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Sima Zhao司马昭
A powerful minister of the Wei state during the Three Kingdoms period, founder of the Jin dynasty, later enfeoffed as the King of Jin.
- DIRECT FIGURES
- 32
- RELATION RECORDS
- 57
- SOURCE WORKS
- 4
RELATIONSHIP COMPASS
Sima Zhao, and the people around them.
Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.
01KINSHIPKinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
3 figures · 6 records＋
Kinship
Blood, marriage and sworn bonds
Sima YiisSima Zhao’s father
Sima ZhaoisSima Yan’s father
Sima Shi—Sima Zhaobrothers
02ALLEGIANCEAllegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
13 figures · 19 records＋
Allegiance
Rulers, appointments and allegiance
Sima Zhao→Zhong Huipromote
Jia Chong→Sima Zhaosuggest
Sima Zhao→Deng Aiappoint
Sima Zhao→Cao Huanmake emperor
03CONFLICTConflict
Battles, captures and defeat
11 figures · 14 records＋
Conflict
Battles, captures and defeat
Sima Zhao→Zhuge Danattack
Sima Zhao→Jiang Weibesieged
Sima Zhao→Cao Maomurder
Zhong Hui→Sima Zhaorebel
04THE UNSEENMythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
1 figure · 1 record＋
Mythic acts
Transformation, aid and divine punishment
Sima Zhao→Fu Guconspire
12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.
In history · Records of the Three Kingdoms
Powerful minister of Wei, enfeoffed as Duke of Jin. As Prime Minister of Wei, he enfeoffed Qiao Zhou as Marquis of Yangcheng Pavilion, and later died. Sima Zhao, King Wen of Jin, ordered Pei Xiu to oversee the establishment of institutions.
In fiction · Romance of the Three Kingdoms · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · New Book of Tang
Second son of Sima Yi, followed his father on campaigns and participated in the Battle of Jieting. After his elder brother Sima Shi died, he succeeded in taking control of Wei's power and was made General-in-Chief. He was autocratic and overbearing, killed Wei's ruler Cao Mao, and installed Cao Huang as emperor. Later enfeoffed as Duke of Jin and King of Jin, he decided to attack Shu and sent Deng Ai and Zhong Hui to conquer it. Suspicious of Deng Ai, he sent Zhong Hui to arrest him. He died of a stroke before receiving the abdication.
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.
- Literature / legend19 profile notes
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
22 relations30 verified quotations- Sima Yi→ father-son →Sima Zhao
- Sima Zhao→ question →Sima Yi
- Sima Zhao→ besieged →Jiang Wei
- Jiang Wei→ besiege →Sima Zhao
Verified original text · 30
令次子司马昭去探前路
father-son · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 95
司马昭在右
father-son · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 103
28 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Official history14 profile notes
Records of the Three Kingdoms
29 relations30 verified quotations- Sima Zhao→ question →Sima Yi
- Sun Hao→ request peace →Sima Zhao
- Sima Zhao→ appoint →Deng Ai
- Deng Ai→ petition →Sima Zhao
Verified original text · 30
吴遣使纪陟、弘璆请和。
request peace · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪
诏诸军征蜀，大将军司马文王皆指授节度
ruler-subject · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传
28 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.
- Literature / legend1 profile notes
Extensive Records of the Taiping Era
0 relations0 verified quotations - Official history1 profile notes
New Book of Tang
0 relations0 verified quotations
History vs. fiction
In the official history, Sima Zhao monopolized power and killed the emperor, and tested Liu Shan by asking about Shu. The novel fully adopts these two famous cases.
In the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms, Wei Shu, Annals of the Young Emperor', Pei's annotation quotes the 'Han Jin Chunqiu' recording Cao Mao's sigh, 'Sima Zhao's intention is known to every passerby'; in the 'Records of the Three Kingdoms, Shu Shu, Biography of the Later Lord', Pei's annotation quotes the 'Han Jin Chunqiu' recording, 'The king asked Liu Shan, "Do you miss Shu?" Liu Shan replied, "I am happy here, I do not miss Shu."' In 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', from chapter 104 onwards, these are fully adopted, showing his craft of usurping Wei and swallowing Shu, as clearly recorded in official history.
