Sun Jing

Sun Jing (fl. 170 – 200s), courtesy name Youtai, was the younger brother of the general Sun Jian,[2] who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Provided the core of Sun Jian's army and he would help Sun Ce, Sun Jian's son and warlord, in conquest while he also took rank under Sun Quan, Sun Ce's younger brother and successor. However, he had limited active involvement in politics or military matters, as he remained in his home area to look after family interests in their home area. One of his children would make a play to rule, while other sons would serve with distinction under Sun Quan.[3][4]

Sun Jing
孫靜
General of the Household of Illustrious Righteousness (昭義中郎將)
In office
c. 200 (c. 200)–? (?)
Colonel of Vehement Martial Might
(奮武校尉)
In office
c. 196 (c. 196) – c. 200 (c. 200)
Personal details
BornUnknown[1]
Fuyang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
DiedUnknown
RelationsSee Eastern Wu family trees
Children
Parent
  • Sun Zhong (father)
OccupationGeneral
Courtesy nameYoutai (幼臺)
In this Chinese name, the family name is Sun.

Early life and service to Sun Jian

Sun Jing was from Fuchun County, Wu Commandery, which is around present-day Fuyang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang. In 184, Sun Jian was tasked with raising troops to fight the Yellow Turban Rebellion, gathering a thousand men from Xiapi and between the Huan and Si Rivers before joining with Zhu Jun.[5] Sun Jing raised 500-600 men from Wu Commandery, providing a sizeable portion of Sun Jian's force. Sun Jing's soldiers would provide the bodyguard and core of Sun Jian's army.[6][4][7] We don't know what role Sun Jing had in the campaigns that his older brother fought in, for the Eastern Han against rebels and then for the warlord Yuan Shu[5] as it was difficult for Wu historians to later reconstruct careers of officers during Sun Jian's time.[8] It isn't entirely clear when Sun Jing left and returned to Fuchun, but Rafe De Crespigny suggests it was when Sun Jian was killed at the Battle of Xiangyang in 191.[4]

Aid to Sun Ce

In 196, Sun Ce who had conquered Wu and half of Danyang focused his attention on Kuaiji which was under Wang Lang who had been there some time.[5][9] As Sun Ce marched through Wu, he requested that Sun Jing assist him, so Sun Jing led household forces to Qiantang.[10] Wang Lang had established his primary defences at the city of Guling to hold the Qiangtang River and saw off Sun Ce's repeated attempts to establish a bridgehead.[11][4] Sun Jing was able to use his local knowledge to propose a solution against the well entrenched Wang Lang.[12] Zhadu was a dozen or so kilometres south of Guling, another strategic point at the river, going there would allow them to come behind Wang Lang from the north, attacking where Wang Lang was not expecting it.[9][13] Sun Ce accepted the proposal and had extra campfires lit to disguise the fact that some soldiers were departing in the night[14] Sun Jing and Sun Ce reached Zhadu and attacked Wang Lang's camp at Gaoqian.[15] With Wang Lang taken by surprise, this gave Sun Ce's army a bridgehead, Wang Lang sent his ally Zhou Xin sent to oppose the Sun forces in their new position, but he killed in combat and Wang Lang fled.[9]

Sun Ce made his uncle Colonel of Vehement Martial Might (奮武校尉) and wanted to give him important responsibilities, but Sun Jing refused. Instead, he requested that he be assigned to their family home at Fuchuan, to tend to the family tombs and property, to defend the towns and villages he had grown up among. Sun Ce agreed,[16] so Sun Jing led his household troops back to Wu Commandery and spent the remainder of his life there.[4]

Death and sons

In 200, Sun Ce was assassinated and, as he lay dying, he chose his younger brother Sun Quan as successor. However, others considered their options and Jing's eldest son the General of the Household Who Settles Firmness (定武中郎將) Sun Gao/Hao (孫暠) was older than both Sun Ce and Sun Quan.[17] In charge of the garrison at Wucheng, he organized troops, which led to suspicions he was aiming for Kuaiji[18][17] but Yu Fan ensured the area was well-prepared and warned Sun Gao off, declaring the officials would remain loyal.[19][20][21] Sun Gao withdrew with his soldiers, his career seems to have ended, and he was likely forced back to his home.[17]

Despite all, this Sun Quan appointed Sun Jing to General of the Household of Illustrious Righteousness (昭義中郎將) but as before, Sun Jing remained in his home area and took up no official duties.[4][22] Sun Jing's year of death is not properly recorded, though Rafe De Crespigny suggests he didn't live long after Sun Quan came to power,[21] but his title was passed on to his heirs, and his family remained of import. Sun Jing was survived by his five sons: the disgraced Sun Gao, Sun Yu, Sun Jiao, Sun Huan and Sun Qian.[23] His grandsons Sun Jun and Sun Chen would become powerful regents in the dynasty after Sun Quan's death.

