During Jin Dynasty

Xie Hui was born in Yangxia County, Henan. When he was young, he served on the staff of the official Meng Chang (孟昶). When Meng committed suicide in 410 over disagreements he had with Liu Yu over how to counter the attack that the warlord Lu Xun (盧循) was making on the capital Jiankang, Liu Yu asked his chief assistant Liu Muzhi (劉穆之) whom among Meng's staff he can retain. Liu Muzhi recommended Xie, and Liu Yu added Xie to his staff. He subsequently contributed to Liu Yu's campaign against Sima Xiuzhi (司馬休之) in 415, and therefore became increasingly important as a strategist for Liu Yu. However, because his opinion often differed from Liu Muzhi's, Liu Muzhi opposed promoting him, and Liu Yu did not promote him further until Liu Muzhi's death in 417. Despite this, the general Tan Daoji later remarked that of the ten strategies that Liu Yu used to conquer Later Qin in 416 and 417, nine came from Xie.

During Emperor Wus reign

After Liu Yu seized the Jin throne in 420 and established Liu Song, he created Xie the Duke of Wuchang and made him a high-level official. In 421, Xie was temporarily removed from his post over erroneous drafting of an edict creating a title for Wang Qiu (王球) instead of Wang Hua (王華), but soon was restored to his post.

At one point, Xie saw that Liu Yu's crown prince Liu Yifu was surrounding himself with people without virtues, and he warned Emperor Wu about this. Emperor Wu therefore considered replacing Liu Yifu with his younger brother Liu Yizhen (劉義真) the Prince of Luling, and had Xie visit Liu Yizhen to evaluate him. However, Xie had an even lower opinion of Liu Yizhen, and Emperor Wu kept Liu Yifu as crown prince.

When Emperor Wu grew ill in 422, he entrusted Liu Yifu to Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, Xie, and Tan, although he remarked to Liu Yifu:

:Although Tan Daoji is capable and full of strategy, he lacks ambitions, unlike his brother Tan Shao (檀韶), whom I found difficult to reign in. Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang should not present any problems. Xie Hui followed me on campaigns many times, and he changes easily depending on the situation. If there is a problem, it will originate from him.

He soon died, and Liu Yifu succeeded him (as Emperor Shao).

During Emperor Shaos reign

During Emperor Shao's mourning period, he had Xu and Fu handle important matters of state for him, while entrusting military matters to Xie. However, he soon became known for spending much time on frivolous matters with impertinent attendants, even during the three-year mourning period, and not on studies or important matters of state. Xu, Fu, and Xie became convinced that he was not a fit emperor, and considered deposing him. However, they had even lower opinions of Liu Yizhen, his oldest younger brother, so they first stoke the rivalry that Emperor Shao already had with Liu Yizhen and then accused Liu Yizhen of crimes. In 424, Emperor Shao reduced Liu Yizhen to commoner rank and exiled him.

Xu, Fu, and Xie then prepared to remove Emperor Shao as well. Because they were apprehensive about the powerful armies that Tan and Wang Hong had, they summoned Tan and Wang to the capital and then informed them of the plot. They then sent soldiers into the palace to arrest Emperor Shao, after first persuading the imperial guards not to resist. Before Emperor Shao could get up from bed in the morning, the soldiers were already in his bedchamber, and he made a futile attempt to resist, but was captured. He was sent back to his old palace. The officials then, in the name of Emperor Shao's mother Empress Dowager Zhang, declared Emperor Shao's faults and demoted him to Prince of Yingyang, offering the throne to his younger brother Liu Yilong the Prince of Yidu instead. Xu and Fu subsequently assassinated both Emperor Shao and Liu Yizhen, and it is unclear whether Xie participated in this decision. In order to counteract imperial authority, prior to Liu Yilong's arrival, made Xie the governor of Jing Province (荊州, modern Hubei) to replace Liu Yilong, with the intent that Xie and Tan can counteract against the emperor should the emperor act against them. Liu Yilong subsequently, after some deliberation, accepted the throne (as Emperor Wen).

