Early Life
Sima Yu was born in 320, as the youngest son of Emperor Yuan, by his favorite concubine Consort Zheng Achun (鄭阿春). As Emperor Yuan's wife Yu Mengmu (虞孟母) had died years earlier (in 312), and the mother of his oldest son Sima Shao the Crown Prince (later Emperor Ming), Lady Xun, had been forced to leave the palace due to Princess Yu's jealousy while she was still alive, Consort Zheng was effectively the mistress of the palace, although she never carried the title of empress. In 322, Emperor Yuan created him the Prince of Langye—the same title that Emperor Yuan had earlier, which was therefore considered a special honor.
In 323, Emperor Yuan died. In 326, Consort Zheng also died, and because, as Prince of Langye, Sima Yu was not permitted by law to mourn his mother, he, at age six, requested another title by which he could. His nephew Emperor Cheng (Emperor Ming's son), himself then a young child, permitted it, and created him the Prince of Kuaiji. As he grew in age, he was given a progression of higher and higher posts, although without actual power.
Read more about this topic: Emperor Jianwen Of Jin
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