Introduction
Sun Huan (孫桓), courtesy name Shuwu (叔武), was an Eastern Wu general and clansman from Fuchun in Wu Commandery, the third son of Sun He (孙河). The Wu shu says he was “dignified in appearance, clear in mind, widely learned and strong in memory, and able to discuss and respond”; Sun Quan often called him “the Yan Yuan of the imperial clan” (宗室顏淵). In 219 he followed Lü Meng, Jiang Qin, and Pan Zhang in the campaign against Guan Yu, attacked at Huarong, and received the surrender of Guan Yu’s remaining troops—five thousand men and many oxen, horses, and weapons. In 222, aged twenty-five, he was made General of the Household for Pacifying the East (安東中郎將) and followed Lu Xun against Liu Bei. He led a force to Yidao to attack Liu Bei’s vanguard but was surrounded by Liu Bei’s army. He asked Lu Xun for help; Lu Xun refused, saying that Sun Huan had his men’s trust, the walls were solid and grain sufficient, and that when his own plan was applied the siege would lift without rescue. After Lu Xun’s counterattack broke Liu Bei, Sun Huan joined in the pursuit and cut off Liu Bei’s escape, nearly capturing him. Liu Bei sighed: “When I first came to the capital, Huan was still a child—now he has driven me to this!” Sun Huan was promoted to General Who Builds Martial Might (建武將軍), enfeoffed Marquis of Dantu (丹徒侯), and put in charge of Niuzhu (牛渚) and the building of the Hengjiang fort (橫江塢). He died in the same period, aged twenty-six. Chen Shou wrote that the Sun clansmen “could bear their responsibilities and did not disgrace their honours.”
Biography
“The Yan Yuan of the imperial clan”
Sun Huan was from Fuchun (富春), Wu Commandery. He was the third son of Sun He (孙河). The Wu shu (吳書) says he was “dignified in appearance, clear in mind, widely learned and strong in memory, and able to discuss and respond” (儀容端正，器懷聰明，博學強記，能論議應對). Sun Quan often called him “the Yan Yuan of the imperial clan” (宗室顏淵).
Campaign against Guan Yu (219)
In Jian’an 24 (219), Sun Huan followed Lü Meng, Jiang Qin, Pan Zhang, and others in the attack on Guan Yu (Xiangfan / Jiangxia campaign). At Huarong (華容) he attacked and later received the surrender of Guan Yu’s remaining troops—five thousand men and large numbers of oxen, horses, and equipment.
Yiling (222): besieged at Yidao, then cutting off Liu Bei
In the first year of Huangwu (222), Sun Huan was twenty-five. He was made General of the Household for Pacifying the East (安東中郎將) and followed Lu Xun against Liu Bei’s invasion. Liu Bei led a large army; the hills were full of Shu troops. Sun Huan went to Yidao (夷道) to attack Liu Bei’s vanguard but was surrounded by Liu Bei’s forces. He sent to Lu Xun for help. Lu Xun said he would not send relief. The other generals said: “Sun Andong [Sun Huan] is a clansman; he is under siege—why not rescue him?” Lu Xun said: “Andong has his soldiers’ trust; the walls are solid and grain is sufficient. There is no cause for worry. When my plan is put into effect, even if I do not rescue him, his siege will be lifted.” When Lu Xun’s strategy was applied, Liu Bei’s army indeed collapsed. Sun Huan later said to Lu Xun: “I did resent your not coming to save me; only today do I see that you had your own way of directing things.” Sun Huan joined Lu Xun and the rest in defeating the Shu army. Liu Bei fled; Sun Huan cut off his route and came close to capturing him. Liu Bei had to take to the hills to escape and said in anger: “When I first came to the capital, Huan was still a child—now he has driven me to this!” (吾昔初至京城，桓尚小兒，而今迫孤乃至此也.)
Post-Yiling and death
For his merit Sun Huan was made General Who Builds Martial Might (建武將軍) and enfeoffed Marquis of Dantu (丹徒侯). He was put in charge of Niuzhu (牛渚) and oversaw the building of the Hengjiang fort (橫江塢). He died in the same period (aged twenty-six per Baidu; SGZ does not give exact age). Sun Huan’s cousin Sun Shao (孙韶) was the son of Sun He’s brother (Sun He had been adopted into the Yu family; Sun Shao was originally surnamed Yu).