During Emperor Wens reign

Xie tried to befriend Emperor Wen's trusted associate Dao Yanzhi (到彥之), to try to ensure his own safety, and initially, Dao accepted Xie's offer of friendship. Xie therefore felt secure. However, Emperor Wen was resentful that Xu, Fu, and Xie had killed his two older brothers, and in late 425 planned to destroy them, particularly at the urging of Wang Hua and the general Kong Ningzi (孔寧子). He therefore mobilized troops and publicly declared that he was going to attack rival Northern Wei, but was privately preparing to arrest Xu and Fu while engaging in a military campaign against Xie. In spring 426, rumors had leaked of such a plan, and so Xie began to prepare for armed resistance. Soon, Emperor Wen publicly issued an edict ordering that Xu, Fu, and Xie be arrested and killed, while issuing a separate edict summoning Xu and Fu to the palace. Xie's brother Xie Jiao (謝嚼) received news of this and quickly informed Fu, who in turned informed Xu. Xu committed suicide, while Fu was arrested and executed. Emperor Wen also executed Xie Hui's heir apparent Xie Shixiu (謝世休), who happened to be in Jiankang because Xie Hui's two daughters were marrying Emperor Wen's brother Liu Yikang the Prince of Pengcheng and cousin Liu Yibin (劉義賓) the Marquess of Xinye, and arrested Xie Jiao.

Emperor Wen, believing that Tan Daoji was not initially involved in the plot to depose and kill Emperor Shao and Liu Yizhen, summoned Tan to the capital and put him in command of the army against Xie Hui. He also summoned Wang Hong and made him the prime minister. Meanwhile, Xie Hui publicly mourned Xu and Fu and declared that all they did was for the empire, blaming Wang Hong, Wang Hong's brother Wang Tanshou (王曇首, a close associate of Emperor Wen), and Wang Hua for falsely accusing them, and demanding their execution.

Xie Hui had a powerful army, but while he thought that several other provincial governors would join him, they refused. He was initially able to defeat Dao's army, but soon Tan arrived, and Xie, fearful of Tan, did not know what to do. Tan quickly attacked him and defeated his fleet, and Xie fled back to Jiangling (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), the capital of Jing Province, and then fled with his brother Xie Dun (謝遯), but Xie Dun was so overweight that he could not ride a horse, and so they slowed down and were captured. He was then delivered to Jiankang and executed with Xie Jiao and Xie Dun, along with all of his nephews and major associates, although many of his associates were spared. His wife and other female members of his household were seized as servants, although they were pardoned several months later.

生平

謝晦初為建武將軍孟昶的中兵參軍。孟昶於義熙六年（410年）自殺身亡後，太尉司馬、丹楊尹劉穆之向時任太尉的劉裕推薦謝晦為太尉參軍。其時因刑獄參軍患病，謝晦於是代為處理訟案；雖然府中積壓了大量案件，但謝晦從沒有發生過錯誤，很得劉裕器重，並即以其署任刑獄賊曹。後轉豫州治中從事，並於義熙八年（412年）將推行土斷時將僑置郡縣的人口分至揚、豫二州，亦表現得公平允當。後謝晦又轉任太尉主簿。

義熙十一年（415年），劉裕討伐荊州刺史司馬休之，並命女婿振威將軍徐逵之偕參軍蒯恩、王允之、沈淵子等將兵一萬為前鋒。徐逵之等人與魯軌戰於破塚（今湖北江陵東南）曾遭魯軌擊敗，徐逵之、王允之及沈淵子都戰死。劉裕抵馬頭（今湖北公安西北）得知逵之戰死，大怒，而其時司馬休之部隊在江邊懸岸上列陣拒守，劉裕士兵都無法登岸。盛怒的劉裕要親自披帶盔甲登岸強攻，被謝晦死命抱住，劉裕就拔劍指著謝晦，說：「我殺了你！」謝晦回答：「天下可以沒有謝晦，卻不可沒有你呀，我死何足輕重！」其時胡藩成功登岸並擊退司馬休之守軍，劉裕於是命兵眾追擊，亦沒有殺謝晦。

