Sima Rong

Names
	Family name: Sima (司馬); Given name: Rong (肜); Courtesy name: Zihui (子徽)
Posthumous name
	Xiao (孝)

Sima Rong
司馬肜
Sima Rong; 司馬肜
Prince of Liang (梁王)
Reign	9 February 266 – 18 June 302
Born	Between 232 and 250
Died	June 18, 302; Luoyang, Henan
Names
Names
	Family name: Sima (司馬); Given name: Rong (肜); Courtesy name: Zihui (子徽)
Posthumous name
	Xiao (孝)
House	House of Sima
Father	Sima Yi
Mother	Lady Zhang

Sima Rong (simplified Chinese: 司马肜; traditional Chinese: 司馬肜; died 18 June 302), courtesy name Zihui (子徽),^[5] posthumously known as Prince Xiao of Liang (梁孝王),^[6] was the son of Sima Yi and his concubine Lady Zhang, and a younger half-brother of Sima Shi and Sima Zhao. Sima Yi, Sima Shi and Sima Zhao eventually became regents of the Cao Wei state during the Three Kingdoms era. Besides his heritage, Sima Rong was known for his involvement in the death of Jin official Zhou Chu, his association with his half-brother Sima Lun, and his relative mediocrity in the various positions he held in the Western Jin government during the reigns of his nephew, Emperor Wu of Jin, and his grandnephew Emperor Hui.

Life under Cao Wei

Sima Rong was born in the 230s or 240s, as the son of Sima Yi and his concubine Lady Zhang.^[7] Sima Rong held a number of minor titles during the Cao Wei regencies of his father and half-brothers Sima Shi and Sima Zhao. Around February or March 250, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Pingle Village, along with his half-brother Sima Lun who was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anle Village.^[8]^[9] When Sima Zhao established the Five Feudal Ranks of Zhou in 264, his title was changed to Viscount of Kaiping.^[10] Also, in that year, he married Wang Can, a daughter of Wang Ji.^[11]

Life during the Jin era

In February 266, Sima Zhao's son Sima Yan accepted Cao Huan's abdication and founded the Jin dynasty. Sima Rong was then made Prince of Liang on 9 February, with a fiefdom of 5358 households.^[12]

In 284, his wife Wang Can died.^[13]

During the reign of Emperor Hui

After the ascension of Emperor Hui in May 290, on 25 May 291, Sima Rong was named the Grand General of the Western Expedition.^[14]

At the beginning of Emperor Hui's reign, Sima Lun was given military command over Qinzhou and Yongzhou. During his tenure, Lun's administration caused a series of tribal revolt which peaked in 296. Both Lun and Sun Xiu placed the blame on the Inspector of Yongzhou, Xie Xi (解系),^[15] and the two sides sent petitions to the court accusing one another. Lun was eventually recalled to Luoyang, and was replaced by Sima Rong. Xie also called for Sun Xiu's execution, believing that it would appeal to the tribes' demands. The minister, Zhang Hua considered it and told Sima Rong to prepare Sun's execution. However, an acquaintance of Sun Xiu, Xin Ran managed to convince Sima Rong not to carry out Zhang's orders.^[16]

In 296, when Sima Rong was re-appointed the Grand General of the Western Expedition and made Chief Controller of Yong and Liang provinces^[17] to quell Qi Wannian's rebellion, Zhou Chu was named the vanguard general. As Palace Aide to the Censor-in-Chief (御史中丞), Zhou had no fear in indicting and exposing the wrongdoings of other ministers. He thus offended many, including Sima Rong. His fellow general Sun Xiu (孫秀^[18]) warned him and suggested him to bid his aging mother a final farewell. Zhou Chu replied, "One cannot fulfill both filial piety and loyalty at the same time. Since I have already chosen to serve my country... I will die for it."

