Sima Yi
Repelled Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions and seized control of Cao Wei through the Incident at Gaoping Tombs.
Life
Bided his time before taking office
Sima Yi came from a gentry family of Henei. Summoned into office by Cao Cao, he served four generations of rulers, Cao Cao, Cao Pi, Cao Rui and Cao Fang, and was known for his deep and far-sighted planning.
Faced off against Zhuge Liang
For years he resisted Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions on the western front, holding out without giving battle until Zhuge Liang died of illness at Wuzhang Plains. In 238 he led an expedition to Liaodong and put down Gongsun Yuan. On his deathbed, Cao Rui entrusted the heir to him and Cao Shuang together.
Incident at Gaoping Tombs
In 249, while Cao Shuang was accompanying the young emperor to pay respects at the Gaoping Tombs, he staged a coup and wiped out Cao Shuang's faction; from then on the Sima clan held real power in Cao Wei. He died in 251; his grandson Sima Yan later founded the Western Jin and posthumously honored him as Emperor Xuan.
Legacy
Sima Yi was known for forbearance and political cunning; he paved the way for the Sima clan to usurp Wei and found the Jin, and was one of the most pivotal figures of the late Three Kingdoms.
Major works & achievements
- Repelled Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions
- Pacified Liaodong
- Laid the foundations of Western Jin
Did you know? After the Western Jin was founded he was posthumously honored as "Emperor Xuan of Jin."
Key dates
- 208Entered Cao Cao's service
- 231Repelled Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions
- 238Pacified Liaodong
- 249Incident at Gaoping Tombs
- 251Died