You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 18.212.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪Blablubbs‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider or colocation provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts and colocation providers may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host or colocation provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a colocation provider's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a colocation web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host or colocation provider (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host or colocation provider.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and requests should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 08:38, 2 March 2025.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
This IP address range has been globally blocked.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

This block affects editing on all Wikimedia wikis.
The IP address or range 18.212.0.0/16 has been globally blocked (disabled) by ‪AntiCompositeNumber‬ for the following reason(s):

Open proxy/Webhost: Visit the FAQ if you are affected

This block will expire on 01:07, 16 July 2026.

Even while globally blocked, you will usually still be able to edit pages on Meta-Wiki.

If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

Other useful links: Global blocks · Help:I have been blocked

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((Short description|Eastern Jin dynasty emperor from 372 to 396))
((multiple issues|
((more citations needed|date=July 2017))
((one source|date=July 2017))
))
((Infobox royalty
|name            = Emperor Xiaowu of Jin<br />((linktext|晉|孝|武|帝))
|succession      = 9th [[Jin dynasty (266–420)#List of emperors|Emperor of the Eastern Jin dynasty]]
|reign           = 12 September 372 – 6 November 396
|predecessor     = [[Emperor Jianwen of Jin|Emperor Jianwen]]
|regent          = Empress Dowager [[Chu Suanzi]] (373 – 376)
|successor       = [[Emperor An of Jin|Emperor An]]
|birth_date      = 362
|birth_place     =
|death_date      = ((death date and age|396|11|6|362|df=y))
|death_place     = [[Jiankang]], [[Eastern Jin]]
|place of burial = Longping ling (隆平陵), [[Nanjing]], [[Jiangsu]]
|era dates       = Ningkang (寧康): 373 – 375<br />Taiyuan (太元): 376 – 396
|family_name     = [[Sima (Chinese surname)|Sīmǎ]] (司馬)
|given_name      = Yao (曜)
|posthumous name = Emperor Xiàowǔ<br />孝武皇帝
|temple name     = Lièzōng (烈宗)
|house           = [[Jin dynasty (265–420)|House of Sima]]
|dynasty         = [[Eastern Jin]]
|father          = [[Emperor Jianwen of Jin|Emperor Jianwen]] 
|mother          = [[Li Lingrong|Empress Dowager Xiaowuwen]]
|spouse          = [[Wang Fahui|Empress Xiaowuding]]<br>[[Chen Guinü|Empress Dowager Ande]]
|spouse-type     = Consorts
|issue           = [[Emperor An of Jin|Emperor An]]<br>[[Emperor Gong of Jin|Emperor Gong]]<br>Princess Jinling
))

'''Emperor Xiaowu of Jin''' (((zh|s=晋孝武帝|t=晉孝武帝|p='''Jìn Xiàowǔ Dì'''|w='''Chin Hsiao-wu-ti''')); 362– 6 November 396<ref>According to Sima Yao's biography in ''Book of Jin'', he died aged 35 (by East Asian reckoning) on the ''gengshen'' day of the 9th month of the 21st year of the ''Taiyuan'' era of his reign. This corresponds to 6 Nov 396 in the Julian calendar. [(太元二十一年)九月庚申，帝崩于清暑殿，时年三十五] ''Jin Shu'' vol. 09. Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 362.</ref>), personal name '''Sima Yao''' (((lang|zh-Hant|司馬曜))), [[courtesy name]] '''Changming''' (((lang|zh|昌明))),<ref>In ''Zizhi Tongjian'', Emperor Xiaowu was known by this name before he received any title.</ref> was an emperor of the Eastern [[Jin Dynasty (266–420)|Jin Dynasty]] in [[China]].  During his reign, Jin saw his dynasty survive a major attempt by [[Former Qin]] to destroy it, but he would nevertheless be the last Jin emperor to actually exercise imperial power, as his sons [[Emperor An of Jin|Emperor An]] and [[Emperor Gong of Jin|Emperor Gong]] would be controlled by [[regent]]s and warlords.  Emperor Xiaowu died an unusual death—he was killed by his [[concubine]] [[Honoured Lady Zhang]] after he insulted her.

