Yin Hao
Encyclopedia
Yin Hao (died 356), courtesy name Shenyuan (深源), was a Jin Dynasty (265-420)
politician.
Yin Hao was from an aristocratic family, and when he was young, he became known for intelligence and metaphysical discussions. He temporarily served on Yu Liang
's staff, but subsequently declined an invitation by Yu Liang's younger brother Yu Yi (庾翼) to serve on his staff, and he lived the life of a hermit. Gradually, officials and commoners began to believe that he had the ability to guide the Jin state to great things, and people even observed his behavior to venture guesses as to what the fortunes of the state would be. In 346, he finally agreed to join the government as the governor of the capital region.
In 348, after Huan Wen
destroyed Cheng Han
and merged its territory into Jin's, key officials of the Jin imperial government began to fear that he would use his military might to try to dominate the government. The regent
for Emperor Mu
, Sima Yu
the Prince of Kuaiji therefore invited Yin to participate in important government decisions. Yin and Huan immediately developed a rivalry and suspected each other of treachery.
In 350, intent on proving himself as much of a general as Huan, Yin had himself commissioned with a large army, preparing to recover central and northern China as rival Later Zhao
was collapsing into civil war, but for reasons unknown delayed the campaign. Later that year, he took even greater power, as after another major official, Cai Mo (蔡謨), repeatedly declined an imperial honor, he accused Cai of being disrespectful and had Cai imprisoned. He was prepared to further execute Cai, but was persuaded not to, but Cai was still demoted to commoner status.
Around the new year 352, Huan, upset that his requests to lead armies north had been rebuffed by Yin and Sima Yu, mobilized his troops and gestured as if he were about to attack the capital. Yin was shocked, and initially considered either resigning or send the imperial banner of peace (Zouyu Fan, 騶虞幡) to order Huan to stop. After advice from Wang Biaozhi (王彪之), however, he instead asked Sima Yu to write a carefully worded letter to Huan, persuading Huan to stop.
Later in 352, Yin launched his own campaign, but upon the start of the campaign, former Later Zhao generals in control of Xuchang
and Luoyang
rebelled, and his venture had to halt to deal with these rebellions. Subsequently, when his assistants, the generals Xie Shang (謝尚) and Yao Xiang (姚襄) tried to attack Zhang Yu (張遇), the general in control of Xuchang, Former Qin
forces came to Zhang's aid and defeated Xie's troops. Yin then abandoned the campaign entirely.
In fall 352, Yin prepared a second campaign. Initially the campaign had some success, recovering Xuchang from Former Qin. However, Yin became suspicious of Yao's military capabilities and independence, and therefore tried to assassinate Yao. Yao discovered this, and, as Yin headed north, he ambushed Yin's troops, inflicting heavy losses on Yin. Yao then took over the Shouchun (壽春, in modern Lu'an
, Anhui
) region. The people despised Yin for his military losses, and Huan submitted a petition demanding Yin's ouster. The imperial government was compelled to demote Yin to commoner status and exile him to Xin'an (信安, in modern Quzhou
, Zhejiang
).
At a later point, Huan, still believing that Yin was capable, offered him an important purely civilian post, and wrote Yin a letter stating his intentions. Yin was very pleased and was about to accept, but he, hesitating at the appropriate language for the acceptance, wrote and rewrote his response, and eventually, in a trance-like state from his anxiety, sent Huan a blank letter. When Huan received it, he was enraged, and from that point refused to have any further communication with Yin. Yin died in 356, while still in exile.
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
politician.
Yin Hao was from an aristocratic family, and when he was young, he became known for intelligence and metaphysical discussions. He temporarily served on Yu Liang
Yu Liang
Yu Liang , courtesy name Yuangui , formally Marquess Wenkang of Duting , was a Jin Dynasty official and general who impressed many with his knowledge but whose inability to tolerate dissent and overly high evaluation of his own abilities led to the disastrous revolt of Su Jun, weakening Jin's...
's staff, but subsequently declined an invitation by Yu Liang's younger brother Yu Yi (庾翼) to serve on his staff, and he lived the life of a hermit. Gradually, officials and commoners began to believe that he had the ability to guide the Jin state to great things, and people even observed his behavior to venture guesses as to what the fortunes of the state would be. In 346, he finally agreed to join the government as the governor of the capital region.
