Sima Daozi

Posthumous name
	Wenxiao 文孝

Sima Daozi
Sima Daozi
Prince of Kuaiji 會稽王
Reign	27 December 392 - 3 February 403
Prince of Langye 琅邪王
Reign	12 September 372-392
Successor	Sima Dewen
Born	363/364
Died	3 February 403 (aged 39)
Issue	Sima Yuanxian
Posthumous name
Posthumous name
	Wenxiao 文孝
Father	Emperor Jianwen of Jin
Mother	Li Lingrong

Sima Daozi (司馬道子) (363^[1] – 3 February 403^[2]), courtesy name Daozi (道子), formally Prince Wenxiao of Kuaiji (會稽文孝王), was a regent during the reign of his nephew Emperor An of Jin, being the younger brother of Emperor Xiaowu.

^ According to Sima Daozi's biography in Book of Jin, he was 10 (by East Asian reckoning) when he was made Prince of Langya. (年十岁，封琅邪王) Jin Shu, vol.64. According to his father Emperor Jianwen's biography, he was made Prince of Langya in the 7th month of the 2nd year of the Xian'an era. This corresponds to 16 Aug to 13 Sep 372 in the Julian calendar. [(咸安二年)秋七月... 立...皇子道子为琅邪王.] Jin Shu vol. 09. Thus by calculation, Sima Daozi's birth year should be 362 or 363. However, as Daozi had the same mother as Emperor Xiaowu and Emperor Xiaowu was born in 362, it is more likely that Daozi was born in 363. Also, Daozi's biography recorded that he was 39 (by East Asian reckoning) when he was poisoned. (竟承玄旨鸩杀之，时年三十九。) Jin Shu, vol.64.
^ According to Sima Dezong's biography in Book of Jin, Sima Daozi was killed by Huan Xuan on the geng'shen day of the 12th month of the 1st year of the Yuan'xing era of Sima Dezong's reign. This corresponds to 3 Feb 403 in the Julian calendar. [(元兴元年)十二月庚申，会稽王道子为桓玄所害.] Jin Shu vol.10. Vol. 112 of Zizhi Tongjian only indicate that he was poisoned after the xin'hai day of the 12th month of the 1st year of the Yuan'xing era, which corresponds to 25 Jan 403 in the Julian calendar.

[1] According to Sima Daozi's biography in Book of Jin, he was 10 (by East Asian reckoning) when he was made Prince of Langya. (年十岁，封琅邪王) Jin Shu, vol.64. According to his father Emperor Jianwen's biography, he was made Prince of Langya in the 7th month of the 2nd year of the Xian'an era. This corresponds to 16 Aug to 13 Sep 372 in the Julian calendar. [(咸安二年)秋七月... 立...皇子道子为琅邪王.] Jin Shu vol. 09. Thus by calculation, Sima Daozi's birth year should be 362 or 363. However, as Daozi had the same mother as Emperor Xiaowu and Emperor Xiaowu was born in 362, it is more likely that Daozi was born in 363. Also, Daozi's biography recorded that he was 39 (by East Asian reckoning) when he was poisoned. (竟承玄旨鸩杀之，时年三十九。) Jin Shu, vol.64.

[2] According to Sima Dezong's biography in Book of Jin, Sima Daozi was killed by Huan Xuan on the geng'shen day of the 12th month of the 1st year of the Yuan'xing era of Sima Dezong's reign. This corresponds to 3 Feb 403 in the Julian calendar. [(元兴元年)十二月庚申，会稽王道子为桓玄所害.] Jin Shu vol.10. Vol. 112 of Zizhi Tongjian only indicate that he was poisoned after the xin'hai day of the 12th month of the 1st year of the Yuan'xing era, which corresponds to 25 Jan 403 in the Julian calendar.

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