Sun Qian (died 214),, sometimes known as Sun Gan,

courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theob ...

Gongyou, was a Chinese diplomat and official serving under the warlord

Liu Bei Liu Bei (, ; ; 161 – 10 June 223), courtesy name Xuande (), was a warlord in the late Eastern Han dynasty who founded the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period and became its first ruler. Although he was a distant relative of the ...

in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. His talent was noted by the scholar

Zheng Xuan Zheng Xuan (127– July 200), courtesy name Kangcheng (), was a Chinese philosopher, politician, and writer near the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was born in Gaomi, Beihai Commandery (modern Weifang, Shandong), and was a student of Ma R ...

. So Liu Bei gave Sun Qian a position on his staff after he took Xu. Along with Jian Yong and

Mi Zhu Mi Zhu ( 165–221), courtesy name Zizhong, was a Chinese military general and politician who served under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty, during the Three Kingdoms period, after Liu Bei founded the state of Shu Han. He was a ...

, Sun Qian frequently served as an ambassador for Liu Bei, most notably to

Yuan Shao Yuan Shao (, ; died 28 June 202), courtesy name Benchu (), was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil wars that occurred t ...

and

Liu Biao Liu Biao () () (151 – September 208), courtesy name Jingsheng, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He is best known for serving as the Governor of Jing Province (coveri ...

. After Liu Bei took

Yi Province Yizhou (益州), Yi Province or Yi Prefecture, was a '' zhou'' (province) of ancient China. Its capital city was Chengdu.de Crespigny, p. 256. During the Han dynasty, it included the commanderies Hanzhong, Ba, Guanghan, Shu, Wenshan, Jianwei, ...

, Sun Qian was promoted and held a rank equal to Jian Yong.

Life

Sun Qian was from Beihai Commandery. He was recommended by the famed scholar

, a fellow Beihai man, to serve under

as an Assistant Officer (從事) when Liu Bei succeeded Tao Qian as the Governor (牧) of

Xu Province Xuzhou as a historical toponym refers to varied area in different eras. Ordinarily, it was a reference to the one of the Nine Provinces which modern Xuzhou inherited. History Pre-Qin era Xuzhou or Xu Province was one of the Nine Provinces of ...

in 194, an act said to have further added to Zheng Xuan's considerable reputation. He remained as a subordinate of Liu Bei from then on. In 199, when Liu Bei reestablished himself in Xu and broke free of Cao Cao's control, he sent Sun Qian to Cao Cao's major rival to the north

to seek support.. Events would not go Liu Bei, or Yuan Shao's way during the resulting camapign and in 201 Liu Bei had to abandon his position in Runan as Cao Cao arrived after defeating Yuan Shao. Liu Bei sent Sun Qian and

to the ruler of Jing

to successfully arrange refuge. Yuan Shao died 202 but leave a disputed succession that saw his sons turn on each other, Liu Biao wrote to Yuan Shao's third son and successor,

Yuan Shang Yuan Shang (died December 207), courtesy name Xianfu, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was the third son and successor of the warlord Yuan Shao. In the 14th-centu ...

, and mentioned the rivalry between Yuan Shang and his eldest brother

Yuan Tan Yuan Tan (died 205), courtesy name Xiansi, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who was the eldest son of Yuan Shao, a warlord who occupied much of northern China during the late Eastern Han dynasty. After Yuan Shao's death, Y ...

. Liu Biao wrote: "Whenever I discussed this issue (the rivalry between you and your brother) with General Liu (Liu Bei) and Sun Gongyou, I feel very upset and heartbroken." Both Liu Bei and Liu Biao highly regarded Sun Qian. In 214, after Liu Bei had successfully seized control of

(covering present-day

Sichuan Sichuan (; zh, c=, labels=no, ; zh, p=Sìchuān; alternatively romanized as Szechuan or Szechwan; formerly also referred to as "West China" or "Western China" by Protestant missions) is a province in Southwest China occupying most of the ...

and Chongqing) from its governor Liu Zhang and established his new base in

Chengdu Chengdu (, ; simplified Chinese: 成都; pinyin: ''Chéngdū''; Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ), alternatively romanized as Chengtu, is a sub-provincial city which serves as the capital of the Chinese pro ...

