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 (卢循) was making on the capital Jiankang, Liu Yu asked his chief assistant Liu Muzhi (刘穆之) 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 (司马休之) 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 (王华), 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 (刘义真) 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 (荆州, 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 (到彦之), 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 (孔宁子). 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 (谢嚼) 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 (谢世休), 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 (刘义宾) 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 (王昙首, 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 (谢遯), 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

谢晦初为建武将军孟昶的中兵参军。孟昶于义熙六年（410年）自杀身亡后，太尉司马、丹杨尹刘穆之向时任太尉的刘裕推荐谢晦为太尉参军。其时因刑狱参军患病，谢晦于是代为处理讼案；虽然府中积压了大量案件，但谢晦从没有发生过错误，很得刘裕器重，并即以其署任刑狱贼曹。后转豫州治中从事，并于义熙八年（412年）将推行土断时将侨置郡县的人口分至扬、豫二州，亦表现得公平允当。后谢晦又转任太尉主簿。

义熙十一年（415年），刘裕讨伐荆州刺史司马休之，并命女婿振威将军徐逵之偕参军蒯恩、王允之、沈渊子等将兵一万为前锋。徐逵之等人与鲁轨战于破冢（今湖北江陵东南）曾遭鲁轨击败，徐逵之、王允之及沈渊子都战死。刘裕抵马头（今湖北公安西北）得知逵之战死，大怒，而其时司马休之部队在江边悬岸上列阵拒守，刘裕士兵都无法登岸。盛怒的刘裕要亲自披带盔甲登岸强攻，被谢晦死命抱住，刘裕就拔剑指著谢晦，说：「我杀了你！」谢晦回答：「天下可以没有谢晦，却不可没有你呀，我死何足轻重！」其时胡藩成功登岸并击退司马休之守军，刘裕于是命兵众追击，亦没有杀谢晦。

义熙十二年（416年），刘裕让谢晦随军北伐后秦，并将随行军中内外要务都交由谢晦处理，而建康留府就由刘穆之全权掌控。其时刘穆之曾数度派使者向刘裕陈述事务，而谢晦却每每都有与刘穆之不同的意见，令刘穆之十分愤怒。刘裕打算让谢晦转任自己的从事中郎，但亦遭刘穆之坚决反对，故此一直都没有升迁。义熙十三年（417年），刘穆之去世，当时仍在长安的刘裕闻讯后十分伤心，但谢晦却十分高兴，而在确定刘穆之去世的消息后，谢晦终于获迁从事中郎。

义熙十四年（418年），刘裕受封宋公，以十郡建立宋国，谢晦任右衞将军，不久加授侍中。永初元年（420年）刘裕篡晋称帝时，在石头设坛登位，然后移驾建康宫，谢晦则领游军作警备队。后转任中领军，并以开国元勋封武昌县公。

后谢晦转任领军将军、散骑常侍，入值殿省，统领宫中宿衞。永初三年（422年）刘裕去世，遗诏谢晦与徐羡之、傅亮及檀道济同为顾命大臣。太子刘义符随后继位，即宋少帝，并加谢晦中书令，与徐羡之及傅亮三人共同辅政。景平二年（424年），因少帝居丧无礼，游乐无道，谢晦因而与徐羡之及傅亮密谋废黜皇帝。刘裕因晚年得子，都对长子刘义符十分宠爱，自封豫章郡公开始就一直以其作为储嗣，不过刘义符长大后纵其志欲，小人常在身边出现进谗，谢晦就曾向刘裕表示刘义符并非让宋国流传万世的君主。刘裕于是问及庐陵王刘义真，然而谢晦去见他时见其非常积极的想与自己谈话，都没多回应，并对刘裕说：「德行不及其才，并不是当君主的人。」因废帝以后按长幼应当以刘义真继位，而在此时，他们就先废刘义真为庶人。谢晦及后便声称府舍应该要装修，命家人迁出，实质就空出府舍让让士兵聚集，然后就与檀道济等人领兵入宫，并以皇太后名义下令废刘义符为营阳王。徐羡之以宜都王刘义隆继位，即宋文帝，而刘义符和刘义真于被废后不久都被徐羡之派人暗杀。

时宋文帝担任荆州刺史，徐羡之以荆州要地，恐怕皇帝即位后会将此职转授其他人，于是以谢晦行都督荆湘雍益宁南北秦七州诸军事、抚军将军、领护南蛮校尉、荆州刺史，想以谢晦作外援。当时荆州州府的精兵和旧将都由谢晦接收，兵器和军需品都很充足。文帝即位后亦以此职正式授予谢晦，并加使持节。当时谢晦其实担心未能成行，十分忧心惶恐，但知无碍并将从新亭出发时，他就回望石头城，高兴地道：「今天终得脱身了。」不久宋文帝更进谢晦为衞将军，加散骑常侍，进封为建平郡公，但谢晦辞让爵位。谢晦前往荆州之前，问蔡廓说：「吾其免乎？」，蔡廓告诉他：「废昏立明，义无不可，但杀人二昆，而以北面，挟震主之威，据上流之重，以古推今，自免为难耳。」