Zhou Chu was ordered to take 5,000 soldiers to attack the 70,000-strong enemy. After the attacks began, Sima Rong also ordered his supply to be cut off completely. Zhou's troops ran out of arrows and the generals assigned to reinforce him did not help. When asked to flee, Zhou Chu replied, "I am a minister of a nation. Isn't it proper to die for one's country?" He fought to his death.^[19]^[20]

On 7 May 300, Sima Rong took part in the coup to depose Jia Nanfeng as empress. Jia's associates, including Pei Wei, Zhang Hua and Jia Mi were executed.^[21] On 11 May, Sima Rong was made taizi (太宰; "Grand Chancellor").^[22] Later, in c.October, Sima Rong was named Chancellor (the former post of situ, which was renamed by Lun's administration), but he did not accept the post.^[23]

On 16 August 301, after the fall of Sima Lun, Sima Rong was again granted the positions of taizai and situ.^[24]

Death

Sima Rong died in June 302 with no surviving sons. He was buried with rites similar to his half-brother Sima Liang's funeral. During discussions on Rong's posthumous name, an official named Cai Ke (蔡克; father of Cai Mo^[25]) opined that since Rong attained fame without hard work, his posthumous name should be "Ling".^[26] After protests from Rong's associates and subordinates, his posthumous name eventually became "Xiao".^[27]

References

^ ([泰始元年]十二月....丁卯，...封皇叔祖父孚为安平王，....肜为梁王、...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.79.
^ Sima Rong was younger than his half-brothers Sima Jun and Sima Gan, who were both born in 232.
^ ([太安元年]五月乙酉，侍中、太宰、领司徒、梁王肜薨) Jin Shu, vol.04; vol.84 of Zizhi Tongjian also gave the same death date.
^ Jin Shu, vol.38.
^ (梁孝王肜，字子徽，...) Jin Shu, vol.38
^ Liu Wu, Prince of Liang during the Han dynasty, also had the same posthumous name.
^ (张夫人生梁王肜...) Jin Shu, vol.38
^ (以公子封平乐亭侯。) Jin Shu, vol.38
^ ([嘉平]二年春正月，...，封子肜平樂亭侯，倫安樂亭侯。) Jin Shu, vol.01. The month corresponds to 19 Feb to 19 Mar 250 in the Julian calendar. This was about a year after the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs.
^ (及五等建，改封开平子。) Jin Shu, vol.38
^ (城内东西道北，有晋梁王妃王氏陵表，并列二碑，碑云：妃讳粲，字女仪，东莱曲城人也。齐北海府君之孙，司空东武景侯之季女，咸熙元年嫔于司马氏，泰始二年妃于国，太康五年薨，营陵于新蒙之，太康九年立碑。东即梁王之吹臺也。) Shui Jing Zhu, vol.24. "Marquis Jing of Dongwu" is Wang Ji's posthumous name.
^ (武帝践阼，封梁王，邑五千三百五十八户。) Jin Shu, vol.38
^ Shui Jing Zhu, vol.24
^ ([元康元年]夏四月癸亥，以征东将军、梁王肜为征西大将军、都督关西诸军事，....) Jin Shu vol.04
^ The character "解" has different pronunciations: "jiě", "jiè" and "xiè". When used as a surname, it is pronounced as "xiè".
^ (大將軍趙王倫信用嬖人琅邪孫秀，與雍州刺史濟南解系爭軍事，更相表奏，歐陽建亦表倫罪惡。朝廷以倫撓亂關右，徵倫爲車騎將軍，以梁王肜爲征西大將軍、都督雍‧涼二州諸軍事。系與其弟御史中丞結，皆表請誅秀以謝氐、羌；張華以告梁王肜，使誅之，肜許諾。秀友人辛冉爲之說肜曰：「氐、羌自反，非秀之罪。」秀由是得免。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 82
^ Emperor Hui's biography in Book of Jin recorded that Sima Rong was re-appointed Grand General of the Western expedition in June or July 296. ([元康六年]五月，...以太子太保、梁王肜为征西大将军、都督雍梁二州诸军事，镇关中。) Jin Shu, vol.04; the month corresponds to 18 Jun to 16 Jul 296 in the Julian calendar.
^ This Sun Xiu was a member of the Sun clan of Eastern Wu and grandson of Sun Kuang.
^ Wu Fusheng (2008). Panegyric Poetry in Early Medieval China. State University of New York Press. p.67.
^ Kleeman, Terry F. (1998). Great Perfection: Religion and Ethnicity in a Chinese Millennial Kingdom. University of Hawaii Press. p.91.
^ ([永康元年]夏四月...癸巳，梁王肜、赵王伦矫诏废贾后为庶人，司空张华、尚书仆射裴𬱟皆遇害，侍中贾谧及党与数十人皆伏诛。) Jin Shu, vol.04
^ ([永康元年]夏四月...丁酉，以梁王肜为太宰，...) Jin Shu, vol.04. This post was once held by Rong's uncle Sima Fu.
^ ([永康元年]九月，改司徒为丞相，以梁王肜为之，肜固辞不受。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 83. The month corresponds to 30 Sep to 29 Oct 300 in the Julian calendar.
^ ([永宁元年]六月...己卯，以梁王肜为太宰，领司徒.) Jin Shu, vol.04
^ Jin Shu, vol.77
^ The same name was given to Emperor Ling of Han.
^ (....薨，丧葬依汝南文成王亮故事。博士陈留蔡克议谥曰：“肜位为宰相，责深任重，属尊亲近，且为宗师，朝所仰望，下所具瞻。而临大节，无不可夺之志；当危事，不能舍生取义；湣怀之废，不闻一言之谏；淮南之难，不能因势辅义；赵王伦篡逆，不能引身去朝。宋有荡氏之乱，华元自以不能居官，曰“君臣之训，我所司也。公室卑而不正，吾罪大矣！”夫以区区之宋，犹有不素餐之臣，而况帝王之朝，而有苟容之相，此而不贬，法将何施！谨案《谥法》'不勤成名曰灵”，肜见义不为，不可谓勤，宜谥曰灵。”梁国常侍孙霖及肜亲党称枉，台乃下符曰：“贾氏专权，赵王伦篡逆，皆力制朝野，肜势不得去，而责其不能引身去朝，义何所据？”克重议曰：“肜为宗臣，而国乱不能匡，主颠不能扶，非所以为相。故《春秋》讥华元乐举，谓之不臣。且贾氏之酷烈，不甚于吕后，而王陵犹得杜门；赵王伦之无道，不甚于殷纣，而微子犹得去之。近者太尉陈准，异姓之人，加弟徽有射钩之隙，亦得托疾辞位，不涉伪朝。何至于肜亲伦之兄，而独不得去乎？赵盾入谏不从，出亡不远，犹不免于责，况肜不能去位，北面事伪主乎？宜如前议，加其贬责，以广为臣之节，明事君之道。”于是朝廷从克议。肜故吏复追诉不已，故改焉。无子，...) Jin Shu, vol.38. Sima Rong's biography recorded that he died in the 2nd year of the Yong'kang era (301), which is likely an error.

