Emperor Gong of Jin facts for kids

Emperor Gong of Jin (simplified Chinese: 晋恭帝; traditional Chinese: 晉恭帝; pinyin: Jìn Gōng Dì; Wade–Giles: Chin Kung-ti) was the last emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (266–420) in China. His personal name was Sima Dewen (Chinese: 司馬德文; pinyin: Sīmǎ Déwén). He was born in 386 and passed away in 421.

He became emperor in 419 after his brother, Emperor An of Jin, died. Emperor An had a developmental disability. During Emperor Gong's short time as emperor, a powerful general named Liu Yu held all the real power. In 420, Liu Yu pressured Emperor Gong to give up his throne. This event marked the end of the Jin Dynasty. Liu Yu then started his own dynasty, called Liu Song. Later, Liu Yu had Emperor Gong killed, as he saw him as a threat.

Becoming an Emperor: Sima Dewen's Early Life

Sima Dewen was born in 386. He was the second son of Emperor Xiaowu of Jin. His mother was a concubine named Consort Chen Guinü. His older brother, Sima Dezong, was born four years earlier.

Unlike his older brother, Sima Dewen was a very smart child. His brother, Sima Dezong, had a severe developmental disability. He couldn't speak, dress himself, or even say if he was hungry. Because of this, Sima Dewen learned to care for his brother from a young age. Their mother passed away in 390, and their father had no other sons.

Even with his disability, Sima Dezong was made crown prince in 387. This meant he was next in line for the throne. In 392, Sima Dewen was given the important title of "Prince of Langye." This was the second highest title for a prince.

In 396, Emperor Xiaowu died suddenly. The next year, Sima Dezong became Emperor An. Sima Dewen continued to look after his brother.

Life During Emperor An's Rule

During Emperor An's reign, Sima Dewen married Chu Lingyuan. She came from a noble family. They had two daughters, Sima Maoying and Princess Fuyang.

Sima Dewen was given many honorary titles during this time. However, he didn't have much real power. The power was held by others, first by his uncle, Sima Daozi, and then by Sima Daozi's son, Sima Yuanxian. This situation continued even after a warlord named Huan Xuan took over in 402.

In 403, Huan Xuan forced Emperor An to give up his throne. Huan Xuan started his own state called Chu. He kept Emperor An and Sima Dewen close by to watch them. But in 404, a general named Liu Yu led a rebellion. Liu Yu quickly defeated Huan Xuan and brought Emperor An back to power.

Later that year, Emperor An and Sima Dewen were captured by Huan Xuan's nephew, Huan Zhen. Huan Zhen thought about harming Emperor An. But Sima Dewen pleaded with him, explaining that they had nothing to do with Huan Xuan's son's death. Huan Zhen spared Emperor An. In 405, Huan Zhen was defeated, and the brothers returned to the capital, Jiankang. By this time, Liu Yu held most of the power.

Over the years, Liu Yu became even more powerful. He defeated many rivals and expanded his control. Sima Dewen continued to be honored but had no real influence. In 416, Sima Dewen went on a mission to Luoyang. He wanted to restore the tombs of earlier Jin emperors.

In 418, Liu Yu planned to take the throne for himself. He believed a prophecy that said there would be "two more emperors" after Emperor Xiaowu. He wanted to kill Emperor An and replace him with Sima Dewen. However, Sima Dewen was always with his brother, so assassins couldn't get close.

Around the new year of 419, Sima Dewen became ill and had to stay at his own house. Liu Yu's assassin, Wang Shaozhi, took this chance to kill Emperor An. After Emperor An's death, Liu Yu declared Sima Dewen the new emperor, known as Emperor Gong.

Emperor Gong's Short Reign

Emperor Gong's time as emperor was very short and he had no real power. In the spring of 419, he made his wife, Princess Chu, the empress. He also promoted Liu Yu, who was then the Duke of Song, to the Prince of Song. Liu Yu accepted this title later that year.

In the spring of 420, Liu Yu sent his helper, Fu Liang, to the capital. Fu Liang's job was to pressure Emperor Gong to give up his throne. Emperor Gong asked Liu Yu to return to the capital. Fu Liang then gave Emperor Gong a paper with an abdication message already written. He asked Emperor Gong to copy it in his own handwriting.

Sima Dewen did as he was asked. He then left the palace and went to live in his old house. Five days later, Liu Yu officially took the throne. He started the Liu Song dynasty, which meant the Jin Dynasty had ended.

Life After Giving Up the Throne

After giving up his throne, Liu Yu gave Sima Dewen the title of Prince of Lingling. He also built a palace for him near Jiankang. Liu Yu assigned a general, Liu Zunkao, to guard the prince. This was meant to protect him, but it was also to keep a close watch on him.

Liu Yu still worried that Sima Dewen might be a threat. He sent an old attendant of Sima Dewen, Zhang Wei, with poisoned wine. Zhang Wei was ordered to poison Sima Dewen. But Zhang Wei did not want to do this. Instead, he drank the wine himself and died.

To make sure Sima Dewen would not have any male children, Liu Yu ordered Princess Chu's brothers to poison any baby boys born to the former emperor's family. Sima Dewen was very afraid for his life. He and Princess Chu stayed in the same house and cooked their own meals. Princess Chu even paid for the food herself. This made it hard for assassins to get to them.

In the fall of 421, Liu Yu sent Chu Danzhi and his brother Chu Yuzhi to visit their sister, Princess Chu. While Princess Chu went to meet her brothers in another room, soldiers sent by Liu Yu entered Sima Dewen's house. They ordered him to drink poison. He refused, and so he was killed. He was buried with the honors of an emperor.

Family Life

• Empress Gongsi (Chu Lingyuan, 384–436): Sima Dewen's wife.
  • Princess Haiyan (Sima Maoying, 403–439): Their daughter. She married Liu Yifu, who later became Emperor Shao of Song.
  • Princess Fuyang: Their other daughter.