Family
Main article: Eastern Wu family trees § Sun Jing

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The 14th century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong has Sun Jian independent of Yuan Shu and a warlord in his own right rather than a subordinate general. He allied with Yuan Shu to attack Liu Biao and as he prepared to leave, Sun Jing gathered Jian's family to protest, arguing that the south was at peace and no need to attack another over an insult. Sun Jian was ambitious for more than the south and goes, he was killed in the ensuing campaign.

He helped Sun Ce against Wang Lang, suggesting they attack the supply depot which Wang Lang would not expect, a plan Sun Ce was delighted with. Wang Lang grew suspicious and pursued but was destroyed by Sun Ce's ambush, Sun Jing was ordered to garrison the eastern lands in the south. When Sun Ce died, oversaw the burial of the young warlord on the orders of Zhang Zhao.

See also

References
  1. Although Sun Jing's birth year is not recorded, he was younger than his brother Sun Jian who was born in c.155, and his second son Sun Yu was born in 177. Therefore, Sun Jing's birth year should be between 155 and 163.
  2. (孙静字幼台，坚季弟也。) Sanguozhi, vol.51
  3. Sanguozhi vol.51.
  4. De Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms 23–220 AD. Leiden: Brill. p. 770. ISBN 978-90-04-15605-0.
  5. Sanguozhi vol.46.
  6. 堅始舉事，靜糾合鄉曲及宗室五六百人以為保障，眾咸附焉 Sanguozhi vol.51.
  7. De Crespigny, Rafe (1997). Generals Of The South: The Foundation And Early History Of The Three Kingdoms State Of Wu (2018 ed.). pp. 74, 90. ISBN 9780731509010.
  8. De Crespigny, Rafe (1997). Generals Of The South: The Foundation And Early History Of The Three Kingdoms State Of Wu (2018 ed.). pp. 426–428. ISBN 9780731509010.
  9. De Crespigny, Rafe (1997). Generals Of The South: The Foundation And Early History Of The Three Kingdoms State Of Wu (2018 ed.). pp. 129–131. ISBN 9780731509010.
  10. 策破劉繇，定諸縣，進攻會稽，遣人請靜，靜將家屬與策會于錢唐 Sanguozhi vol.51.
  11. 是時太守王朗拒策於固陵，策數度水戰，不能克。Sanguozhi vol.51.
  12. De Crespigny, Rafe (1996). To Establish Peace. Australian National University: the Asian Studies Monographs. p. 202. ISBN 0 7315 2526 4.
  13. 靜說策曰：「朗負阻城守，難可卒拔。查瀆南去此數十里，[查音祖加反。]而道之要徑也，宜從彼據其內，所謂攻其無備、出其不意者也。吾當自帥眾為軍前隊，破之必矣。」Sanguozhi vol.51.
  14. 至昏暮，羅以然火誑朗，便分軍夜投查瀆道，襲高遷屯 Sanguozhi vol.51
  15. 至昏暮，羅以然火誑朗，便分軍夜投查瀆道，襲高遷屯
  16. (表拜静为奋武校尉，欲授之重任，静恋坟墓宗族，不乐出仕，求留镇守。策从之.) Sanguozhi vol.51
  17. De Crespigny, Rafe (2007). A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms 23–220 AD. Leiden: Brill. p. 767. ISBN 978-90-04-15605-0.
  18. 吳書曰：策薨，權統事。定武中郎將暠，策之從兄也，屯烏程，整帥吏士，欲取會稽 Wushu in Sanguozhi vol.57.
  19. 會稽聞之，使民守城以俟嗣主之命，因令人告諭暠 Wushu in Sanguozhi vol .57.
  20. 會稽典錄載翻說暠曰：「討逆明府，不竟天年。今攝事統眾，宜在孝廉，翻已與一郡吏士，嬰城固守，必欲出一旦之命，為孝廉除害，惟執事圖之。」於是暠退。Kuaiji Dianlu in Sanguozhi vol.57.
  21. De Crespigny, Rafe (1997). Generals Of The South: The Foundation And Early History Of The Three Kingdoms State Of Wu (2018 ed.). p. 70. ISBN 9780731509010.
  22. 權統事，就遷昭義中郎將，終於家 Sanguozhi vol.51.
  23. (有五子，暠、瑜、皎、奂、谦) Sanguozhi, vol.51
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