Sima Ziru (司馬子如)

Overview

The translated histories identify Sima Ziru as a general, official, and statesman. This record brings together 23 passages from 8 chapters across 4 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Sima Ziru	司馬子如	Sīmǎ Zǐrú
Title	Minister of Works Sima	司馬令
Surname	Sima	司馬
Personal name	Sima Ziru	司馬子如
Personal name	Sima Ziru	司馬子如	Sima Ziru
Personal name	Sima Ziru	司馬子如	Sīmǎ Zǐrú
Personal	Sima Ziru	司馬子如	Sima Ziru
Given	Ziru	子如	Zǐrú
Given	Ziru	子如
Given	Ziru	子如	Ziru

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · beiqishu:030:s0002, beiqishu:047:s0056, zhoushu:021:s0001, zizhitongjian:159:s0332
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · beiqishu:040:s0006, weishu:110:s0107

Roles

General
Official
Statesman

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 司馬子如執政 · Western Interval: Start: AD 550 · End: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:040:s0006
Source Date: Text: 司馬子如宵濟 · Western Interval: Start: AD 534 · End: AD 545
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:018:s0030
Source Date: Text: 尚書令司馬子如 · Western Interval: Start: AD 543 · End: AD 549
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:047:s0056
Source Date: Text: 尚書令司馬子如 · Western Interval: Start: AD 534 · End: AD 550
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:038:s0112
Source Date: Text: 景素輕高澄 · Western Year: AD 546
Explicit event contextual date · zizhitongjian:159:s0332
Source Date: Text: 武定 · Western Year: AD 543
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:030:s0026
Source Date: Text: 武定四年 · Western Year: AD 546
Explicit event contextual date · weishu:110:s0107
Source Date: Text: 齊神武佐命 · Western Interval: Start: AD 534 · End: AD 550
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:021:s0145

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Kin of Wife of Yu Jin (皮氏女)
Kinship Term: maternal niece / 外生 · Subject Role: maternal-niece · Object Role: maternal-uncle · Line: maternal · Intermediary Person Ids: Mother of Wife of Yu Jin
Parent of Sima Xiaonan (司馬消難)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Sibling of Mother of Wife of Yu Jin
Kinship Term: sister / 妹 · Shared Parentage: uncertain

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: night raid with Han Gui · Other Person Id: Han Gui (韓軌)
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:018:s0030

References in the histories

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Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 30Volume 30 Biographies 22: Cui Xian; Gao Dezheng; Cui Ang · 7 passages

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暹前後表彈尚書令司馬子如及尚書元羨、雍州刺史慕容獻，又彈太師咸陽王坦、幷州刺史可朱渾道元，罪狀極筆，並免官。 Xian successively memorialized and impeached Minister of Works Sima Ziru, the minister Yuan Xian, and Administrator of Yong province Murong Xian, and also impeached Grand Tutor Prince of Xianyang Tan and inspector of Bing province Kezhuhun Daoyuan—the charges written to the utmost; all were removed from office.

咸陽王、司馬令並是吾對門布衣之舊，尊貴親昵，無過二人，同時獲罪，吾不能救，諸君其慎之。」 Prince of Xianyang and Minister Sima were both my old companions of common cloth opposite the gate, honored and intimate beyond all others; at the same time they incurred guilt—I could not save them; gentlemen, be wary."

顯祖初嗣霸業，司馬子如等挾舊怨，言暹罪重，謂宜罰之。 When Gao Yang first succeeded to the hegemony, Sima Ziru and others, nursing old grudges, said Xian's crimes were heavy and that he ought to be punished.

卽命司馬子如、杜弼馳驛續入，觀察物情。 He then ordered Sima Ziru and Du Bi to ride post-haste after them and read the mood of the crowd.

七日，子如等至鄴，衆人以事勢已決，無敢異言。 On the seventh day Ziru and the others reached Ye; seeing the affair already settled, none dared speak against it.

遂入北城下司馬子如南宅。 He entered the northern city and lodged at Sima Ziru's southern residence.

