Pei Xingyan was a general during the
Sui dynasty
The Sui dynasty ( ) was a short-lived Dynasties of China, Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618. The re-unification of China proper under the Sui brought the Northern and Southern dynasties era to a close, ending a prolonged peri ...
who was known for his superior fighting skills on the battlefield. He was also a highly celebrated warrior in popular culture and traditional Chinese dramas.
In history
Pei Xingyan was the son of
Pei Renji, a general of the
Sui dynasty
The Sui dynasty ( ) was a short-lived Dynasties of China, Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618. The re-unification of China proper under the Sui brought the Northern and Southern dynasties era to a close, ending a prolonged peri ...
during
Emperor Yang's reign. He was born with great strength and acquired superb fighting skills when he was young. He served in the Sui army under general
Zhang Xutuo and suppressed several peasant uprisings in the northern plains.
After Zhang Xutuo was defeated and killed in a battle against
Wagang Army, Pei Xingyan and his father Renji surrendered to Wagang. The leader of Wagang Army,
Li Mi, appointed Xingyan to be Shang-Zhuguo () and gave him the title Duke of Jiang County (绛郡公). Along with
Qin Shubao,
Cheng Yaojin and
Luo Shixin, Pei Xingyan became one of the four most trusted generals under Li Mi.
In 618, a war broke out between Li Mi's Wagang Army and the warlord
Wang Shichong
Wang Shichong (; 567– August 621), courtesy name Xingman (行滿), was a Chinese military general, monarch, and politician during the Sui dynasty who deposed Sui's last emperor Yang Tong and briefly ruled as the emperor of a succeeding state ...
. During the war, Wang Shichong sent his men to attack
Yanshi
Yanshi District () is a district in the prefecture-level city of Luoyang in western Henan province, China. Yanshi lies on the Luo River and is the easternmost county-level division of Luoyang.
History
After the Zhou conquest of Shang in mid-11t ...
, which was guarded by
Shan Xiongxin. Shan Xiongxin did not have many troops and could not hold the city. Li Mi thus sent Cheng Yaojin and Pei Xingyan to reinforce Shan Xiongxin. Outside of Yanshi, Cheng and Pei were attacked by Wang Shichong's men, and Pei was shot by an arrow and was almost killed. He was saved by Cheng Yaojin.
Soon after this, however, Li Mi was completely defeated by Wang Shichong and submitted to the
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
. Pei Xingyan and his father Renji were trapped near Luoyang and had to submit to Wang Shichong. In 619, Wang Shichong claimed to be the Emperor of Zheng. He appointed Pei Renji to be the chief minister of the Ministry of Rites under his reign, and Pei Xingyan to be Left Vice General-in-chief.
Pei Xingyan fought in several battles for Wang Shichong. He was so strong and brave that his enemies gave him the nickname of Wanrendi (). However, Wang Shichong was a suspicious and jealous person. He thought that Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan would submit to Tang dynasty some day and would become his enemy. Therefore, Wang Shichong planned to assassinate the Pei family. Noticing the plan of Wang Shichong, Pei Renji, Pei Xingyan and their allies proposed a mutiny in order to escape from Luoyang and reinstall the Sui dynasty. Unfortunately, their plan was exposed before their action. Wang Shichong executed Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan in Luoyang. All their family members were wiped out except for Xingyan's younger brother
Xingjian who was less than one year old at that time and somehow survived in this tragedy.
In popular culture
Pei Xingyan is known as
Pei Yuanqing in popular culture and is known as the third strongest warrior during the Sui dynasty. People believe that he is the reincarnation of
Nezha.
['' (Story of Tang)'' Chapter 31: 茂公道：“臣算阴阳，今日巡天都太保、八臂膊哪叱临凡，第三条好汉杀来了，瓦岗城内这些大小将官不经打。] His weapons are a pair of silver hammers. He originally served in the Sui army. Due to the circumvention of his political opponents, he submitted to the Wagang Army with his father Pei Renji. During the battle at Hongni Pass, Pei Yuanqing was ambushed and killed by Xin Wenli with explosive powders.
Family
Notable ancestors:
*
Feizi: Founder of
State of Qin
Qin (, , or ''Ch'in'') was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. It is traditionally dated to 897 BC. The state of Qin originated from a reconquest of western lands that had previously been lost to the Xirong. Its location at ...
in ancient times
*Pei Zhen: A noble man in
Spring and Autumn period
The Spring and Autumn period () was a period in History of China, Chinese history corresponding roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou (256 BCE), characterized by the gradual erosion of royal power as local lords nominally subject t ...
*Pei Mao: A mid-ranked official in the central court of
Han dynasty
The Han dynasty was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China (202 BC9 AD, 25–220 AD) established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC ...
*Pei Weng: Chancellor in
Jin dynasty
*Pei Shuanghu: Guard of Hedong Prefecture in
Northern Wei
Wei (), known in historiography as the Northern Wei ( zh, c=北魏, p=Běi Wèi), Tuoba Wei ( zh, c=拓跋魏, p=Tuòbá Wèi), Yuan Wei ( zh, c=元魏, p=Yuán Wèi) and Later Wei ( zh, t=後魏, p=Hòu Wèi), was an Dynasties of China, impe ...
dynasty
Great Grandfather:
*Pei Bofeng: Duke of Langya Prefecture and governor of Fenzhou in
Northern Zhou
Zhou (), known in historiography as the Northern Zhou (), was a Xianbei-led Dynasties in Chinese history, dynasty of China that lasted from 557 to 581. One of the Northern and Southern dynasties#Northern dynasties, Northern dynasties of China's ...
dynasty
Grandfather:
*Pei Dinggao: Governor of Fengyi County in
Northern Zhou
Zhou (), known in historiography as the Northern Zhou (), was a Xianbei-led Dynasties in Chinese history, dynasty of China that lasted from 557 to 581. One of the Northern and Southern dynasties#Northern dynasties, Northern dynasties of China's ...
dynasty
Father:
*Pei Renji: Duke of Hedong Prefecture in
Sui dynasty
The Sui dynasty ( ) was a short-lived Dynasties of China, Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618. The re-unification of China proper under the Sui brought the Northern and Southern dynasties era to a close, ending a prolonged peri ...
Brother:
*
Pei Xingjian: General-in-chief of Right Guard Army; Duke of Wenxi Prefecture in
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
Nephews:
*Pei Zhenying: A general in Shaonan Fu
*Pei Yanxiu: County magistrate of Wenshui
*Pei Qingyuan: A low-ranked officer in the central court of
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
in charge of sacrificial ceremonies
*
Pei Guangting: Chancellor and the chief minister of Ministry of Personnel during
Emperor Xuanzong's reign
References
{{reflist
Sui dynasty
Transition from Sui to Tang
Sui dynasty people
619 deaths