Sun Kuang
Encyclopedia
Sun Kuang, style name
Jizuo (季佐), was the fourth son of the warlord Sun Jian
during the late Han Dynasty
period of Chinese history
. Upon his father's death, he fled to Jiangnan
with his elder brother, Sun Ce
, who was given succession as Marquis of Wucheng (烏程侯), but instead chose to give the position to Kuang in order to further his own military ambitions.
In order to cement an alliance with Sun Ce, then a rising power in the south and one of the most powerful warlords in the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao
proposed marriages between the Sun and Cao clans. Sun Kuang married the daughter of Cao Cao's general Cao Ren
, while the daughter of Sun Ce's older cousin Sun Ben
, was betrothed to Cao Cao's son Cao Zhang
. Sun Kuang played a role in the politics of the tumultuous era, though he had no significant military accomplishments or appointments to his name.
According to Sun Kuang's biography in Chen Shou
's Records of Three Kingdoms
, he was not tested militarily and died at a young age, though he did live long enough to father a son, Sun Tai, who in turn fathered Sun Xiu (孫秀). Sun Tai was shot by an arrow during Sun Quan
's siege of Hefei in 234. Sun Xiu defended Xiakou against the invading armies of the Jin Dynasty during the Conquest of Wu by Jin
, but eventually defected to the Jin Dynasty, which he served until his death.
It is worth noting that there are inconsistencies in the official histories of the era regarding an incident pertaining to Sun Kuang's younger half-brother, Sun Lang
. Jiangbiao Zhuan (江表傳) suggests that, while defending Dongkou
from Cao Xiu
, Sun Kuang accidentally burnt his camp and would have surely brought destruction upon Wu had the able generals Lü Fan
and Xu Sheng
not been there to make up for his blunder. However, as Pei Songzhi
argued in his annotations of Records of Three Kingdoms, Sun Kuang died several years before the incident and that it was Sun Lang who committed the blunder.
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Jizuo (季佐), was the fourth son of the warlord Sun Jian
Sun Jian
Sun Jian was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. 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...
during the late Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. Upon his father's death, he fled to Jiangnan
Jiangnan
Jiangnan or Jiang Nan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of the Yangtze Delta...
with his elder brother, Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
, who was given succession as Marquis of Wucheng (烏程侯), but instead chose to give the position to Kuang in order to further his own military ambitions.
In order to cement an alliance with Sun Ce, then a rising power in the south and one of the most powerful warlords in the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
proposed marriages between the Sun and Cao clans. Sun Kuang married the daughter of Cao Cao's general Cao Ren
Cao Ren
Cao Ren was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He played a significant part in assisting Cao Cao in the civil wars leading to the end of the Han Dynasty...
, while the daughter of Sun Ce's older cousin Sun Ben
Sun Ben
Sun Ben, style name Boyang , was the eldest son of Sun Qiang and older brother of Sun Fu. He was three years older than Sun Ce. He served Sun Jian first in the campaign against Dong Zhuo. After Sun Jian's death, he took control of the army and went to serve Yuan Shu. He would soon rejoin Sun Ce....
, was betrothed to Cao Cao's son Cao Zhang
Cao Zhang
Cao Zhang was the third son of the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Cao Zhang was said to have wrestled and killed wild animals with his bare hands...
. Sun Kuang played a role in the politics of the tumultuous era, though he had no significant military accomplishments or appointments to his name.
According to Sun Kuang's biography in Chen Shou
Chen Shou
Chen Shou was a historian during the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history. He is best known as the author of Records of Three Kingdoms, a historical account of the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period.-Biography:...
's Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms
Records of Three Kingdoms , is regarded as the official and authoritative historical text on the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history covering the years 184-280 CE. Written by Chen Shou in the 3rd century, the work combines the smaller histories of the rival states of Cao Wei , Shu Han and...
, he was not tested militarily and died at a young age, though he did live long enough to father a son, Sun Tai, who in turn fathered Sun Xiu (孫秀). Sun Tai was shot by an arrow during Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
's siege of Hefei in 234. Sun Xiu defended Xiakou against the invading armies of the Jin Dynasty during the Conquest of Wu by Jin
Conquest of Wu by Jin
The conquest of Wu by Jin was a military campaign launched by the Jin Dynasty against the state of Eastern Wu in 280 towards the end of the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, but eventually defected to the Jin Dynasty, which he served until his death.
It is worth noting that there are inconsistencies in the official histories of the era regarding an incident pertaining to Sun Kuang's younger half-brother, Sun Lang
Sun Lang
Sun Lang, style name Zao'an , was a son of the warlord Sun Jian during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a half-sibling of the other five known children of Sun Jian, all of whom were born to Sun's first wife Lady Wu.Sun Lang's misfortune occurred in 222,...
. Jiangbiao Zhuan (江表傳) suggests that, while defending Dongkou
Dongkou County
Dongkou is a county and a city in Hunan province in China. It has a population of approximately 790,000. It is under the jurisdiction of Shaoyang administration district....
from Cao Xiu
Cao Xiu
Cao Xiu was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. A distant nephew of Cao Cao, Cao Xiu was given special attention by the former, who once asserted him befitting...
, Sun Kuang accidentally burnt his camp and would have surely brought destruction upon Wu had the able generals Lü Fan
Lü Fan
Lü Fan , style name Ziheng , was an official of the state of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Biography:...
and Xu Sheng
Xu Sheng
Xu Sheng , style name Wenxiang , was a military general of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He fought in at least 5 wars for the southern regime during his lifetime...
not been there to make up for his blunder. However, as Pei Songzhi
Pei Songzhi
Pei Songzhi was commissioned by Emperor Wen of Liu Song to write a commentary on Chen Shou's Records of Three Kingdoms, providing additional detail omitted from the original work. His commentary, completed in 429, became integral to later editions of the Records, making the joint work three times...
argued in his annotations of Records of Three Kingdoms, Sun Kuang died several years before the incident and that it was Sun Lang who committed the blunder.
Family
- Father: Sun JianSun JianSun Jian was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. 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...
- Mother: Lady WuLady WuLady Wu was the wife of the warlord Sun Jian, who lived during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. She had five children: four sons, Sun Ce, Sun Quan, Sun Yi, Sun Kuang, and a daughter, Lady Sun...
- Siblings:
- Sun CeSun CeSun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
, older brother - Sun QuanSun QuanSun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
, older brother - Sun Yi, older brother
- Sun LangSun LangSun Lang, style name Zao'an , was a son of the warlord Sun Jian during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a half-sibling of the other five known children of Sun Jian, all of whom were born to Sun's first wife Lady Wu.Sun Lang's misfortune occurred in 222,...
, younger half-brother - Lady SunLady SunLady Sun, known as Sun Shangxiang in Chinese opera and contemporary culture, was a noble lady in the late Eastern Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. She was a daughter of Sun Jian and younger sister of the warlords Sun Ce and Sun Quan, who laid the foundation for the state of...
, sister
- Sun Ce
- Son: Sun Tai (孫泰)