration, he used the imperial son Pou as King of Langye to offer the sacrifice to King Gong. Pou passed away young.
He further used imperial son Huan as King of Langye. He passed away that day.
He again used imperial son Yu as King of Langye. At the beginning of Xianhe [326 – 334], after moved his fief to Kuaiji, Emperor Cheng again used Emperor Kang as King of Langye.
When Emperor Kang was enthroned, he enfeoffed Emperor Cheng's senior son Emperor Ai as King of Langye.
When Emperor Ai was enthroned, he used Emperor Fei as King of Langye.
When Emperor Fei was enthroned, he used the King of Kuaiji to act as the agent for the sacrifices of the state of Langye.
When Emperor Jianwen climbed the eastern stairs, the King of Langye was without heirs. Reaching the Emperor approaching expiry, he enfeoffed junior son Daozi as King of Langye. Daozi later was King of Kuaiji.
Further used Emperor Gong as King of Langye. After the Emperor was enthroned, the state of Langye was eliminated.
The Dignified [zhuang] King of Wuling, Dan, had the courtesy name Sihong. First he was Director of the Extra Retinue, later enfeoffed as Duke of Dongwu, with a district of 5 200 households. He was moved to General of the Van and Protector of the Army of the Centre. He was by nature jealous and murderous, without filial piety and friendless in his actions.
His younger brother, the King of Dong'an, Yao, had a commanding reputation, and was loved by [their] father and mother. Dan was wicked to him like an enemy, thereupon slandering Yao to the King of Runan, Liang. Liang had long-standing grudge with Yao, and memorialised to terminate [his state] and move him.
When the King of Zhao, Lun, made rebellion [in 301], he used Dan as General who Leads the Army. Dan had long-standing intimate friendship with Guo Chu of Henei and Chu's younger brother Kan. While drunk on wine, Chu and others spoke of the injustice of Zhang Hua [JS036]. Dan was by nature besotted with wine. Because of this he killed both of them, and dispatched their heads to Lun. He was besotted and cruel like this.
[Zhang Hua was a scholar-official of high reputation during Western Jin, and was one of the leading men of Empress Jia's government in the 290s. He was executed after the fall of the empress.]
Dan's wife, Ms. Guo, was a cousin [?] of Empress Jia. At first she relied on power, and was not courteous to Dan's mother. When the King of Qi, Jiong, assisted the government, Dan's mother, Lady Dowager Zhuge, petitioned that Dan was not filial, and requested the return of Yao. For this reason Dan with wife and children was moved to Liaodong. His son Xi was five sui old, and was not willing to follow in departure, saying: “Playing with must be father's request to return, without being all moved.” [?]
[Sima Jiong was regent 301 – 303. Yao was allowed to return autumn 301]
He pleaded his case for successive years [?], but only after the Lady Dowager passed away and Yao was murdered was he able to return.
[Yao was killed in 304, see his biography below.]
He was designated as Brilliantly Blessed Grandee, Master of Writing and Grand Tutor to the Heir-Apparent, changing his fief to King of Wuling. At the end of Yongjia [307 – 313], he was murdered by Shi Le. His son, the Lamented King [Ai] , Zhe, was established.
[Sima Dan was among the kings following Sima Yue's funeral retinue east in May 311, and was killed when it was scattered by Shi Le's army, JS004.]
Zhe, courtesy name Jinglin, was designated Cavalier in Regular Attendance. He likewise was murdered by Shi Le. He was without sons. He was succeeded when Emperor Yuan established imperial son Xi as King of Wuling, to accordingly offer Dan's sacrifices.
[Sima Zhe's death is not explicitly mentioned in the annals, but presumably he was among the 18 kings captured and killed by Shi Le in the aftermath of the battle.]
The King of Dong'an, Yao, had the courtesy name Sixuan. He was first enfeoffed Duke of Dong'an, successively Cavalier Attending the Yellow Gates, moved to Cavalier in Regular Attendance. He had a beautiful beard and moustache, by nature he was tough and decisive. He had expectations of power, was broad of learning and very talented, filial in family affairs, following the mourning period to the fullness of the rites.
At the point when Yang Jun was executed, Yao garrisoned the Yunlong gate in combined command of the various armies. Due to his merit he was designated General of the Guards of the Right, acting as Colonel who Shoots at Sound, advanced in fief to King of commandery, with a district of 20 000 households.
[Yang Jun was executed 23 April 291]
He was promoted to Palace Attendant, doubling as Great General who Directs the Armies [?], acting as [General] of the Guards of the Right as before. He was moved to Supervisor of the Right of the Masters of Writing with promotion to Cavalier in Regular Attendance. That day punished and rewarded more than 300 people, all released by Yao [?].
