During the Yongjia era of the Western Jin Dynasty, after the devastating War of the Eight Princes, the political situation grew perilous. With peasant revolts erupting internally under leaders like Wang Ru and Du Tao, and external invasions from the Xiongnu noble Liu Yuan of the Northern Han, the dynasty's rule teetered on the brink of collapse.
At this time, Sima Rui, the Prince of Langya, was appointed by Emperor Huai of Jin as General of Andong, overseeing military affairs in Yangzhou and Jiangnan. Soon after, he was stationed at Jianye (present-day Nanjing) and further promoted to General of the Eastern Front, becoming the supreme military and political commander of the Jiangnan region.
Sima Rui had a son named Sima Shao, who was very clever and deeply loved by his father. That year, Sima Shao was just eight years old, and Sima Rui was playing with him in his arms when someone arrived in Jianye from Chang'an. Sima Rui asked with concern:
Emperor Yuan of Jin asked his young son, Crown Prince Sima Shao, "You've come from Chang'an—what's the situation in the capital?" Sima Shao replied, "Not good. The Xiongnu raiders are constantly attacking, and the people are suffering terribly. If this continues, the kingdom may fall." The emperor wept. "Father, why are you crying?" asked Sima Shao. "Ah, matters of state are too complex for a child," said the emperor. "I'm eight years old—I understand everything!" insisted the prince. "Very well," said the emperor, "which is farther—Chang'an or the sun?" Without hesitation, Sima Shao answered, "The sun, of course. People come from Chang'an, but no one has ever come from the sun. So Chang'an is nearer."
Sima Rui was delighted to see his son's quick thinking and reasonable answers, proud of his intelligence. The next day, he hosted a banquet for his subordinates, during which he proudly recounted his son's clever responses from the day before. His subordinates offered their flattery. Sima Rui then asked his son:
Emperor Yuan of Jin asked his young son Sima Shao, "Tell everyone, which is farther from us—Chang'an or the sun?" Sima Shao immediately replied, "Chang'an is farther, the sun is closer." The emperor was taken aback and asked, "Why is your answer different from yesterday?" Sima Shao calmly responded, "We can see the sun when we look up, but we cannot see Chang'an. Isn't that proof that the sun is closer and Chang'an is farther?"
The guests were all astonished, each praising his excellent response, and Sima Rui was naturally very pleased as well.
Years later, the Western Jin fell to the Northern Han. Sima Rui declared himself emperor in Jiankang, founding the Eastern Jin as Emperor Yuan. He appointed Sima Shao as crown prince. After Emperor Yuan's death, Sima Shao ascended the throne as Emperor Ming of Jin. Growing up, Emperor Ming displayed remarkable literary and martial talents, yet tragically reigned only three years before dying at just twenty-seven.
Later, the idiom "The Sun is Nearer than Chang'an" came to describe longing for the capital but being unable to reach it, often implying unfulfilled ambitions, unrealized hopes, and failed ideals.
Source: *A New Account of the Tales of the World*, Chapter "Early Wisdom"
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "日近长安远" came to describe how longing for the capital but being unable to reach it, often implying unfulfilled ambitions, unrealized hopes, and failed ideals.