時勳將親族兵客在都下放縱，多行不軌，孫騰、司馬子如之門尤劇。 At the time the meritorious generals' kin and military retainers in the capital ran wild, many acting outside the law — the households of Sun Teng and Sima Ziru were worst.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 38Volume 38 Biographies 30: Xin Shu; Yuan Wenyao; Zhao Yanshen · 6 passages

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初為尚書令司馬子如賤客，供寫書。 At first he was a lowly guest of Minister over the Masses Sima Ziru, hired to copy documents.

子如善其無誤，欲將入觀省舍。 Ziru was pleased that he never erred and meant to bring him inside to see the offices.

隱靴無氊，衣帽穿弊，子如給之。 Yin wore unlined boots and threadbare hat and clothes; Ziru furnished him.

神武在晉陽，索二史，子如舉彥深。 Gao Huan was at Jinyang and asked for the two histories; Ziru recommended Yanshen.

後拜子如開府參軍，超拜水部郎。 Later he was made Ziru's metropolitan administration staff officer, then leap-promoted to director of the water section.

子如言於神武，徵補大丞相功曹參軍，專掌機密，文翰多出其手，稱為敏給。 Ziru spoke to Gao Huan; Yanshen was summoned and made staff officer for merit affairs in the Great Chancellor's office, handling secrets alone. Most papers passed through his hand, and men called him quick and sure.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 40Volume 40 Biographies 32: Yu Jin (Northern Qi); Feng Zicong; Helian Ziyue; Tang Yong; Bai Jian · 3 passages

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司馬子如執政，瑾取其外生皮氏女，由此擢拜中書舍人。 When Sima Ziru held power, Jin married his maternal niece of the Pi clan and was promoted secretariat vice-director.

旣是子如姻戚，數往參詣，因與先達名輩微相款狎。 As Ziru's kin by marriage he often called on him and grew familiar with eminent elders and men of name.

世祖踐祚，趙彥深本子如賓僚，元文遙、和士開並帝鄉故舊，共相薦達，任遇彌重。 When Gao Zhan took the throne, Zhao Yanshen had been Ziru's guest-officer, and Yuan Wenyao and He Shikai were all old friends from the imperial hometown. They recommended him together, and his rank and favor grew heavier still.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 47Volume 47 Biographies 39: Cruel Officials · 1 passage

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遊道入省，劾太師咸陽王坦、太保孫騰、司徒高隆之、司空侯景、錄尚書元弼、尚書令司馬子如官貸金銀，催徵酬價，雖非指事贓賄，終是不避權豪。 Entering office, Youdao impeached Grand Tutor Tan, Prince of Xianyang, Grand Guardian Sun Teng, Minister of Education Gao Longzhi, Minister of Works Hou Jing, Director Yuan Bi, Director Sima Ziru and others for official loans of gold and silver—though not direct bribery, he did not spare the powerful.

Book of Wei, Chapter 110Volume 104: Author's Preface · 1 passage

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四年，獻武於西門豹祠宴集，謂司馬子如曰：「魏收為史官，書吾善惡。 In the fourth year Xianwu hosted a banquet at the Shrine of Ximen Bao and said to Sima Ziru: "Wei Shou, as historiographer, will record my virtues and faults.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 18Volume 18 Biographies 10: Wang Pi; Wang Sizheng · 1 passage

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齊神武遣韓軌、司馬子如從河東宵濟襲羆，羆不之覺。 Gao Huan sent Han Gui and Sima Ziru to cross the Yellow River from Hedong by night and strike Wang Pi, who did not detect them.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 21Volume 21 Biographies 13: Wei Chijiong; Wang Qian; Sima Xiaonan · 2 passages

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父子如，為齊神武佐命，位至尚書令。 His father Sima Ziru had assisted Gao Huan at the founding of Northern Qi and rose to director of the Masters of Writing.

子如旣當朝貴，消難亦愛賓客。 Once Ziru held high court rank, Xiaonan also cultivated guests.

Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance, Chapter 159Volume 159 Liang Records 15 · 2 passages

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景素輕高澄，嘗謂司馬子如曰：「高王在，吾不敢有異； Jing had long held Gao Cheng light and once told Sima Ziru, "While the King of Gao lives I dare not differ;

子如掩其口。 Ziru covered his mouth.