(Yi Province's capital), he promoted Sun Qian to General Who Upholds Loyalty (秉忠將軍). Liu Bei's treatment towards Sun Qian was equal to that of close aids Mi Zhu and Jian Yong but Sun Qian died not long after this promotion.

Appraisal

Chen Shou Chen Shou (; 233–297), courtesy name Chengzuo (), was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer who lived during the Three Kingdoms period and Jin dynasty of China. Chen Shou is most known for his most celebrated work, the '' Records of ...

, who wrote Sun Qian's biography, commented that: "Mi Zhu, Sun Qian, Jian Yong and Yi Ji were refined and cultured persons whose ideas were widely circulated. They were well known for their good observations of the proprieties."(麋笁、孫乾、簡雍、伊籍，皆雍容風議，見禮於世。) ''Sanguozhi'' vol. 38.

In ''Records In Plain Language''

Only appears once, helping raise volunteer troops for Liu Bei against the

Yellow Turbans The Yellow Turban Rebellion, alternatively translated as the Yellow Scarves Rebellion, was a peasant revolt in China against the Eastern Han dynasty. The uprising broke out in 184 CE during the reign of Emperor Ling. Although the main rebelli ...

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

Recommended by Tao Qian, on his death bed, to Liu Bei to assist the reluctant Liu Bei in running Xu. Warns Liu Bei, as he prepares to fight the invading

Yuan Shu Yuan Shu () (died July or August 199), courtesy name Gonglu, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty. He rose to prominence following the collapse of the Han central government in 189 ...

, that a trusted man needs to be in charge of Xiapi but Liu Bei's choice of

Zhang Fei Zhang Fei () (died July or August 221 AD), courtesy name Yide, was a military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China. Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, who were among the earlie ...

would end poorly with Xu falling into the hands of

Lü Bu Lü Bu () (died 7 February 199), courtesy name Fengxian, was a Chinese military general, politician, and warlord who lived during the late Eastern Han dynasty of Imperial China. Originally a subordinate of a minor warlord Ding Yuan, he betr ...

. In 196 recommends, to Zhang Fei's annoyance, seeking Lü Bu's help against another invasion from Yuan Shu, Liu Bei sends a letter and help arrives. When Liu Bei is attacked by the erratic warlord Lü Bu, recommends seeking help from Cao Cao and is assigned defense of Xiaopei's north gate, manages to escape when city falls and advises Liu Bei to seek refuge with Cao Cao. When Liu Bei rises in Xu against Cao Cao, acts as envoy to Yuan Shao and advises Liu Bei on how to set out defenses against Cao Cao. When the expected attack came, sent to seek help from Yuan Shao but Yuan Shao is in despair over his youngest Yuan Shang being unwell so makes no move, left in charge of Xiaopei but Xu falls to Cao Cao and Liu Bei's forces scatter. Sun Qian ends up in Runan where the Turbans Liu Pi and Gong Du take him in, acts as a spy on incoming Cao Cao force but is captured and taken to

Guan Yu Guan Yu (; ), courtesy name Yunchang, was a Chinese military general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. Along with Zhang Fei, he shared a brotherly relationship with Liu Bei and accompanied him on ...

with both men rather surprised to see each other in these circumstances. Informs Guan Yu that Liu Bei is with Yuan Shao, arranges Gong Du and Liu Pi to fake defeat to Guan Yu. When Guan Yu leaves and they retake Runan, sent to Yuan Shao to seek support, Yuan Shao sends Liu Bei but Sun Qian is not impressed by the divided state of Yuan Shao's camp and is sent by Liu Bei to warn Guan Yu not to go to Yuan Shao. Accompanies Guan Yu on his journey away from Cao Cao, helping guard Liu Bei's wives Lady Gan and Mi. When they find out Zhang Fei has established himself in Gucheng, Sun Qian goes to tell Zhang Fei and is rather surprised by Zhang Fei's response to arm himself and seek a fight with Guan Yu. Once Zhang Fei is calmed down, via the slaying of Cai Yong, Sun Qian goes with Guan Yu to Runan to see Liu Bei then Sun Qian goes north to see Liu Bei who had gone to talk to Yuan Shao. Liu Bei is reunited with his officers and his family but in 201 is driven out of Runan by Cao Cao's forces. Comforts a despairing Liu Bei that fortunes can turn and he could go to his well placed kinsman Liu Biao. Sent as envoy, he praises Liu Bei as a Han loyalist and hero in need of support and that Liu Bei, a kinsman famed for his courtesy, was where Sun Qian had advised Liu Bei to go rather then Sun Quan. Is met by strong objections by Cai Mao who is wary of Liu Bei's track record with other lords and that inviting Liu Bei would invite an attack from Cao Cao so suggests executing Sun Qian as a signal. Sun Qian says he is prepared to die for his lord and accuses Cai Mao of slander of a virtuous man, Liu Biao sides with Sun Qian and invites Liu Bei. After an attempt by Cai Mao to kill Liu Bei, it is Sun Qian who spots Liu Bei has been out of sorts and suspects some plot occurs, inquiries as to what has happened so Liu Bei reveals all. After another plot by Cai Mao at a festival, sent to bear a letter setting out what Cai Mao had done, argues against execution of the powerful Cai Mao for fear it would make Liu Bei's life difficult in Jing. Concerned when Liu Bei's first strategist

