《北史·列传·卷四十二》
东魏天平时，他的叔父司马子如在朝廷参与枢机，膺之既然是宰辅的侄子，又兼有名望，所以同他交游的，都是当时的名流大家。
天平中，叔父子如执钧当轴。膺之既宰相犹子，兼自有名望，所与游集，尽一时名流。
During the Eastern Wei Heavenly Peace era, his uncle, Sima Zirou, was involved in the key affairs of the imperial court, and as Yingzhi was both the nephew of a Prime Minister and had a reputation, therefore everyone who socialised with him was a famous and important figure of those times.