In 348, after Huan Wen
Huan Wen
Huan Wen , courtesy name Yuanzi , formally Duke Xuanwu of Nan Commandery , was a general of the Jin Dynasty...
destroyed Cheng Han
Cheng Han
The Cheng Han was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It represented two states, the Cheng state proclaimed in 304 by Li Xiong and the Han state in 338 by Li Shou...
and merged its territory into Jin's, key officials of the Jin imperial government began to fear that he would use his military might to try to dominate the government. The regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for Emperor Mu
Emperor Mu of Jin
Emperor Mu of Jin , personal name Sima Dan , courtesy name Pengzi , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty...
, Sima Yu
Emperor Jianwen of Jin
Emperor Jianwen of Jin , personal name Sima Yu , courtesy name Daowan , was an emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in China. He was the younger brother of Emperor Ming and installed by military leader Huan Wen...
the Prince of Kuaiji therefore invited Yin to participate in important government decisions. Yin and Huan immediately developed a rivalry and suspected each other of treachery.
In 350, intent on proving himself as much of a general as Huan, Yin had himself commissioned with a large army, preparing to recover central and northern China as rival Later Zhao
Later Zhao
The Later Zhao was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. It was founded by the Shi family of the Jie ethnicity...
was collapsing into civil war, but for reasons unknown delayed the campaign. Later that year, he took even greater power, as after another major official, Cai Mo (蔡謨), repeatedly declined an imperial honor, he accused Cai of being disrespectful and had Cai imprisoned. He was prepared to further execute Cai, but was persuaded not to, but Cai was still demoted to commoner status.
Around the new year 352, Huan, upset that his requests to lead armies north had been rebuffed by Yin and Sima Yu, mobilized his troops and gestured as if he were about to attack the capital. Yin was shocked, and initially considered either resigning or send the imperial banner of peace (Zouyu Fan, 騶虞幡) to order Huan to stop. After advice from Wang Biaozhi (王彪之), however, he instead asked Sima Yu to write a carefully worded letter to Huan, persuading Huan to stop.
Later in 352, Yin launched his own campaign, but upon the start of the campaign, former Later Zhao generals in control of Xuchang
Xuchang
Xuchang is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest....
and Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
rebelled, and his venture had to halt to deal with these rebellions. Subsequently, when his assistants, the generals Xie Shang (謝尚) and Yao Xiang (姚襄) tried to attack Zhang Yu (張遇), the general in control of Xuchang, Former Qin
Former Qin
The Former Qin was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Founded by the Fu family of the Di ethnicity, it completed the unification of North China in 376. Its capital had been Xi'an up to the death of the ruler Fu Jiān. Despite its name, the Former Qin was much later and less powerful than...
forces came to Zhang's aid and defeated Xie's troops. Yin then abandoned the campaign entirely.
In fall 352, Yin prepared a second campaign. Initially the campaign had some success, recovering Xuchang from Former Qin. However, Yin became suspicious of Yao's military capabilities and independence, and therefore tried to assassinate Yao. Yao discovered this, and, as Yin headed north, he ambushed Yin's troops, inflicting heavy losses on Yin. Yao then took over the Shouchun (壽春, in modern Lu'an
Lu'an
Lu'an , is a prefecture-level city in western Anhui Province, People's Republic of China, with a population of 5,612,590 inhabitants at 2010 census. Its built up area is home to 1,482,729 inhabitants spread out on 2 urban districts...
, Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
) region. The people despised Yin for his military losses, and Huan submitted a petition demanding Yin's ouster. The imperial government was compelled to demote Yin to commoner status and exile him to Xin'an (信安, in modern Quzhou
Quzhou
Quzhou is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Zhejiang province, China. Sitting on the upper course of the Qiantang River, it borders Hangzhou to the north, Jinhua to the east, Lishui to the southeast, and the provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi and Anhui to the south the south, southwest and...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
).
At a later point, Huan, still believing that Yin was capable, offered him an important purely civilian post, and wrote Yin a letter stating his intentions. Yin was very pleased and was about to accept, but he, hesitating at the appropriate language for the acceptance, wrote and rewrote his response, and eventually, in a trance-like state from his anxiety, sent Huan a blank letter. When Huan received it, he was enraged, and from that point refused to have any further communication with Yin. Yin died in 356, while still in exile.