Sun Jian

Sun Jian
孫堅
A Qing dynasty illustration of Sun Jian
General Who Destroys Barbarians
(破虜將軍)
(under Yuan Shu)
In office
190 (190)–191 (191)
MonarchEmperor Xian of Han
Inspector of Yu Province (豫州刺史)
(under Yuan Shu)
In office
190 (190)–191 (191)
MonarchEmperor Xian of Han
Preceded byKong Zhou
Administrator of Changsha (長沙太守)
In office
187 (187)–190 (190)
MonarchsEmperor Ling of Han
Emperor Xian of Han
Personal details
Born155
Fuchun County, Wu Commandery (around modern day Fuyang District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang)
Died191 (aged 36)[a]
Xiangyang
Spouse
Children
Parent
  • Sun Zhong (father)
RelativesSee Eastern Wu family trees
OccupationMilitary general, politician, warlord
Military service
AllegianceHan Empire
Guandong Coalition
Yuan Shu's forces
UnitSun Jian's forces
Battles/warsXu Chang's rebellion
Yellow Turban Rebellion
Liang Province Rebellion
Campaign against Dong Zhuo
Battle of Xiangyang
Names
Family name: Sun (孫)
Given name: Jian (堅)
Courtesy name: Wentai (文臺)
Posthumous name
Emperor Wulie (武烈皇帝)

Sun Jian (Chinese: 孫堅; pinyin: Sūn Jiān) (pronunciation) (155–191?[2]), courtesy name Wentai, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.[3] He allied himself with Yuan Shu in 190 when warlords from eastern China formed a coalition to oust Dong Zhuo, a tyrannical warlord who held the puppet Emperor Xian in his power. Although he controlled neither many troops nor much land, Sun Jian's personal bravery and resourcefulness were feared by Dong Zhuo, who placed him among Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu and Liu Biao as the most influential men at that time. After the coalition disbanded in the next year, China fell into civil war. In 191, Sun Jian was killed in battle during an offensive campaign against Liu Biao.

Sun Jian was also the father of Sun Quan, one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms era who eventually established the Eastern Wu state and declared himself its first emperor in 229, whereupon Sun Jian was given the posthumous title Emperor Wulie (武烈皇帝).

  1. ^ (吳錄曰:堅時年三十七。) Wu Lu annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 46.
  2. ^ There are discrepancies over Sun Jian's death date. See this section.
  3. ^ de Crespigny (2007), p. 769.


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