Later depiction of Sima Yi
Later depiction of Sima Yi · 明代A transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portraitMing Zhu TianranSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Sima Yi司马懿

Wei (Cao)History × Fiction

Cao Cao appointed him as Literary Officer.

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DIRECT FIGURES
44
RELATION RECORDS
64
SOURCE WORKS
8

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Sima Yi, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

1 figure · 1 record
02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

3 figures · 4 records
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

10 figures · 16 records
7 more in the complete record
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

12 figures · 16 records
9 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

2 figures · 3 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

FeatureFact vs Fiction in the Three Kingdoms: Records of the Three Kingdoms vs. Romance of the Three KingdomsThe 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms shaped the iconic figures of the Three Kingdoms era (220–280 AD), yet literary embellishment departs significantly from historical reality. Author Luo Guanzhong drew upon Chen Shou's 3rd-century Records of the Three Kingdoms and Pei Songzhi's historical commentary, while blending folklore and folk theater into a sweeping artistic reimagining. Many beloved scenes and character portrayals do not reflect historical fact. Grounded in primary historical texts, this article compares official records with romanticized fiction to untangle the narrative framing behind the exalting of Liu Bei and depreciating of Cao Cao, uncovering the true historical identities of figures like Guan Yu, Zhou Yu, and Lu Su.

In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms · History of Song · Old Book of Tang

An important minister of Wei, he confronted Zhuge Liang. A key minister of Cao Wei, he received the imperial edict to assist in governance.

In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms · Book of the Later Han · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · In Search of the Supernatural · New Book of Tang

Cao Cao appointed him as Literary Officer. As Cao Cao's chief clerk, he suggested advancing into Yizhou. As chief clerk, he advised that the king must not be appointed.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Official history

    Book of the Later Han

    1 profile notes
    2 relations1 verified quotations
    • Sima Yi→ assist →Cao Cao
    • Xun Yu→ recommend →Sima Yi
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 戏志才等，皆称其举

      recommend · Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传

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  2. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    5 profile notes
    1 relations2 verified quotations
    • Sima Yan→ honor as founding ancestor →Sima Yi
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 晋武帝炎以宣帝懿为始祖

      honor as founding ancestor · Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志一

    2. 武帝受命，亦即以宣帝为太祖

      father-son · Old Book of Tang, 礼仪志六

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  3. 27 profile notes
    26 relations57 verified quotations
    • Sima Yi→ assist →Cao Cao
    • Cao Cao→ strategist →Sima Yi
    • Zhuge Liang→ hostile →Sima Yi
    • Sima Yi→ avoid →Zhuge Liang
    Verified original text · 57
    1. 江东孙权以妹嫁刘备

      offer plan · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 73

    2. 今孙权既称臣归附，王上可封官赐爵，令拒刘备

      ruler-subject · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 78

    55 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  4. 45 profile notes
    23 relations30 verified quotations
    • Sun Quan→ hostile →Sima Yi
    • Zhuge Liang→ hostile →Sima Yi
    • Sima Yi→ avoid →Zhuge Liang
    • Sima Yi→ praise →Zhuge Liang
    Verified original text · 30
    1. 魏人请好

      hostile · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·嗣主传

    2. 与司马宣王对于渭南

      confront · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·诸葛亮传

    28 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  5. Official history

    History of Song

    1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  6. 1 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  7. 3 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  8. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    3 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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History vs. fiction

In official histories, he is a far-sighted statesman and military strategist who laid the foundation for the Jin dynasty, while in novels he is often portrayed as a victim of Zhuge Liang's cunning.

  • novel inventionTrapped in Shangfang Valley but saved by heavy rain

    Neither the Records of the Three Kingdoms nor the Book of Jin: Annals of Emperor Xuan records the incident of Sima Yi and his sons being trapped by fire in Shangfang Valley; this plot is a fabrication of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

  • attestedSurprise attack on Meng Da and the Coup at Gaoping Tombs

    The Book of Jin: Annals of Emperor Xuan records that he marched rapidly for eight days to execute Meng Da, and later launched a coup at Gaoping Tombs to eliminate Cao Shuang, seizing control of the Wei government.

Relationship network

36 figures · 201 links
Sima YiSima YiCao CaoCao CaoSun QuanSun QuanZhuge LiangZhuge LiangCao PiCao PiCao RuiCao RuiSima ZhaoSima ZhaoZhuge KeZhuge KeXun YuXun YuDeng AiDeng AiWei YanWei YanGuo HuaiCao ShuangZhang HeSima ShiGongsun YuanCao ZhenZhong YaoMeng DaSima YanLiao HuaZhu RanCao FangWang LingWang JiHuang QuanTian YuLu YuWang ChangHe YanXiahou BaXin PiFu GuSun LiDeng YangWu Zhi
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Records of the Three Kingdoms, 吴书·嗣主传; Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 39; Book of the Later Han, 郑孔荀列传; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 乐一; History of Song, 河渠志四; In Search of the Supernatural, ch. 9; New Book of Tang, 元王黎杨严窦传; Old Book of Tang, 天文志下

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.