義熙十二年（416年），劉裕讓謝晦隨軍北伐後秦，並將隨行軍中內外要務都交由謝晦處理，而建康留府就由劉穆之全權掌控。其時劉穆之曾數度派使者向劉裕陳述事務，而謝晦卻每每都有與劉穆之不同的意見，令劉穆之十分憤怒。劉裕打算讓謝晦轉任自己的從事中郎，但亦遭劉穆之堅決反對，故此一直都沒有升遷。義熙十三年（417年），劉穆之去世，當時仍在長安的劉裕聞訊後十分傷心，但謝晦卻十分高興，而在確定劉穆之去世的消息後，謝晦終於獲遷從事中郎。

義熙十四年（418年），劉裕受封宋公，以十郡建立宋國，謝晦任右衞將軍，不久加授侍中。永初元年（420年）劉裕篡晉稱帝時，在石頭設壇登位，然後移駕建康宮，謝晦則領游軍作警備隊。後轉任中領軍，並以開國元勳封武昌縣公。

後謝晦轉任領軍將軍、散騎常侍，入值殿省，統領宮中宿衞。永初三年（422年）劉裕去世，遺詔謝晦與徐羨之、傅亮及檀道濟同為顧命大臣。太子劉義符隨後繼位，即宋少帝，並加謝晦中書令，與徐羨之及傅亮三人共同輔政。景平二年（424年），因少帝居喪無禮，遊樂無道，謝晦因而與徐羨之及傅亮密謀廢黜皇帝。劉裕因晚年得子，都對長子劉義符十分寵愛，自封豫章郡公開始就一直以其作為儲嗣，不過劉義符長大後縱其志慾，小人常在身邊出現進讒，謝晦就曾向劉裕表示劉義符並非讓宋國流傳萬世的君主。劉裕於是問及廬陵王劉義真，然而謝晦去見他時見其非常積極的想與自己談話，都沒多回應，並對劉裕說：「德行不及其才，並不是當君主的人。」因廢帝以後按長幼應當以劉義真繼位，而在此時，他們就先廢劉義真為庶人。謝晦及後便聲稱府舍應該要裝修，命家人遷出，實質就空出府舍讓讓士兵聚集，然後就與檀道濟等人領兵入宮，並以皇太后名義下令廢劉義符為營陽王。徐羨之以宜都王劉義隆繼位，即宋文帝，而劉義符和劉義真於被廢後不久都被徐羨之派人暗殺。

時宋文帝擔任荊州刺史，徐羨之以荊州要地，恐怕皇帝即位後會將此職轉授其他人，於是以謝晦行都督荊湘雍益寧南北秦七州諸軍事、撫軍將軍、領護南蠻校尉、荊州刺史，想以謝晦作外援。當時荊州州府的精兵和舊將都由謝晦接收，兵器和軍需品都很充足。文帝即位後亦以此職正式授予謝晦，並加使持節。當時謝晦其實擔心未能成行，十分憂心惶恐，但知無礙並將從新亭出發時，他就回望石頭城，高興地道：「今天終得脫身了。」不久宋文帝更進謝晦為衞將軍，加散騎常侍，進封為建平郡公，但謝晦辭讓爵位。謝晦前往荊州之前，問蔡廓說：「吾其免乎？」，蔡廓告訴他：「廢昏立明，義無不可，但殺人二昆，而以北面，挾震主之威，據上流之重，以古推今，自免為難耳。」

謝晦到江陵後交結宋文帝的心腹王華，希望免於災劫，又將兩個女兒嫁給彭城王劉義康及新野侯劉義賓。其時宋文帝有意誅殺他及徐羨之和傅亮，故此借北伐為由修治船艦，不過當時朝中很多人都反對北伐，朝廷對於北伐問題的處理手法亦與慣常方式不同，幾乎令誅殺大臣的密謀敗露。不過至元嘉三年（426年）黃門侍郎謝㬭命人向謝晦報告皇帝要誅殺他們時，謝晦仍然不相信，更向諮議參軍何承天展示傅亮寫他的書信，說皇帝會派萬幼宗來詢問北伐事宜。然而何承天則表示西討謝晦的傳言幾乎人盡皆知，萬幼宗是不會前來。謝晦聽後仍然不信，更命何承天起草答詔，說應待明年才北伐。不久江夏內史程道惠獲得了一封尋陽人的書信，寫著「朝廷將要有大決策，事情已經確定了。」於是命中兵參軍樂冏將書信交給謝晦。謝晦還在遲疑，而何承天知事態嚴重，叫謝晦不要再猶豫了。謝晦因而恐懼，向何承天問計，何承天以逃出國境為上計，而命心腹屯兵義陽，謝晦親身領兵守夏口，一旦戰敗就從義陽北走國外為次計。謝晦以荊州是用兵之地，糧食供應方便，於是打算與朝廷決戰。於是下令戒嚴，並命南蠻司馬周超為南義陽太守，守義陽以防備雍州刺史劉粹。