== Early life ==
Sima Yao was born in 362, when his father [[Emperor Jianwen of Jin|Sima Yu]] was Prince of Kuaiji and prime minister for his grandnephew, [[Emperor Ai of Jin|Emperor Ai]].  Sima Yao's mother, [[Li Lingrong]], was originally a servant involved in textile production but, based on a magician's words that she would bear his heir (his sons all having died early by that point), Sima Yu took her as his [[concubine]] and she gave birth to Sima Yao. As he was born at dawn, she named him Yao, with the courtesy name Changming, both meaning "dawn". A year later she gave birth to his brother, [[Sima Daozi]]. As the oldest surviving son of Sima Yu, Sima Yao was designated as the [[heir apparent]] early in his life, and in 365, when he was just three years old, [[Emperor Fei of Jin|Emperor Fei]] offered the greater title of Prince of Langya to his father and the title of Prince of Kuaiji to him. Sima Yu declined, both personally and on his son's behalf, and Emperor Fei did not insist on them taking on the greater titles.

In 371, having lost a devastating battle to the [[Former Yan]] general [[Murong Chui]] in 369, the paramount general [[Huan Wen]] accused Emperor Fei of [[erectile dysfunction|impotence]] and of not being the biological father of his sons. He then deposed him and made Sima Yu the new emperor (as Emperor Jianwen), although actual power was in Huan's hands. In 372, Emperor Jianwen grew ill and he named Sima Yao [[crown prince]] on 12 September<ref>''ji'wei'' day of the 7th month of the 2nd year of the ''Xian'an'' era, per vol.103 of ''Zizhi Tongjian''</ref> but in his will, he offered the throne to Huan, if he wanted it. When his official Wang Tanzhi (((lang|zh|王坦之))) objected, Emperor Jianwen gave approval for an amendment, written by Wang, wherein Huan was only compared to the statesmen [[Zhuge Liang]] and [[Wang Dao]]. Nevertheless, when Emperor Jianwen died, many officials were apprehensive of Huan, and not immediately willing to declare Crown Prince Yao as the new emperor. Finally, at the instigation of Wang Biaozhi (((lang|zh|王彪之))), Crown Prince Yao took the throne as Emperor Xiaowu.

== Early reign ==
The new emperor was only 10 years old, therefore his cousin; [[Empress Chu Suanzi|Empress Dowager Chu]] ([[Emperor Kang of Jin|Emperor Kang]]'s wife), served as [[regent]], but the decisions were actually being made by [[Xie An]] and Wang Tanzhi; Huan Wen, apparently fearful of being entrapped, declined an offer to be regent. In 373, Huan Wen died and the fears of a Huan usurpation dissipated as his brother and successor, [[Huan Chong]], was committed to the survival of the imperial government.

A major issue for the Jin government was the continued military pressure exerted by the powerful northern rival, [[Former Qin]]. In 373, Former Qin attacked and seized Jin's Liang (梁州, modern southern [[Shaanxi]]) and Yi (益州, modern [[Sichuan]] and [[Chongqing]]) provinces. Internally, however, Jin was apparently well-governed by Xie and Huan Chong.

On 1 October 375, Emperor Xiaowu married [[Wang Fahui]] (the daughter of the official, Wang Yun (((lang|zh|王蘊)))) as his empress.<ref>''gui'si'' day of the 8th month of the 3rd year of the ''Ningkang'' era, per vol.103 of ''Zizhi Tongjian''</ref> He was 13 and she was 15. He also started studying the [[Chinese classic texts]] and writing poetry. In 376, Empress Dowager Chu officially removed herself from the regent position and returned her powers to Emperor Xiaowu,((sfnp|Fang|648)) although the decisions were still largely being made by Xie.

In 376, the Jin vassal, [[Former Liang]], was attacked by Former Qin. Jin forces, under Huan Chong's command, attempted to relieve the pressure on Former Liang by attacking Former Qin, but Former Liang fell quickly and Huan Chong withdrew his forces. In apprehension of a Former Qin attack, Jin evacuated much of its population north of the [[Huai River]] to regions south of the river.

In 378, Former Qin made major attacks against the important Jin cities of [[Xiangyang District, Xiangfan|Xiangyang]], Weixing (魏興, in modern [[Ankang]], [[Shaanxi]]), and [[Pengcheng]]. While general [[Xie Xuan]] was able to immediately recapture Pengcheng after it fell, Xiangyang and Weixing were taken by Former Qin forces in 379.

In 380, Empress Wang died. Emperor Xiaowu did not have another empress for the rest of his life.

