Liu Kun (Jin dynasty)

For the Chinese Minister of Finance, see Liu Kun.
In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.
Liu Kun
劉琨
Inspector of Bing Province (幷州刺史)
In office
306 (306)–316 (316)
MonarchEmperor Hui of Jin / Emperor Huai of Jin / Emperor Min of Jin
Personal details
Born271
Died22 June 318
SpouseLady Cui
RelationsLiu Yu (brother)
Sima Lun's daughter-in-law (sister)
ChildrenLiu Zun
Liu Qun
Parents
  • Liu Fan (father)
  • Lady Guo (mother)
OccupationMilitary general, poet
Courtesy nameYueshi (越石)
Posthumous nameMin (愍)
PeerageMarquis of Guangwu (廣武侯)

Liu Kun (271[1] – 22 June 318[2]), courtesy name Yueshi, was a Chinese military general and poet of the Jin dynasty. An esteemed writer during the early years of his career, he was also known for his time as the Inspector of Bingzhou, during which he spearheaded Jin's efforts in fighting back against the Xiongnu-led Han-Zhao dynasty. Despite his determination and active role in the war against Han, he lacked the sufficient military and administrative skills to quash the growing Han threat, suffering repeated defeats and having to heavily rely on his alliance with the Tuoba-Xianbei. He was eventually driven out from Bingzhou following a decisive defeat to Shi Le in 316 and fled to Youzhou, where he allied with the chieftain, Duan Pidi. After Pidi suspected him of betrayal, he was arrested and executed via strangulation in 318.

  1. ^ Liu Kun's biography in Book of Jin indicated that he was 48 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died. Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 271.
  2. ^ gui'chou day of the 5th month of the 1st year of the Da'xing era, per Emperor Yuan's biography in Book of Jin