Sun Jiao 孫皎 Shulang 叔朗

Contents

Introduction

Sun Jiao (孫皎), courtesy name Shulang (叔朗), was an Eastern Wu general and a cousin of Sun Quan. He was the third son of Sun Jing (Sun Jian’s younger brother). He first served as Colonel of the Guard (護軍校尉) with over two thousand troops; when Cao Cao repeatedly attacked Ruxu, Sun Jiao often went to resist and his unit was known as elite. He was later promoted to Chief Controller (都護) and General Who Conquers the Caitiffs (征虜將軍), succeeding Cheng Pu in command at Xiakou (夏口). When Huang Gai and his brother Sun Yu died, their troops were merged under Sun Jiao. He was given Shaxian, Yundu, Nanxinshi, and Jingling as his fief and could appoint his own officials. He was “light on wealth and able to give, good at making friends”; he was especially close to Zhuge Jin and promoted Liu Jing, Li Yun, Wu Shuo, and Zhang Liang. Once his men captured beautiful women from Wei’s border officials and offered them to him; Sun Jiao had them change clothes and sent them back, and ordered that only the Cao house was to be fought—“what crime have the common people?”—and that from then on the old and weak were not to be attacked. He once quarrelled with Gan Ning; Sun Quan wrote to reprove him and Sun Jiao apologised and became a firm friend of Gan Ning. In 219, when Lü Meng attacked Nan Commandery, Sun Quan made Lü Meng overall commander and Sun Jiao the rear; Sun Jiao contributed to the capture of Guan Yu and the pacification of Jing. He died the same year. Sun Quan enfeoffed his son Sun Yin as Marquis of Danyang. Chen Shou described him as “light on wealth and able to give, good at making friends.”

Biography

Early career and Ruxu

Sun Jiao was from Fuchun (富春), Wu Commandery, the third son of Sun Jing (孫靜), Sun Jian’s younger brother. He first served as Colonel of the Guard (護軍校尉), leading more than two thousand men. At the time Cao Cao repeatedly led troops against Ruxu; Sun Jiao often went to resist and was known as an elite force. Around Jian’an 20 (215), he was promoted to Chief Controller (都護) and General Who Conquers the Caitiffs (征虜將軍), replacing Cheng Pu in command at Xiakou (夏口). When Huang Gai and Sun Jiao’s elder brother Sun Yu (孫瑜) died, their armies were merged under Sun Jiao. He was granted Shaxian (沙羨), Yundu (雲杜), Nanxinshi (南新市), and Jingling (竟陵) as his fief and could set up his own officials there.

Character and policy toward civilians

Sun Jiao was “light on wealth and able to give, and good at making friends” (輕財能施，善於交結). He was on very good terms with Zhuge Jin. He put Liu Jing (劉靖) of Lujiang in charge of checking his subordinates’ conduct, Li Yun (李允) of Jiangxia in charge of general personnel, and Wu Shuo (吳碩) of Guangling and Zhang Liang (張梁) of Henan in charge of military arrangements; he treated them with full trust and they gave their best. On one occasion his troops captured Wei border officers and beautiful women and sent them to Sun Jiao. Sun Jiao had them change clothes and sent them back. He also gave an order: “What we punish today is the Cao house; what crime have the people? From now on, do not attack the old and weak.” Many in the Jiang–Huai region then turned to him.

Quarrel with Gan Ning and Sun Quan’s letter

Sun Jiao once had a dispute with Gan Ning. Someone urged Gan Ning to yield; Gan Ning said: “We are all subjects alike. The General Who Conquers the Caitiffs may be a kinsman, but why should he alone insult others? I serve an enlightened lord and should only exert myself to repay his favour—I cannot submit to the unreasonable like a common man.” When Sun Quan heard, he wrote to Sun Jiao: “We have been at odds with the north for ten years. When we first faced them you were still young; now you are nearly thirty. The Master said ‘at thirty one stands firm’—and not only in studying the classics. I gave you elite troops and a great task, to lead the generals a thousand li away, so that you would inspire awe in the northern border like Chu’s use of Zhao Xixu, not so you could indulge your will. I have heard that you drank with Gan Xingba, got drunk, and offended him, and he has asked to be put under Lü Meng. This man may be rough and not always agreeable, but he is still a real man. I value him—it is not favouritism. I value him and you keep him at a distance and dislike him; what you do often goes against what I do. Can this last? To treat people with respect at home and keep affairs simple is how to govern the people; to be kind and tolerant is how to win the crowd. If you understand neither, how can you lead an army far away and save the imperilled? You are grown now and have been given heavy responsibility; above, there are those who look to you from afar, below, your men are with you day and night—how can you lose your temper at will? Everyone errs; what matters is to reform. You should recall your past faults and blame yourself deeply. I have asked Zhuge Ziyu to convey my mind. Writing this, I am sad and tears fall with the brush.” Sun Jiao received the letter, submitted a memorial acknowledging his fault, and thereafter became a close friend of Gan Ning.

