Liu Muzhi 劉穆之

Liu Muzhi 劉穆之 (360-417), courtesy name Daohe 道和, was a general of the late Eastern Jin period 東晉 (317-420).

He originated from Juxian 莒縣 in the commandery of Dongguan 東莞 (now part of Shandong), but his family later relocated to Jingkou 京口 (modern-day Zhenjiang 鎮江, Jiangsu).

From a young age, he enjoyed reading the Classics Shangshu 尚書 and Zuozhuan 左傳, becoming well-versed in many classical texts. He initially served as a recorder (zhubu 主簿) to General Jiang Ai 江敳. When Huan Xuan 桓玄 (369-404) usurped the Jin throne, he joined forces with Liu Yu 劉裕 (363-422, the eventual founder of the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋, 420-479) in raising troops and served as Liu's chief clerk.

After pacifying the capital Jiankang 建康 (today's Nanjing 南京, Jiangsu), he advised Liu Yu to take control of the Eastern Jin government. He accompanied Liu Yu in the northern campaigns against the Former Yan empire 前燕 (337-370) and the suppression of Lu Xun's 盧循 (d. 411) rebellion, contributing strategies highly valued by Liu Yu.

He rose through the ranks to become Left Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu zuo puye 尚書左僕射). When Liu Yu led the southern campaign against Sima Xiuzhi 司馬休之 (d. 417) and the northern campaign against the empire of Later Qin 後秦 (384-417), he stayed to guard Jiankang, managing internal government affairs and external military support.

After Liu Yu proclaimed himself emperor, he posthumously honored him as Commandery Duke of Nankang 南康郡公 with the posthumous title Wenxuan 南康文宣公.