Sima Xiuzhi 司馬休之

Sima Xiuzhi 司馬休之 (d. 417), courtesy name Jiyu 季豫, was Prince of Qiao 譙 and a high minister of the late Eastern Jin period 東晉 (317-420).

In 404, he was appointed regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Jingzhou 荊州, but was forced out by the usurper Huan Xuan 桓玄 (369-404), and fled to north China to the court of Murong De 慕容德 (r. 398-404) of the Southern Yan empire 南燕 (398-410). After Huan Xuan's death, he returned to the south and was reinstalled into his post.

While in office, he was supported and respected by officials and the people. His son, Sima Wensi 司馬文思, plotted to assassinate Liu Yu 劉裕 (363-422; the eventual founder of the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋, 420-479), but the plot was discovered. Liu Yu handed Wensi over to Xiuzhi, allowing him to deal with the matter. Xiuzhi submitted a memorial requesting that Wensi be disinherited, and he also wrote a letter to Liu Yu to express his remorse.

During the Shenrui era, Liu Yu executed Xiuzhi's son Sima Wenbao 司馬文寶 and his nephew Sima Wenzu 司馬文祖, and then led an army to attack Xiuzhi. The prince raised troops in resistance but was defeated and fled with his followers to the Later Qin empire 後秦 (384-417). After the Later Qin fell, he sought refuge with Zhangsun Song 長孫嵩 in the Northern Wei empire 北魏 (386-534). About a month after joining Zhangsun Song's army, Xiu Zhi died. He was posthumously granted the title of Duke Sheng of Shiping 始平聲公.