In 381, Emperor Xiaowu began to study [[Buddhist]] [[sutra]]s and he established a Buddhist study hall inside his palace, inviting monks to live within.

In 383, Huan Chong made a counterattack against Former Qin, hoping to recapture Xiangyang and the southwest. However, after initial losses, Huan abandoned the campaign.

== The Battle of Fei River ==
((main|Battle of Fei River))
Later in 383, Former Qin's emperor, [[Fu Jiān]], launched a major attack against Jin, intending to destroy it and unite China. At the Battle of Fei River, however, his forces panicked after trying to retreat to draw Jin forces across the river, and his army was routed with great losses, including his brother and prime minister, [[Fu Rong]]. Former Qin began to collapse after this defeat and never again posed a threat to Jin.

== Middle reign ==
After defeating Former Qin forces, Xie Xuan spearheaded a campaign to regain lost territory, and Jin captured most of the Former Qin provinces south of the [[Yellow River]], as well as regaining Liang and Yi provinces. However, Prime Minister Xie An, who was most credited with the victory, began to lose favor in Emperor Xiaowu's eyes; Xie's son-in-law, [[Wang Guobao]] (((lang|zh-Hant|王國寶))), unhappy that Xie did not give him important posts, began to flatter both Emperor Xiaowu and his brother, Sima Daozi, the Prince of Kuaiji, as a means of undercutting Xie. Xie remained prime minister, however, until his death in 385; he was replaced by Sima Daozi. Both Emperor Xiaowu and Sima became obsessed with feasting and drinking, and neither spent much time on affairs of state.

In 387, Emperor Xiaowu named his oldest son, five-year-old [[Emperor An of Jin|Sima Dezong]], crown prince,((sfnp|Fang|648)) notwithstanding the fact that Sima was [[developmental disability|developmentally disabled]]—so severely that even after he grew older, he was described as not being able to talk, dress himself, or to tell whether he was full or hungry while eating.

In 390, Emperor Xiaowu began to tire of how his brother, Sima Daozi, was taking his favors for granted, and he decided to look for counterbalancing forces. He made the officials [[Wang Gong (Jin Dynasty)|Wang Gong]] (王恭, Empress Wang's brother) and [[Yin Zhongkan]] (((lang|zh|殷仲堪))) key regional governors, despite warnings that both Wang and Yin were talented but narrow-minded, and might create issues later.

== Late reign ==
By 395, the conflict between Emperor Xiaowu and Sima had flared into the open, but because of the intercession of Empress Dowager Li, Emperor Xiaowu did not remove his brother.((sfnp|Fang|648)) After further mediation by Xu Miao (((lang|zh|徐邈))), the relationship between the brothers seemed to be restored.

By 396, Emperor Xiaowu was spending so much of his time on drinking and women that he was not tending to important matters of state. His favorite consort was the beautiful [[Honoured Lady Zhang]]. In late fall 396, when she was almost 30 years old, Emperor joked at a feast saying, "Based on your age, you should yield your position. I want someone younger." That night, after Emperor Xiaowu fell drunk, she ordered all the [[Eunuch (court official)|eunuch]]s away, bribing them with wine, and then ordered her servant girls to suffocate Emperor Xiaowu by putting a blanket over his face. She further bribed the attendants and claimed that the emperor died suddenly in his sleep. The death was not investigated and the next day, Sima Dezong assumed the throne as Emperor An, with Sima Daozi as [[regent]].

== Era names ==
* ''Ningkang'' (寧康, níng kāng): 9 February 373 – 8 February 376
* ''Taiyuan'' (太元, tài yuán): 9 February 376 – 12 February 397

==Family==
Consorts and Issue:
* [[Wang Fahui|Empress Xiaowuding]], of the Wang clan of Taiyuan (((lang|zh|孝武定皇后 太原王氏)); 360–380), personal name Fahui (((lang|zh|法慧)))
* [[Chen Guinü|Empress Dowager Ande]], of the Chen clan (((lang|zh|安德皇太后 陳氏)); 362–390), personal name Guinü (((lang|zh|歸女)))
** [[Emperor An of Jin|Sima Dezong]], Emperor An (((lang|zh|安皇帝 司馬德宗)); 382–419), first son
** [[Emperor Gong of Jin|Sima Dewen]], Emperor Gong (((lang|zh|恭皇帝 司馬德文)); 386–421), second son
* [[Honoured Lady Zhang|''Guiren'']], of the Zhang clan (((lang|zh|貴人 張氏)))
* Unknown
** Princess Jinling (((lang|zh|晉陵公主)); d. 432)
*** Married Xie Hun of Chen, Duke Wangcai (((lang|zh|陳郡 謝混)); d. 412)
*** Married Wang Lian of Langya (((lang|zh|琊瑯 王練)))

