Sima Hui (simplified: 司馬徽, traditional: 司馬徽, pinyin: Sīmǎ Huī), courtesy name Decao (德操), was a recluse and scholar in Jing Province, known by the nickname Water Mirror (水鏡 Shuǐjìng). He lived in the Xiangyang area and was skilled at judging character. Zhuge Liang’s biography records that Sima Hui and Xu Shu recognised Zhuge Liang’s talents and called him ‘Crouching Dragon’ (卧龙 Wòlóng), while Pang Tong was known as ‘Young Phoenix’ (凤雏 Fèngchú). In 207 Liu Bei learned of Zhuge Liang’s reputation from Xu Shu and Sima Hui and made the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage to recruit him. Sima Hui is often portrayed as the figure who pointed Liu Bei toward Zhuge Liang with the phrase that the “Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix” could secure the realm. Pang Tong visited him around age twenty and received the praise “crown of southern scholars.” His death date is not recorded.
Sima Hui 司馬徽 Decao 德操
Reclusive scholar of Jing Province known as 'Water Mirror'; recommended Zhuge Liang as 'Crouching Dragon' and Pang Tong as 'Young Phoenix' to Liu Bei; his praise helped Liu Bei recruit Zhuge Liang.