Character Profile: Sun Jian 孫堅
| Pinyin Name: | Sūn Jiān / Sun1 Jian1 |  |
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| Wade-Giles Name: | Sun Chien | |
| Pronunciation (Yale): | Swen Jyan | |
| Hanzi/Kanji Name: |  |
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| Japanese Name: | Sonken | |
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| A.K.A: | "The Tiger of Jiang Dong" | |
| Lifespan: | 156-192 A.D. | |
| Allegiance: | Wu | |
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| First appeared in: | Dynasty Warriors 2 |
1 Sun Tzu: Sun Tzu is the author of The Art of War. Sun Jian claimed Sun Tzu was his ancestor; it's impossible to know if this is true. Back to table
2 & 3 Two Lady Wus: The two Lady Wus were sisters, and they both married Sun Jian. The elder bore his first four sons (including Sun Ce and Sun Quan), the second bore him another son and a daughter (Sun Shang Xiang). Back to table
4 Adopted son: In the Moss Roberts translation, Sun Jian's adopted son is called Sun Shao, but this is a mistake. This son came from the Yu family. Back to table
Biography based on the novel
Sun Jian was from Fu Chun in Wu
Early career
Sun Jian began his military career early. At age seventeen he outsmarted a band of pirates, for which he became famous in his area. Later, Sun Jian put down Xu Chang's revolt, earning him praise and promotions. When the Yellow Turban rebellion began, Jian raised 1,500 men to aid Zhu Jun. He put down yet another revolt in Jiang Xia, which earned him the governorship of Chang Sha.
The alliance against Dong Zhuo
When Cao Cao sent out a forged imperial decree inciting the people to rise up and exterminate Dong Zhuo, who had occupied the imperial capital, Sun Jian responded. He was one of the 18 Lords who marched on Luo Yang to strike down Dong Zhuo. In fact, he volunteered to be on the front line, but through the machinations of the jealous Yuan Shu (Yuan Shao's brother), his army was denied food supplies and Hua Xiong's forces mauled them. Following this, Dong Zhuo torched Luo Yang and moved the emperor to a new capital. Sun Jian camped in the ruins of the city, and by chance discovered the Imperial Seal, the symbol of imperial authority, in a well.
Sun Jian, certain that finding the seal meant he was destined to become emperor, intended to keep his find a secret, but one of his own men informed Yuan Shao of it. Yuan Shao ordered Jian to give him the seal, but Jian persisted in denying that he had it, swearing that "If I have this jewel and am hiding it myself, may my end be unhappy and my death violent!" He then left the alliance and headed home. Liu Biao intercepted him with an army, on Yuan Shao's orders, but Sun Jian escaped alive. He and Liu Biao became bitter enemies.
War against Liu Biao
Some time later, Sun Jian went to war with Liu Biao, despite advice and ill omens. Liu Biao's general Lu Gong enticed Sun Jian into an ambush, and Jian was killed by arrows and thrown rocks. Later, his son Sun Ce traded the prisoner Huang Zu to recover his father's body and bury it in the plains of Qu'e.
Novel Chapters
- First appearance; Yellow Turban Rebellion
- Alliance against Dong Zhuo
- The Imperial Seal found; the Alliance disperses; war with Liu Biao
- Sun Jian is ambushed and slain by Liu Biao
- Sun Jian's body is recovered by Sun Ce
Last updated: 17 April 2008.