==Ancestry==
((ahnentafel | align = center
| boxstyle_1 = background-color: #fcc;
| boxstyle_2 = background-color: #fb9;
| boxstyle_3 = background-color: #ffc;
| boxstyle_4 = background-color: #bfc;
| boxstyle_5 = background-color: #9fe;
| 1 = Emperor Xiaowu of Jin (362–396)
| 2 = [[Emperor Jianwen of Jin]] (320–372)
| 3 = [[Li Lingrong|Empress Dowager Xiaowuwen]] (351–400)
| 4 = [[Emperor Yuan of Jin]] (276–323)
| 5 = Empress Dowager Jianwenxuan (d. 326)
| 8 = Sima Jin (256–290)
| 9 = Xiahou Guangji (d. 307)
| 10 = Zheng Kai
| 11 = Lady Wu of Puyang
| 16 = [[Sima Zhou]] (227–283)
| 17 = Lady Zhuge of Langya
| 18 = Xiahou Zhuang
| 19 = Lady Yang of Taishan
| 20 = Zheng He
))

==References==
((Reflist))

*((cite book
| ref=((sfnRef|Fang|648))
| title=晉書 | trans-title=Book of Jin | language=Chinese
| editor=Fang Xuanling 房玄齡
| date=648
| volume=9
| url=http://book.guqu.net/jinshu/4680.html | access-date=22 July 2017
))

((s-start))
((s-hou|[[Jin Dynasty (265–420)|House of Sima]]||362||396||name=Emperor Xiaowu of Jin))
((s-reg))
((s-bef|before = [[Emperor Jianwen of Jin]]))
((s-ttl|title = [[Emperor of China]]|years = 372–396|rows=2
|dynasty=[[Jin Dynasty (265-420)|Eastern Jin]]
|regent1=[[Empress Chu Suanzi|Empress Dowager Chu]]|years1=372–376))
((s-aft|after = [[Emperor An of Jin]]|rows=2))
((s-bef|before = [[Fu Jiān]]))
((s-end))

((Jin emperors (265–420)))

((DEFAULTSORT:Xiaowu of Jin, Emperor))
[[Category:362 births]]
[[Category:396 deaths]]
[[Category:Jin dynasty (266–420) emperors]]
[[Category:Jin dynasty (266–420) Buddhists]]
[[Category:Chinese Buddhist monarchs]]
[[Category:4th-century Chinese monarchs]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Emperor Xiaowu of Jin (edit)
Template:Ahnentafel (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ahnentafel/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Br separated entries (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Chinese heads of state (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Cite book (view source) (protected)
Template:Death date and age (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Delink question hyphen-minus (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Has short description (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:If empty (view source) (protected)
Template:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Infobox royalty (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Jin emperors (265–420) (edit)
Template:Jin emperors (266–420) (edit)
Template:Lang (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Lang-zh (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Linktext (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Multiple issues (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Multiple issues/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:One source (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Template:Plainlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:S-aft (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-aft/check (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-aft/filter (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-bef (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-bef/check (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-bef/filter (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-end (view source) (protected)
Template:S-hou (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-reg (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-start (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-ttl (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:S-ttl/check (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Template:SfnRef (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Sfnp (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Short description (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description/lowercasecheck (view source) (protected)
Template:Template other (view source) (protected)
Template:Unbulleted list (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Zh (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Age (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Ahnentafel (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Date (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:Exponential search (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Footnotes (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Footnotes/anchor id list (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Footnotes/anchor id list/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Footnotes/whitelist (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Format link (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:GetParameters (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote list (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:If empty (view source) (protected)
Module:Infobox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Infobox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:InfoboxImage (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Labelled list hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang-zh (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/ISO 639 synonyms (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Lang/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana languages (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana regions (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana suppressed scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Language/data/iana variants (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:List (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:MultiReplace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/rfd (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:Separated entries (view source) (protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:String2 (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:Unicode data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unicode data/scripts (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to Emperor Xiaowu of Jin.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Xiaowu_of_Jin"