不久，宋文帝就下詔追究謝晦與徐羨之及傅亮三人廢殺宋少帝及廬陵王劉義真的罪行，隨後更誅除了徐羨之及傅亮，收捕了謝㬭及殺了謝晦身在建康的兒子謝世休。樂冏向謝晦報告徐羨之、傅亮及謝㬭等人已被殺，謝晦就為他們發喪，並且上表皇帝稱徐羨之等人忠貞蒙冤，並指王華、王弘及王曇首等人向文帝進讒，自己要舉兵討伐三人。當時益州刺史蕭摹之及巴西太守劉道產都被徵還，經過江陵時即被謝晦所捕，所有的財物都被沒收以作軍用，留弟謝遯總管留任，接著就率二萬兵自江陵出發。當時艦隊自江津延伸至破塚，旌旗相接，謝晦就感歎：「可恨這不是勤王的軍隊！」而宋文帝則派了到彥之及檀道濟領兵西上。當日謝晦與徐羨之及傅亮廢少帝時為了自保，於是計劃以謝晦佔據長江上游，以檀道濟佔據廣陵，各自坐擁強兵用以制約朝廷，而徐羨之與傅亮就在朝廷中樞掌權。而在徐羨之與傅亮都被誅殺後，謝晦也預計檀道濟不能獨善其身，可是宋文帝卻以檀道濟率軍討伐自己，故此惶恐而想不到計策。其時到彥之已到彭城洲，庾登之於巴陵（今湖南岳陽）畏懦不進，反命人將茅草放進大袋中並掛在船上，說要等大雨停後對對方船艦施以火攻。謝晦聽從並下令大軍停止前進十五日，又命中兵參軍孔延秀進攻彭城洲，擊敗守將蕭欣，後又攻陷洲口柵，逼到彥之退保隱圻。

檀道濟與到彥之會合，牽引船艦到岸邊沿岸排列。謝晦見船艦不多，不免輕敵，未立即出戰，到了晚上，在岸邊列隊的船隊連接不斷，封鎖長江，謝晦軍更無鬥志。大軍到忌置洲（今湖北洪湖西南長江北岸）尾時，謝晦軍不戰自潰。謝晦夜奔江陵，當時周超卻已在沙橋大敗劉道濟與討伐軍主力沈敞之的軍隊，謝晦到後向周超道歉。周超捨棄軍隊隻身向到彥之投降。謝晦見部眾潰散，只得帶著謝遯等人北逃，可是謝遯體胖，無法騎馬，拖慢了速度，最終被在安陸延頭（今湖北大悟東南）被光順之抓住，並被押到建康（今江蘇南京）。謝晦於是就與謝㬭、謝遯、侄兒謝世基、謝世猷及周超、費愔等人同被處死，享年三十七歲。

著有表檄三篇及《悲人道》、《續世基詩》等。

家庭

祖父

• 謝朗，東晉東陽太守。

父

• 謝重，東晉會稽王司馬道子驃騎長史。

兄弟姐妹

• 謝絢，東晉時劉裕鎮軍長史

• 謝瞻

• 謝月鏡，謝重女，嫁王愔之

• 謝㬭，南朝宋黃門侍郎

• 謝遁

• 謝遯

子女

• 謝世休

• 謝氏，將嫁彭城王劉義康

• 謝氏，將嫁新野侯劉義賓

注釋

參考書目

• 《宋書》卷四十四《謝晦傳》