| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 司马欣, 司馬欣, Sīmǎ Xīn |
| Other name | Tư Mã Hân |
| INFORMATION | |
| Born | ? BC |
| Birth Place | Yueyang, Qin (秦国栎阳; Lạc Dương, nước Tần) |
| Died | 204 BC |
| Death Reason | Committed suicide at the Sishui River after defeat |
| FAMILY | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Qin / Western Chu |
Sima Xin (司马欣, Tư Mã Hân; d. 203 BC; King of Sai 塞王), was a prominent general of the late Qin Dynasty and monarch of Western Chu, native of Yueyang.
Originally a prison clerk in Yueyang, Sima Xin saved the life of rebel patriarch Xiang Liang when Xiang Liang was arrested years earlier. Later appointed Senior Scribe (Changshi) under Grand General Zhang Han, Sima Xin was sent to Xianyang in 207 BC to request emergency reinforcements. When Zhao Gao refused to grant an audience and sent assassins to intercept him, Sima Xin fled through back roads, warning Zhang Han: ‘Zhao Gao holds supreme power; win and you will be executed from jealousy, lose and you will be executed for treason!’ This warning convinced Zhang Han and Sima Xin to surrender to Xiang Yu.
Ennobled by Xiang Yu as King of Sai (塞王) in Guanzhong, Sima Xin was defeated by Liu Bang and Han Xin in 206 BC, surrendering to Han before defecting back to Xiang Yu. In 203 BC, while commanding the defense of Sishui with Cao Jiu, Sima Xin was provoked by Han troops into crossing the river, was disastrously routed by Han armies, and cut his own throat on the banks of the Sishui River in despair.
Role in History (Shiji)
Records of the Grand Historian (Shiji, vol. 7): “Sima Xin warned Zhang Han: ‘In the capital, Zhao Gao holds the sword of death for all generals.’ They surrendered at the river, and Xiang Yu created him King of Sai.”
Sima Xin — Historical & Literary Timeline
Qin Dynasty
Clerk of Yueyang
Saves Xiang Liang from prison in youth.
207 BC
Mission to Xianyang
Escapes Zhao Gao’s assassins; convinces Zhang Han to surrender to Chu.
206 BC
King of Sai
Ennobled by Xiang Yu to rule eastern Guanzhong.
203 BC
The Defeat at Sishui & Suicide
Crosses the river in anger against Han troops; cuts his throat on the riverbank.
Key Relationships
Family
- Lineage Sima clan of Guanzhong: Aristocratic military family.
Friends
- Supreme General Zhang Han (Zhang Han): Commander whom he served in the Qin campaigns.
- Chu Overlord Xiang Yu: Ennobled him as King of Sai.
Enemies
- Treacherous Eunuch Zhao Gao: Attempted to assassinate him in Xianyang.
- Han Conquerors Liu Bang, Han Xin: Conquered his kingdom of Sai.
Other
- Saved Patriarch Xiang Liang: Saved by Sima Xin in Yueyang.
In Shiji
"Between the knives of Zhao Gao and the iron spears of Chu, Sima Xin chose to break his imperial seal."
Historical Context
Sima Xin was one of the 'Three Kings of Qin' (San Qin) appointed by Xiang Yu to bottle up Liu Bang in Hanzhong, whose rapid collapse enabled the founding of the Han Dynasty.
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