[1] ([泰始元年]十二月....丁卯，...封皇叔祖父孚为安平王，....肜为梁王、...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.79.

[2] Sima Rong was younger than his half-brothers Sima Jun and Sima Gan, who were both born in 232.

[3] ([太安元年]五月乙酉，侍中、太宰、领司徒、梁王肜薨) Jin Shu, vol.04; vol.84 of Zizhi Tongjian also gave the same death date.

[4] Jin Shu, vol.38.

[5] (梁孝王肜，字子徽，...) Jin Shu, vol.38

[6] Liu Wu, Prince of Liang during the Han dynasty, also had the same posthumous name.

[7] (张夫人生梁王肜...) Jin Shu, vol.38

[8] (以公子封平乐亭侯。) Jin Shu, vol.38

[9] ([嘉平]二年春正月，...，封子肜平樂亭侯，倫安樂亭侯。) Jin Shu, vol.01. The month corresponds to 19 Feb to 19 Mar 250 in the Julian calendar. This was about a year after the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs.

[10] (及五等建，改封开平子。) Jin Shu, vol.38

[11] (城内东西道北，有晋梁王妃王氏陵表，并列二碑，碑云：妃讳粲，字女仪，东莱曲城人也。齐北海府君之孙，司空东武景侯之季女，咸熙元年嫔于司马氏，泰始二年妃于国，太康五年薨，营陵于新蒙之，太康九年立碑。东即梁王之吹臺也。) Shui Jing Zhu, vol.24. "Marquis Jing of Dongwu" is Wang Ji's posthumous name.

