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Huan Wen
Eastern Jin general and regent who conquered the Cheng Han state, led three northern expeditions, and deposed one emperor to enthrone another
At dusk on a hilltop, a large tent stands open with a table holding a map marked with small stones inside, a saddled horse tethered outside, and fire stands burning; campfires dot the river plain below, and one tiny sentry stands on the slope.
Also known as Zi Yuanzi
Huan Wen, courtesy name Yuanzi, was the son of Huan Yi of Longkang in Qiao and married Princess Nankang, a daughter of Emperor Ming of Jin. As inspector of Jing province he invaded Sichuan in 347 and destroyed the Cheng Han state. He marched against the Former Qin in 354 and reached Bashang, beat Yao Xiang and recovered Luoyang in 356, and attacked the Former Yan in 369, only to be routed at Fangtou by Murong Chui. In 371 he deposed the emperor Sima Yi as Duke of Haixi, enthroned Emperor Jianwen and ran the court himself. Gravely ill in 373, he asked for the Nine Bestowals, but Xie An and Wang Tanzhi stalled until he died at sixty-two; he was named Xuanwu. The Jin History (Jinshu) quotes him saying that a man who cannot leave a fragrant name may as well leave a foul one, and A New Account of Tales of the World (Shishuo xinyu) has him weeping at willows he had planted years before.
Life and times
Dates 312 CE–373 CE