Jing campaign and death

In Jian’an 24 (219), Lü Meng attacked Nan Commandery. Sun Quan at first intended to make Sun Jiao and Lü Meng left and right chief commanders. Lü Meng memorialised: “If you think the General Who Conquers the Caitiffs can do it, use him; if you think Lü Meng can do it, use Lü Meng. In the past Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu were left and right chief commanders in the attack on Jiangling. Although the main decisions lay with Zhou Yu, Cheng Pu prided himself on being a veteran and both were chief commanders, so the two did not get on and nearly ruined the state—this is what we must guard against now.” Sun Quan saw the point and apologised to Lü Meng: “I make you chief commander and Sun Jiao the rear.” Sun Jiao took part in the campaign; he had a share in capturing Guan Yu and pacifying Jing. He died in the same year (219). Sun Quan posthumously recognised his merit and enfeoffed his son Sun Yin (孫胤) as Marquis of Danyang (丹楊侯). Sun Yin died without a son; his brother Sun Xi (孫晞) succeeded to the marquisate and the troops, but later committed a crime and committed suicide, and the fief was removed. Other sons Sun Zi (孫咨), Sun Mi (孫彌), and Sun Yi (孫儀) became generals and were enfeoffed. Sun Zi was Colonel of the Feather Forest (羽林督) and was killed by Teng Yin in 256; Sun Yi was Colonel of Wunan (無難督) and in 255 was executed for plotting to kill Sun Jun.

Personality and traits

Sun Jiao was “light on wealth and able to give, and good at making friends.” He promoted and trusted men like Liu Jing, Li Yun, Wu Shuo, and Zhang Liang. He refused to keep the captured Wei women and ordered that only the Cao house be fought and that the old and weak not be harmed. After Sun Quan’s letter he mended his relationship with Gan Ning.

Political achievements

Under Sun Quan: Colonel of the Guard (over 2,000 troops; resisted Cao at Ruxu); Chief Controller and General Who Conquers the Caitiffs; replaced Cheng Pu at Xiakou; merged Huang Gai and Sun Yu’s troops; fief of Shaxian, Yundu, Nanxinshi, Jingling (could set officials); 219 rear commander under Lü Meng (capture of Guan Yu, pacification of Jing); died 219.

Relationships

Sun Quan

Sun Quan gave Sun Jiao command at Xiakou and the merged troops of Huang Gai and Sun Yu. When Sun Jiao quarrelled with Gan Ning, Sun Quan wrote to reprove him; Sun Jiao apologised. For the Jing campaign Sun Quan made Lü Meng chief commander and Sun Jiao the rear. After Sun Jiao’s death he enfeoffed Sun Yin as Marquis of Danyang.

Lü Meng

In 219 Sun Quan initially wanted Sun Jiao and Lü Meng as joint chief commanders. Lü Meng argued that dual command had caused Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu to clash and asked for a single commander; Sun Quan made Lü Meng chief commander and Sun Jiao the rear.

Gan Ning

Sun Jiao quarrelled with Gan Ning (over drink); after Sun Quan’s letter Sun Jiao apologised and the two became close friends.

Zhuge Jin

Sun Jiao was on very good terms with Zhuge Jin. Sun Quan asked Zhuge Jin to convey his reproof to Sun Jiao in the Gan Ning matter.

Anecdotes and allusions

Returning the captured women

When Sun Jiao’s men sent him beautiful women captured from Wei border officials, he had them change clothes and sent them back, and ordered: “What we punish today is the Cao house; what crime have the people? From now on, do not attack the old and weak.”

Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical

Sun Quan’s letter (《孫權勸孫皎疏》)

Sun Quan’s letter reproving Sun Jiao for his quarrel with Gan Ning is preserved; it urges him to be respectful and tolerant and to avoid damaging the campaign by personal conflict. Sun Jiao submitted a memorial of apology and became a firm friend of Gan Ning.

Source: Records of the Three Kingdoms
Type: Historical

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In chapter 75, when Sun Quan is about to send Lü Meng to take Jing Province, he proposes Sun Jiao as deputy. Lü Meng objects that having two chief commanders had once caused Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu to be at odds and nearly harm the state. Sun Quan then makes Lü Meng chief commander and assigns Sun Jiao to supply and support in the rear.

Achievements

Documented achievements include: Colonel of the Guard (Ruxu resistance); Chief Controller and General Who Conquers the Caitiffs; command at Xiakou (replacing Cheng Pu); merger of Huang Gai and Sun Yu’s troops; fief of four counties; 219 rear commander in Lü Meng’s Jing campaign (capture of Guan Yu, pacification of Jing).

Behind the scenes

Historical sources

Sun Jiao’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 Jing’s sons were Sun Gao (孫暠), Sun Yu (孫瑜), Sun Jiao (孫皎), Sun Huan (孫奂), and Sun Qian (孫謙). The Jiankang shilu and other sources give 219 for Sun Jiao’s death. Sun Quan’s letter to Sun Jiao is known as 《孫權勸孫皎疏》.

Chen Shou’s evaluation

“He was light on wealth and able to give, and good at making friends.”

Historical evaluations

Chen Shou

“輕財能施，善於交結.”

Legacy

Sun Jiao is remembered as a Wu clansman who commanded at Xiakou, merged the troops of Huang Gai and Sun Yu, supported Lü Meng’s capture of Jing, and was known for generosity, care for civilians (“what crime have the people?”), and for making amends with Gan Ning after Sun Quan’s reproof.

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), chapter 75.