Personality and traits
Sun Huan was “dignified in appearance, clear in mind, widely learned and strong in memory.” He won his troops’ trust; Lu Xun said “Andong has his soldiers’ trust; the walls are solid and grain is sufficient.” After Yiling he acknowledged to Lu Xun that he had resented not being rescued but now saw that Lu Xun had had a plan.
Political achievements
Under Sun Quan: 219 campaign against Guan Yu (Huarong, received surrender of 5,000 and equipment); 222 General of the Household for Pacifying the East; Yiling (Yidao, besieged then joined pursuit, nearly captured Liu Bei); General Who Builds Martial Might, Marquis of Dantu; command at Niuzhu, building of Hengjiang fort; died 223.
Relationships
Sun He (孙河)
Sun Huan was Sun He’s third son. Sun He was killed in 204; Sun Shao (Sun He’s nephew, né Yu) succeeded to his troops. Sun Huan’s elder brothers Sun Zhu (孙助) and Sun Yi (孙宜) died early; his younger brother was Sun Jun (孙俊).
Lu Xun
At Yiling, Sun Huan was surrounded at Yidao and asked Lu Xun for help; Lu Xun refused, confident that Sun Huan could hold and that the overall plan would relieve him. After the victory Sun Huan told Lu Xun he had resented it at first but now understood.
Sun Quan
Sun Quan called Sun Huan “the Yan Yuan of the imperial clan” and gave him command and enfeoffment after Yiling.
Anecdotes and allusions
“When I first came to the capital, Huan was still a child”
After Sun Huan cut off his escape at Yiling, Liu Bei said: “吾昔初至京城，桓尚小兒，而今迫孤乃至此也”—“When I first came to the capital, Huan was still a child—now he has driven me to this!”
Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the novel, Sun Huan appears at Yiling with Zhu Ran, defending Zigui; they are driven back by Guan Xing and Zhang Bao. After Lu Xun becomes chief commander he continues the defence at Yiling. Sun Huan does not die in the novel as in history.
Achievements
Documented achievements include: 219 Huarong (surrender of Guan Yu’s 5,000 and equipment); 222 General of the Household for Pacifying the East; Yiling (Yidao besieged, then pursuit, nearly captured Liu Bei); General Who Builds Martial Might, Marquis of Dantu; Niuzhu, Hengjiang fort.
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Sun Huan’s biography is in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三國志), “Biographies of the Imperial Clan” (吳書·宗室傳), in the same scroll as Sun Jing, Sun Yu, Sun Jiao, Sun Huan, and others (卷五十一). Sun He (孙河) was originally surnamed Yu (俞) and was adopted into the Sun family; his nephew Sun Shao (孙韶) also received the surname Sun from Sun Ce. Chen Shou’s closing remark on the clan: “To be kin and show kindness and duty is the constant of past and present. The poet spoke of ‘the ancestral sons as wall.’ How much more these Suns—some aided the founding, some guarded the borders—they could bear their tasks and did not disgrace their honours.”
Historical evaluations
Liu Bei
“When I first came to the capital, Huan was still a child—now he has driven me to this!”
Sun Quan
Called Sun Huan “the Yan Yuan of the imperial clan.”
Lu Xun
“Andong has his soldiers’ trust; the walls are solid and grain is sufficient—there is no cause for worry.”
Legacy
Sun Huan is remembered as a young Wu clansman who held Yidao under siege at Yiling, then with Lu Xun routed Liu Bei and nearly captured him, prompting Liu Bei’s famous remark about “when Huan was still a child.”
See also
- Sun Quan — lord
- Lu Xun — Yiling chief commander; did not relieve Sun Huan at Yidao
- Lü Meng — 219 campaign against Guan Yu
- Sun Shao — cousin (Sun He’s nephew)
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), “Biographies of the Imperial Clan” (吳書·宗室傳).
- Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義), chapters on Yiling.