Ling Tong

Ling Tong
凌統
Lieutenant-General (偏將軍)
In office
215 (215)–217 (217)
General of the Household Who Defeats Bandits (蕩寇中郎將)
In office
215
Chancellor of Pei (沛相)
(nominal)
In office
215
Colonel (校尉)
In office
209 (209)–215 (215)
Commandant of Vehemence (承烈都尉)
In office
208 (208)–209 (209)
Personal details
Born189[a]
Yuhang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Died217(aged 28)[a]
Children
  • Ling Lie
  • Ling Feng
Parent
OccupationMilitary general
Courtesy nameGongji (公績)

Ling Tong (pronunciation) (189–217),[a] courtesy name Gongji, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Sun Quan during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He started his service under Sun Quan when he was still a teenager and, throughout his entire life, had been contributing to the foundation and solidification of the state of Eastern Wu, which Sun Quan established in 229. He fought in numerous battles for his lord, including those against Huang Zu, Liu Bei and the Shanyue tribes, but is best known for his performance in the campaigns against Sun Quan's archrival Cao Cao, in which he displayed great skill and tact in extremely adverse situations.

Ling Tong was more than just a military serviceman – he received high praise from the scholar-gentry for his gracious demeanour, bonhomie and generosity.[5] Even though he had achieved fame and glory when he visited his hometown later in his life, he still treated commoners with utmost respect and humanity.[6] Behind the frontline, Ling Tong conceived a strategy for dealing with and pacifying the Shanyue tribes – impressing them with a show of military might and offering them potential rewards – which led to the Wu government successfully recruiting over 10,000 Shanyue soldiers into their army and maintaining relative stability in the region. Known for his integrity and loyalty, Ling Tong, along with Lü Meng, was among Sun Quan's most valued generals.[7]


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  1. ^ (... 會病卒,時年四十九。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  2. ^ (及凌統死,復領其兵。 ... 以隨陸遜破蜀軍於宜都, ...) Sanguozhi vol. 57.
  3. ^ Lu (1982).
  4. ^ Liang (2000).
  5. ^ (雖在軍旅,親賢接士,輕財重義,有國士之風。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  6. ^ (統素愛士,士亦慕焉。得精兵萬餘人,過本縣,步入寺門,見長吏懷三版,恭敬盡禮,親舊故人,恩意益隆。) Sanguozhi vol. 55.
  7. ^ (自創業功臣疾病,權意之所鍾,呂蒙、凌統最重,然其次矣。) Sanguozhi vol. 56.