Relationship network
To keep this page fast, the 40 most important records are shown here.View all 57 relationships in the atlas →
- father-son← Sima Yi → Sima ZhaolitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 95Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 103Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 107Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 108
Original text (4)
- questionSima Zhao → Sima Yihist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 95
Original text (1)
次子司马昭曰……莫非诸葛亮无军，故作此态？
- besiegedSima Zhao → Jiang WeilitRomance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 109Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 115
Original text (2)
被姜维绝其路口，山上泉水不敷，人马枯渴。
姜维屡犯中原，不能剿除，是吾心腹之患也
Original relation: 视为心患 · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 115
Original text (1)
被姜维绝其路口，山上泉水不敷，人马枯渴。
Original text (1)
吴遣使纪陟、弘璆请和。
- appointSima Zhao → Deng Aihist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 115
Original text (3)
令邓艾为征西将军
诏诸军征蜀，大将军司马文王皆指授节度
Original relation: ruler-subject · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传
乃下诏使邓艾、诸葛绪各统诸军三万馀人
Original text (1)
司马昭览毕，深疑邓艾有自专之心
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
右边司马昭，却抄在魏延背后
- confer titleSima Zhao → Liu ShanhistRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 蜀书·后主传Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪
Original text (2)
命刘禅为安乐县公
丁亥，封刘禅为安乐公。
Original relation: confer title · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪
- promoteSima Zhao → Zhong Huihist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 112Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 118
Original text (4)
昭抚会背曰……君真吾之子房也
遣使赍诏封会为司徒
Original relation: reward · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 118
以会为镇西将军、假节都督关中诸军事
Original relation: appoint · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传
亲待日隆，时人谓之子房
Original relation: trust · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传
- rebel← Zhong Hui → Sima ZhaohistRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传
Original text (1)
遂谋反
Original relation: rebel · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传
Original text (1)
- brothers← Sima Shi → Sima Zhaohist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 110
Original text (2)
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
舞阳忠武侯为晋景王。
Original text (1)
- attackSima Zhao → Zhuge Danhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 111Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 112
Original text (4)
昭遂下诏，尽起两都之兵二十六万
手起刀落，斩诞于马下
Original relation: slay · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 112
大将军司马文王陷寿春城，斩诸葛诞。
大将军司马文王督中外诸军二十六万众，临淮讨之。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
诞被诏书，愈恐，遂反。
- father-sonSima Zhao → Sima Yanhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 119
Original text (2)
昭妻乃王肃之女，生二子：长曰司马炎
命抚军大将军新昌乡侯炎为晋世子。
Original text (1)
- appoint generalSima Zhao → Zhong Huihist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 115
Original text (2)
拜锺会为镇西将军
文王总统六军，会谋谟帷幄
Original relation: ruler-subject · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
以周有全国之功，封阳城亭侯。
Original text (1)
以周有全国之功，封阳城亭侯。
Original text (1)
Original text (1)
大将军司马文王进屯丘头
Original text (1)
诏祀故军祭酒郭嘉于太祖庙庭。
- murderSima Zhao → Cao Maohist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 114
Original text (2)
被成济一戟刺中髦前胸
高贵公才慧夙成，好问尚辞，盖亦文帝之风流也；然轻躁忿肆，自蹈大祸。
Original relation: depose · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪
- ruler-subjectSima Zhao → Cao Maohist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 110
Original text (2)
封司马昭为大将军录尚书事
此儿既行悖逆不道，而又自陷大祸，重令吾悼心不可言。昔汉昌邑王以罪废为庶人，此儿亦宜以民礼葬之
Original relation: depose · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪
Original text (1)
令武士押出市曹，凌迟处死
Original text (1)
帝见威权日去，不胜其忿。乃召侍中王沈、尚书王经、散骑常侍王业，谓曰：“司马昭之心，路人所知也。吾不能坐受废辱，今日当与卿等自出讨之。”
Original text (1)
以卫将军司马文王为大将军
Original text (1)
- suggest← Jia Chong → Sima Zhaohist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·王毌丘诸葛邓锺传Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 111Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 115Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 118
Original text (4)
有一心腹人姓贾，名充
Original relation: confidant · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 111
贾充曰
贾充曰：“主公何不封锺会以制之？”
长史贾充以为宜遣参佐慰劳四征，于是遣充至寿春。
Original text (1)
昭又使人收王经全家下狱
Original text (1)
今遣中护军贾充将步骑万人径入斜谷
- make emperorSima Zhao → Cao Huanhist × litRecords of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 114Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 118
Original text (3)
司马昭立常道乡公曹璜为帝
昭乃同魏主曹奂御驾亲征
Original relation: accompany · Romance of the Three Kingdoms, ch. 118
使使者奉皇帝玺绶册，禅位于晋嗣王，如汉魏故事。
Original relation: abdicate · Records of the Three Kingdoms, 魏书·少帝纪