谢晦到江陵后交结宋文帝的心腹王华，希望免于灾劫，又将两个女儿嫁给彭城王刘义康及新野侯刘义宾。其时宋文帝有意诛杀他及徐羡之和傅亮，故此借北伐为由修治船舰，不过当时朝中很多人都反对北伐，朝廷对于北伐问题的处理手法亦与惯常方式不同，几乎令诛杀大臣的密谋败露。不过至元嘉三年（426年）黄门侍郎谢㬭命人向谢晦报告皇帝要诛杀他们时，谢晦仍然不相信，更向谘议参军何承天展示傅亮写他的书信，说皇帝会派万幼宗来询问北伐事宜。然而何承天则表示西讨谢晦的传言几乎人尽皆知，万幼宗是不会前来。谢晦听后仍然不信，更命何承天起草答诏，说应待明年才北伐。不久江夏内史程道惠获得了一封寻阳人的书信，写著「朝廷将要有大决策，事情已经确定了。」于是命中兵参军乐冏将书信交给谢晦。谢晦还在迟疑，而何承天知事态严重，叫谢晦不要再犹豫了。谢晦因而恐惧，向何承天问计，何承天以逃出国境为上计，而命心腹屯兵义阳，谢晦亲身领兵守夏口，一旦战败就从义阳北走国外为次计。谢晦以荆州是用兵之地，粮食供应方便，于是打算与朝廷决战。于是下令戒严，并命南蛮司马周超为南义阳太守，守义阳以防备雍州刺史刘粹。

不久，宋文帝就下诏追究谢晦与徐羡之及傅亮三人废杀宋少帝及庐陵王刘义真的罪行，随后更诛除了徐羡之及傅亮，收捕了谢㬭及杀了谢晦身在建康的儿子谢世休。乐冏向谢晦报告徐羡之、傅亮及谢㬭等人已被杀，谢晦就为他们发丧，并且上表皇帝称徐羡之等人忠贞蒙冤，并指王华、王弘及王昙首等人向文帝进谗，自己要举兵讨伐三人。当时益州刺史萧摹之及巴西太守刘道产都被徵还，经过江陵时即被谢晦所捕，所有的财物都被没收以作军用，留弟谢遯总管留任，接著就率二万兵自江陵出发。当时舰队自江津延伸至破冢，旌旗相接，谢晦就感叹：「可恨这不是勤王的军队！」而宋文帝则派了到彦之及檀道济领兵西上。当日谢晦与徐羡之及傅亮废少帝时为了自保，于是计划以谢晦占据长江上游，以檀道济占据广陵，各自坐拥强兵用以制约朝廷，而徐羡之与傅亮就在朝廷中枢掌权。而在徐羡之与傅亮都被诛杀后，谢晦也预计檀道济不能独善其身，可是宋文帝却以檀道济率军讨伐自己，故此惶恐而想不到计策。其时到彦之已到彭城洲，庾登之于巴陵（今湖南岳阳）畏懦不进，反命人将茅草放进大袋中并挂在船上，说要等大雨停后对对方船舰施以火攻。谢晦听从并下令大军停止前进十五日，又命中兵参军孔延秀进攻彭城洲，击败守将萧欣，后又攻陷洲口栅，逼到彦之退保隐圻。

檀道济与到彦之会合，牵引船舰到岸边沿岸排列。谢晦见船舰不多，不免轻敌，未立即出战，到了晚上，在岸边列队的船队连接不断，封锁长江，谢晦军更无斗志。大军到忌置洲（今湖北洪湖西南长江北岸）尾时，谢晦军不战自溃。谢晦夜奔江陵，当时周超却已在沙桥大败刘道济与讨伐军主力沈敞之的军队，谢晦到后向周超道歉。周超舍弃军队只身向到彦之投降。谢晦见部众溃散，只得带著谢遯等人北逃，可是谢遯体胖，无法骑马，拖慢了速度，最终被在安陆延头（今湖北大悟东南）被光顺之抓住，并被押到建康（今江苏南京）。谢晦于是就与谢㬭、谢遯、侄儿谢世基、谢世猷及周超、费愔等人同被处死，享年三十七岁。

著有表檄三篇及《悲人道》、《续世基诗》等。

家庭

祖父

• 谢朗，东晋东阳太守。

父

• 谢重，东晋会稽王司马道子骠骑长史。

兄弟姐妹

• 谢绚，东晋时刘裕镇军长史

• 谢瞻

• 谢月镜，谢重女，嫁王愔之

• 谢㬭，南朝宋黄门侍郎

• 谢遁

• 谢遯

子女

• 谢世休

• 谢氏，将嫁彭城王刘义康

• 谢氏，将嫁新野侯刘义宾

注释

参考书目

• 《宋书》卷四十四《谢晦传》