[12] (武帝践阼，封梁王，邑五千三百五十八户。) Jin Shu, vol.38

[13] Shui Jing Zhu, vol.24

[14] ([元康元年]夏四月癸亥，以征东将军、梁王肜为征西大将军、都督关西诸军事，....) Jin Shu vol.04

[15] The character "解" has different pronunciations: "jiě", "jiè" and "xiè". When used as a surname, it is pronounced as "xiè".

[16] (大將軍趙王倫信用嬖人琅邪孫秀，與雍州刺史濟南解系爭軍事，更相表奏，歐陽建亦表倫罪惡。朝廷以倫撓亂關右，徵倫爲車騎將軍，以梁王肜爲征西大將軍、都督雍‧涼二州諸軍事。系與其弟御史中丞結，皆表請誅秀以謝氐、羌；張華以告梁王肜，使誅之，肜許諾。秀友人辛冉爲之說肜曰：「氐、羌自反，非秀之罪。」秀由是得免。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 82

[17] Emperor Hui's biography in Book of Jin recorded that Sima Rong was re-appointed Grand General of the Western expedition in June or July 296. ([元康六年]五月，...以太子太保、梁王肜为征西大将军、都督雍梁二州诸军事，镇关中。) Jin Shu, vol.04; the month corresponds to 18 Jun to 16 Jul 296 in the Julian calendar.

[18] This Sun Xiu was a member of the Sun clan of Eastern Wu and grandson of Sun Kuang.

[19] Wu Fusheng (2008). Panegyric Poetry in Early Medieval China. State University of New York Press. p.67.

[20] Kleeman, Terry F. (1998). Great Perfection: Religion and Ethnicity in a Chinese Millennial Kingdom. University of Hawaii Press. p.91.

[21] ([永康元年]夏四月...癸巳，梁王肜、赵王伦矫诏废贾后为庶人，司空张华、尚书仆射裴𬱟皆遇害，侍中贾谧及党与数十人皆伏诛。) Jin Shu, vol.04

[22] ([永康元年]夏四月...丁酉，以梁王肜为太宰，...) Jin Shu, vol.04. This post was once held by Rong's uncle Sima Fu.

[23] ([永康元年]九月，改司徒为丞相，以梁王肜为之，肜固辞不受。) Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 83. The month corresponds to 30 Sep to 29 Oct 300 in the Julian calendar.

[24] ([永宁元年]六月...己卯，以梁王肜为太宰，领司徒.) Jin Shu, vol.04

[25] Jin Shu, vol.77

[26] The same name was given to Emperor Ling of Han.

[27] (....薨，丧葬依汝南文成王亮故事。博士陈留蔡克议谥曰：“肜位为宰相，责深任重，属尊亲近，且为宗师，朝所仰望，下所具瞻。而临大节，无不可夺之志；当危事，不能舍生取义；湣怀之废，不闻一言之谏；淮南之难，不能因势辅义；赵王伦篡逆，不能引身去朝。宋有荡氏之乱，华元自以不能居官，曰“君臣之训，我所司也。公室卑而不正，吾罪大矣！”夫以区区之宋，犹有不素餐之臣，而况帝王之朝，而有苟容之相，此而不贬，法将何施！谨案《谥法》'不勤成名曰灵”，肜见义不为，不可谓勤，宜谥曰灵。”梁国常侍孙霖及肜亲党称枉，台乃下符曰：“贾氏专权，赵王伦篡逆，皆力制朝野，肜势不得去，而责其不能引身去朝，义何所据？”克重议曰：“肜为宗臣，而国乱不能匡，主颠不能扶，非所以为相。故《春秋》讥华元乐举，谓之不臣。且贾氏之酷烈，不甚于吕后，而王陵犹得杜门；赵王伦之无道，不甚于殷纣，而微子犹得去之。近者太尉陈准，异姓之人，加弟徽有射钩之隙，亦得托疾辞位，不涉伪朝。何至于肜亲伦之兄，而独不得去乎？赵盾入谏不从，出亡不远，犹不免于责，况肜不能去位，北面事伪主乎？宜如前议，加其贬责，以广为臣之节，明事君之道。”于是朝廷从克议。肜故吏复追诉不已，故改焉。无子，...) Jin Shu, vol.38. Sima Rong's biography recorded that he died in the 2nd year of the Yong'kang era (301), which is likely an error.

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