The origin of Sima

2020-11-12

The name “Sima” originated in the Western Jin Dynasty (265 AD), and today it has a history of 1,746 years. Its predecessor was called Taohua Village. But why did it change its name to Sima? A folk tale has been passed down from ancient times to the present: In Taohua Village lived a scholar surnamed Zhang who, from childhood, was exceptionally gifted. After years of private tutoring, he had mastered the Five Classics and the Four Books, becoming erudite and versatile—and earned the nickname “Zhang Xiucai,” renowned throughout the local area. On the year of the imperial examinations in the capital, while on his way to take the exam, Zhang suddenly noticed an ant nest fall from a tree into a pond. Moved by compassion, he immediately took off his shoes and socks, waded into the icy water, and carefully retrieved the ant nest, saving countless ants from certain death. The ants, grateful for his kindness, repaid him in kind. During the examination, when Zhang Xiucai was about to write his answer, he suddenly found himself blanking out and forgetting a character. He inadvertently omitted a tiny stroke from the character “ma” (horse) in the exam question. When the examiner graded his paper, he noticed that an ant had crawled onto the character, serving as that missing stroke. The examiner tried to brush the ant away three times in a row, yet each time, the ant stubbornly returned to exactly the same spot, refusing to budge. Only then did the examiner realize what had happened: This little ant must have formed an inexplicable bond with the examinee—or perhaps it was actually repaying the examinee’s kindness through its actions. So the examiner asked the examinee directly about this strange occurrence. After Zhang explained the whole story, the examiner exclaimed, “Oh! So that’s how it is! The ant showed such loyalty and righteousness, yet I failed to understand it before. Now I truly respect you—this young man not only possesses extraordinary talent but also great virtue.” Zhang’s brilliant essay won the examiner’s admiration, who couldn’t help but exclaim: “This young man is indeed the pillar of our dynasty!”

After passing the imperial examination with flying colors and being listed on the golden register, he was personally selected by the emperor as the top scholar. Serving in official posts for several years, he was known for his integrity, honesty, and remarkable achievements, earning the emperor’s deep favor. Soon after, he was appointed to the position of Sima—holding a third-rank official title—and later became Minister of Rites. The emperor also bestowed upon him a royal plaque inscribed with the words “Sima Residence,” which has been preserved in the Zhang family ancestral hall for over a thousand years. After ascending to the rank of Sima, Zhang returned to his hometown in modest attire and with few attendants. To repay his hometown for its kindness, he funded the construction of an ornate archway at the village entrance, naming it “Flower Gate Tower.” Moreover, he had a pond dug in the village, relieving the villagers’ worries about drinking water and irrigation for their farmland. Out of gratitude toward Zhang, the villagers thereafter renamed Taohua Village to Sima Village. When Bai Juyi, a renowned literary figure of the Tang Dynasty, was demoted to the post of Sima of Jiangzhou, he visited Yunju Mountain several times, composing poems during his excursions. On one occasion, he even walked all the way to Sima Village just to admire the blooming peach blossoms. Thus, the name “Sima” has endured through the ages.

Keywords:

Leigong Cave

The Legend of Taohua Jian

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