[According to JS004, he became Supervisor of the Left on 4 May.]
The Colonel of of the Eastern Yi, Wen Chu's father, Qin, was killed by Yao's maternal grandfather, Zhuge Dan [SGZ28]. Yao was concerned that Chu was a worry for his mother's brother's family. That day he likewise due to no crime executed Chu.
[Chù is spelled 俶(person radical) here, but 淑(water radical) in JS003 and JS004. In JS004, Wen Chu's execution is listed along with Yang Jun on 23 April.]
Yao's older brother Dan again and again sowed discord between Yao and the King of Runan, Liang. Liang did not accept. Arriving at this, due to Yao monopolizing punishments and rewards, Dan because of his grudge slandered him. Liang was misled by his talk, and therefore dismissed Yao from office, to accordingly return home to his Duchy [?]. He was incriminated in having recalcitrant words, deposed and moved to Daifang.
[Sima Yao was dismissed from office 12 May 291, JS004.]
At the beginning of Yongkang [300 – 301], summoned Yao, restoring his fief and designating him Corrector of the Imperial Clan minister. He was moved to Master of Writing and shifted to Supervisor of the Left. When Emperor Hui was punishing the King of Chengdu, Ying, Yao was at the time mourning his mother at Ye. He urged Ying to dismiss his troops and surrender. Reaching the royal host achieving defeat, Ying resented Yao and therefore murdered him.
[Ye was the long-time military headquarters of Sima Ying. In summer 304, Luoyang was controlled by the King of Donghai, Sima Yue. Yue marched the capital army against Sima Ying, bringing Emperor Hui with him. Hence in the historians' formal language, the expedition could be said to be commanded by the Emperor in person, and the army called the “royal host”王師 as per ancient Zhou usage. On 9 September 304, Sima Ying's general Shi Chao decisively defeated Sima Yue at Tangyin. I don't know any specific reasons for his mother's funeral bringing Sima Yao to Ye. According to SGZ28, Zhuge Dan came from Langye commandery.]
Later established the King of Langye, Jin's son, the marquis Changle village, Hun, as King of Dong'an, to accordingly offer Yao sacrifices. Following him passing away, the state was abolished.
[I couldn't find any other references to this Sima Hun in the JS.]
The Originating [yuan] King of Huailing, Cui, courtesy name Sichong, was first enfeoffed Duke of Guangling, with a revenue district of 2 900 households. He was successively General of the Left and Cavalier in Regular Attendance.
At the usurpation of the King of Zhao, Lun, when the three kings rouse up in righteousness, Cui and the General of the Guards of the Left, Wang Yu, attacked and killed Sun Xiu, and in this way deposed Lun.
[This palace coup took place 30 May 301, JS004].
Due to his merits, he was advanced in fief to King of Huailling, entering to be Master of Writing. He was promoted to Palace Attendant, moved to be Corrector of the Imperial Clan and Brilliantly Blessed Grandee.
When he passed away, his son, the Devoted [zhen] King, Rong, was established. He passed away without sons.
[I could not find any other references to the deaths of Sima Cui and Sima Rong.]
At the time of Emperor An, established King Wei of Wuling's grandson, Yun, as King of Huailing, to accordingly offer the sacrifices of King Yuan. His rank reached Cavalier in Regular Attendance. He passed away without sons. Used the King of Linchuan, Bao's son Anzhi as successor. When Song received the abdication, the state was abolished.
[Sima Yun became King of Huailing in 399, he died in 415, JS010.]
[All of Sima Zhou's non-imperial descendants accounted for, the text jumps back to the next of Sima Yi's sons, the short lived Sima Jing.]
The Marquis of Qinghui village, Jing, courtesy name Zizuo, at the end of Wei, due being the son of an Excellency, was bestowed feudal rank. 24 years old he passed away. He was posthumously bestowed rank as Colonel who Shoots at Sound, using Emperor Wen's son Ji, courtesy name Taixuan, as heir. In the 1st Year of Taishi [on 9 February 266, JS003], he was enfeoffed as King of Yan, with a district of 6 663 households.
Ji went to his state. At the beginning of Xianning [275 – 280], he conquered as Colonel of Foot Soldiers, using Yuyang commandery to profit his state, with promotions to the clothes of Palace Attendant. He was designated Commander-in-Chief of Qing Province, General who Garrisons the East and Deputy Controller. Used Beiping, Shanggu and Guangning commanderies, 10 337 households to increase Yan state to be 20 000 households. He passed away without sons.
[I could not find any reference to his date of death.]
The King of Qi, Jiong, announced using his son Ji to inherit. Later Jiong was defeated and the state eliminated.
