Xie An

Xie An (謝安) (320[1] – 12 October 385[2]), courtesy name Anshi (安石), formally Duke Wenjing of Luling (廬陵文靖公), also known as "Xie Dongshan" (谢东山, "dongshan" literally 'East Mountain'), was a Chinese politician of the Eastern Jin dynasty who, despite his lack of military ability and skill, led Jin through a major crisis—attacks by Former Qin.

Xie An is depicted in the Wu Shuang Pu (無雙譜, Table of Peerless Heroes) by Jin Guliang.

As Huan arrived, he put on a great display of his army, and Wang was so anxious that his clothes were wet from his sweat, and the writing tablet he held in his hand was upside down.

As prime minister, Xie tried to show leniency to people, and that was manifested by a number of general pardons that the Jin imperial government declared.

In fall 383, Former Qin's emperor Fu Jiān launched a major attack, hoping to destroy Jin and unite China.

When news of the victory arrived at Xie An's headquarters, he was playing Go with a guest, but did not display particular emotion, but only stated, "The kids won a battle."

Part of it was that his son-in-law Wang Guobao, a son of Wang Tanzhi, whose behavior Xie disapproved of, began to attack him before both Emperor Xiaowu and his brother Sima Daozi the Prince of Kuaiji, leading to the emperor no longer trusting Xie An as much, although he remained prime minister.

Later that year, Xie An requested permission to lead an army north to try to regain territory in light of Former Qin's collapse.

However, while Xie Xuan recovered the territory south of the Yellow River, and other generals regained the Liang and Yi Provinces, Xie An himself did not appear to actually carry out a campaign, although he did leave the capital to avoid confrontation with Sima Daozi, who wanted to take over as prime minister.