Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Heir of the Prince of Kuaiji

Sima Yuanxian 司馬元顯

Attested AD 397 - AD 420

Passages: 4
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

Sima Yuanxian was a Heir of the Prince of Kuaiji.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 420 永初元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Song 3, passage 219
AD 397 to AD 401 隆安中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Song 62, passage 13
AD 397 to AD 402 隆安中
Directly stated · Book of Song 55, passage 114

Key source chapters

Events and relationships

Completed final provocation
Political · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Song 3, passage 219

References in the histories

Book of Song, Chapter 3Volume 3 Annals 3: Emperor Wu 3 · 1 passage

自斯以後，晉道彌昏，道子開其禍端，元顯成其末釁，桓玄藉運乘時，加以先父之業，因基革命，人無異心。 From then on Jin's way grew ever darker; Daozi opened the source of calamity and Yuanxian completed the final provocation; Huan Xuan rode fortune and seized the season, adding his father's former enterprise, and thereby founded revolution—among the people there was no divergent heart.

Book of Song, Chapter 55Volume 55 Biographies 15: Zang Dao, Xu Guang, F Long · 2 passages

時會稽王世子元顯錄尚書，欲使百僚致敬，台內使廣立議，由是內外並執下官禮，廣常為愧恨焉。 At the time Yuanxian, heir of the Prince of Kuaiji, controlled the Secretariat and wished all officials to pay him homage; Guang was ordered to draft the proposal within the capital, and thereafter officials inside and outside the court observed subordinate rites toward him — a matter that often filled Guang with shame and regret.

元顯引為中軍參軍，遷領軍長史。 Yuanxian recruited him as aide on the central army staff and later promoted him to chief clerk of the Army of the Interior.

Book of Song, Chapter 62Volume 62 Biographies 22: Yang Xin, Zhang Fu, Wang Wei · 1 passage

會稽王世子元顯每使欣書，常辭不奉命，元顯怒，乃以為其後軍府舍人。 Yuan Xian, heir of the Prince of Kuaiji, often pressed Xin to do calligraphy for him; Xin routinely refused, and in anger Yuan Xian made him registrar of his Rear Army staff.