31 Facts About Cai Mo

Cai Mo, courtesy name Daoming, was a Chinese politician during the Jin dynasty.

When northern China fell into chaos, Cai Mo migrated to the south, where he became a prominent minister during the early Eastern Jin period.

Cai Mo was most notable for his work as the Minister of Ceremonies and for being a vocal opponent of his state's attempts at reclaiming the north from their rival, Later Zhao.

Cai Mo came from a line of officials in Kaocheng County, Chenliu Commandery, in present-day Kaifeng, Henan.

Cai Mo worked as an Assistant Officer in his local government and became nominated as Xiucai.

Cai Mo eventually decided to move south of the Yangtze to avoid the turmoil and serve the Prince of Langya and Inspector of Yangzhou, Sima Rui.

Under Sima Rui, Cai Mo served as the Army Advisor to Sima Rui's son, Sima Shao and later to Rui himself after Rui became Prime Minister in 315.

Cai Mo then worked in a succession of offices and continued to do so after Eastern Jin's establishment in 318.

Cai Mo shared the same courtesy name, "Daoming", as two of his peers, Zhuge Hui and Xun Kai.

Cai Mo attempted to resign and suggested that Kong Yu and Zhuge Hui receive his rewards, but the court refused.

Cai Mo was demoted to a commoner when, while supervising the ancestral temple, the person in charge forgot to set up the memorial tablet for Emperor Ming of Jin.

Cai Mo asserted that the emperor should be allowed to order music performed in the ancestral temple when sending envoys, and the court should obey this decision.

Cai Mo asserted that there was no evidence that Emperor Ming was a Buddhist, and he likely painted the pictures as simply part of his hobby.

Yu Liang's equal, Xi Jian, was against this, and Cai Mo sided with Xi Jian.

Cai Mo pointed out that Zhao's ruler, Shi Hu, was a superior administrator and general compared to Yu Liang.

Cai Mo brought up the past failings of Zu Ti's northern expeditions and the difficulties of crossing the rivers dividing Jin and Zhao.

Cai Mo convinced the court, so Yu Liang postponed his plans.

Once again, Cai Mo weighed in to voice his opposition.

Cai Mo said that Shouyang's defences were too strong, that the Zhao army would be quick enough to respond to any intrusion, and that it would be wasteful to use the state's elite soldiers to take an area that would bring little benefit.

The issue troubled the court, which prompted Cai Mo to have the general, Xu Xuan and others guard the Central Plains.

Cai Mo established a reward system which awarded each person for every enemy boat they captured.

At the time, Cai Mo commanded 7,000 troops, and he stationed them in Tushan in the east and Jiangcheng in the west.

Cai Mo remained sceptical at the thought, even as he quickly became a minority in the court.

Cai Mo added that expeditions would only deplete Jin's resources and demoralise the people.

Previously, in 346, Cai Mo became acting Minister of the Masses, and in 348, the Jin court wanted him to take up the post officially.

The empress dowager was about to dismiss the court when Sima Yu, angered by Cai Mo's attitude, petitioned to have him punished.

Cai Mo brought his sons and brothers in plain clothing to present themselves to the emperor.

Cai Mo admitted to his faults and turned himself into the Minister of Justice.

Cai Mo spent the rest of his days at home teaching his children.

Cai Mo expressed gratitude but refused, as he was now genuinely ill.

Cai Mo was posthumously appointed Palace Attendant and Minister of Works and posthumously named 'Wenmu'.