Xu Shu Xu Shu ( 207–220s), courtesy name Yuanzhi, originally named Xu Fu, was an official of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was born in the late Eastern Han dynasty and used to be a vigilante swordsman in his early ...

is going to Cao Cao, due to mother being at court, as Xu Shu's knows their secrets so suggests forcing Xu Shu to stay so the mother will be killed and Xu Shu would desire revenge on Cao Cao, Liu Bei refuses. During the flight at Changban Sun Qian is tasked with overseeing the evacuation of the populace that had chosen to follow Liu Bei then sent with Guan Yu and an escort to deliver message to Liu Biao's eldest son Liu Qi seeking help which duly arrives. After the allied victory at Chibi, sent to the victorious Eastern Wu commander

Zhou Yu Zhou Yu (, ) (175–210), courtesy name Gongjin (), was a Chinese military general and strategist serving under the warlord Sun Ce in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. After Sun Ce died in the year 200, he continued serving under Sun Quan, ...

to congratulate him and bring presents but Zhou Yu is able to learn from him where Liu Bei is positioned and anticipates Liu Bei is planning to take Nanjun which Zhou Yu also has an eye on. When Zhou Yu seeks to inveigle Liu Bei into a trap by arranging a marriage, Sun Qian is chosen as the envoy from Liu Bei's side and tries to reassure Liu Bei that rival ruler Sun Quan's intent is genuine (it was not), later pushes through the marriage as an early date as he can arrange to prevent mishaps and schemes. Zhang Fei is sent to investigate news of

Pang Tong Pang Tong () (179–214), courtesy name Shiyuan, was a key adviser to the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. In his youth, Pang Tong was disregarded because he was plain looking, however Sima Hui highly esteemed him call ...

getting drunk as head of Leiyang, Liu Bei also sends Sun Qian to act as a cooler head, Sun Qian persuading Zhang Fei to look deeper into the matter rather then just dismissing Pang Tong. Zhang Fei is won over when Pang Tong sorts out a hundred days of neglected work by mid-day and thanks Sun Qian for preventing a loss of such a talent. During the conquest of Yi, Liu Bei admires

Ma Chao Ma Chao () (176–222), courtesy name Mengqi, was a Chinese military general and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period of China. A descendant of the general Ma Yuan, Ma Chao was the eldest son of Ma ...

who had been sent by the theocratic warlord of Hanzhong Zhang Lu to help Liu Zhang, so Zhuge Liang sends Sun Qian. First to bribe the corrupt adviser Yang Song to get an audience then persuade Zhang Lu to order Ma Chao to stand down in exchange for backing Zhang Lu's claim to be Prince of Hanzhong. Ma Chao's refusal to obey the order to stand down leads to a split between Zhang Lu and Ma Chao with the latter alienated enough to soon join Liu Bei.

References

* Chen, Shou (3rd century). '' Records of the Three Kingdoms'' (''Sanguozhi''). * Pei, Songzhi (5th century). '' Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms'' (''Sanguozhi zhu''). {{DEFAULTSORT:Sun, Qian 214 deaths 2nd-century births Generals under Liu Bei Han dynasty generals from Shandong Han dynasty politicians from Shandong Liu Biao and associates Officials under Liu Bei Year of birth unknown Place of birth unknown

Life

Appraisal

In ''Records In Plain Language''

In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''

See also

References