Sun Zi 孫資 Yanlong 彥龍

Contents

Biography

Early life

Sun Zi was from Zhongdu, Taiyuan (in present-day Shanxi). His courtesy name was Yanlong.

He lost both parents at three and was raised by an elder brother and his wife. He was intelligent and read widely; his fellow-commandery man Wang Yun took note of him. When Cao Cao was Minister over the Masses he summoned Sun Zi, but Sun Zi’s brother had been killed; Sun Zi killed the murderer and fled to Hedong, so he did not accept. On the advice of his friend Jia Kui he later took office as Accountant. Cao Cao recommended him as Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, but Sun Zi pleaded family hardship and returned to Hedong.

Director of the Secretariat with Liu Fang

When the Wei state was established, the Secretariat (中書) was created. Liu Fang became Director of the Palace Secretariat (中書監) and Sun Zi Director of the Secretariat (中書令), each with the addition of Gentleman in Attendance (給事中). They controlled confidential business. Liu Fang was enfeoffed as Marquis Within the Passes and Sun Zi as Marquis Within the Passes (Guanzhong). In 222 Liu Fang was advanced to Marquis of Weishou and Sun Zi to Marquis Within the Passes. When Cao Rui succeeded, both were favoured and given the addition of Cavalier Attendant in Regular Attendance; Liu Fang was advanced to Marquis of Xiangxiang and Sun Zi to Marquis of Leyang.

Advice on Shu and Wu

In 228, when Zhuge Liang moved to Hanzhong to prepare a northern campaign, Cao Rui consulted his officials and considered marching to Nanzheng to attack Shu. He asked Sun Zi. Sun Zi said the roads into Shu were treacherous and that in the south Wu, behind the Yangtze, would tie down resources—a major campaign would be very costly. He advised instead to have generals hold the strategic points; in a few years Wei would grow stronger while Wu and Shu would be worn down. Cao Rui followed this and did not launch a large offensive.

Around 226, when the Wu man Peng Qi rebelled in Jiangnan, some said it was a chance to attack Wu. Sun Zi argued that in the past Cao Pi had cooperated with Wu rebels and still could not take Jiangling, which had only a thousand or so defenders—Peng Qi would not be a real threat. He advised against an expedition. Peng Qi was soon defeated.

In the late Taihe period, when Wu was enticing Gongsun Yuan in Liaodong, Cao Rui wanted to attack. Most officials said no; Sun Zi alone said it could be done. Wei struck and defeated the Wu force; Sun Zi was advanced to Marquis of Zuoxiang.

Tian Yu and the northern border

When the Protector of the Wuhuan Tian Yu (漁陽雍奴) attacked Kebineng and then withdrew to Mayi, Kebineng surrounded him with thirty thousand cavalry. Cao Rui asked Sun Zi. Sun Zi said that the Administrator of Shanggu Yan Zhi was Yan Rou’s brother and was trusted by Kebineng—if the court sent an edict for Yan Zhi to persuade Kebineng, the matter could be resolved without moving the army. Cao Rui did so and Kebineng withdrew and released Tian Yu.

Defending Man Chong and Xu Miao; relations with Tian Yu

Sun Zi often advised Cao Rui that “moving the masses and undertaking great affairs should be done together with the officials—both to show clarity and to broaden consultation.” The General Who Conquers the East Man Chong and the Inspector of Liang Province Xu Miao held heavy authority abroad and were often slandered; Sun Zi argued from their usual conduct and kept them from losing trust. Man Chong and Xu Miao kept their reputations in part because of Sun Zi.

A fellow Zhongdu man, the司空掾 Tian Yu (different from the Protector of the Wuhuan), and others had slandered Sun Zi. Sun Zi did not take it to heart. Later Tian Yu and the others were ashamed and sought to make peace; Sun Zi agreed and had his eldest son Sun Hong marry Tian Yu’s daughter and looked after Tian Yu in his old age at home.

Liaodong and Cao Rui’s deathbed

In 238, for his part in planning the Liaodong campaign, Sun Zi was advanced to Marquis of Zhongdu (county marquis). That year Cao Rui fell seriously ill and wanted Cao Yu, King of Yan, as Grand General with Xiahou Xian, Cao Shuang, Cao Zhao, and Qin Lang to assist. Cao Yu was modest and firmly declined. Cao Rui summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi and asked why Cao Yu was so. They said Cao Yu knew he was not equal to the task. Cao Rui asked if Cao Shuang could take his place; both agreed. They also urged that Sima Yi be recalled to support the house. Cao Rui agreed, but Cao Zhao and others later blocked the recall. Cao Rui summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi again and said he had tried to recall Sima Yi but Cao Zhao and the rest had almost ruined it. He then dismissed Cao Yu, Xiahou Xian, Cao Shuang, Cao Zhao, and Qin Lang from their posts. Sima Yi was summoned and received the mandate; Cao Rui then died. The Wei Jin shiyu suggests that Xiahou Xian and Cao Zhao had long been hostile to Liu Fang and Sun Zi, so the two acted to remove their rivals. Pei Songzhi commented that by praising Cao Shuang and urging the recall of Sima Yi, Liu Fang and Sun Zi laid the foundation for the fall of the Wei house.

Under Cao Fang and death

When Cao Fang became Emperor, Sun Zi’s fief was increased to one thousand households. In 240 he was made Grand Master of the Palace (Right), with gold seal and purple ribbon and ceremonial equal to the Three Excellencies. In 250 he was made Specially Advanced and General of Agile Cavalry. He resigned and returned to private life; he was then granted the title General of Agile Cavalry. He died in the eighth month of 251 (gengzi day, 29 September). He was given the posthumous title Marquis Zhen. Cao Fang’s edict had praised him for “holding confidential matters for over thirty years” and “merit in the previous reign” and for providing good counsel.

Historical evaluations

Chen Shou wrote that Liu Fang was superior in talent and strategy but Sun Zi was better at self-cultivation; that both “pleased the ruler and rarely spoke of gains and losses openly,” and that they “restrained Xin Pi and helped Wang Si,” for which they were criticised, though they sometimes supported remonstrance and secretly stated pros and cons rather than only flattering.
Pei Songzhi: “Praising Cao Shuang and urging the recall of the Xuan King—the downfall of the Wei house was rooted here.”
Wang Fuzhi grouped Sun Zi with Jia Xu, Xin Pi, and Liu Ye as those who “saw clearly a thousand li away and held to it firmly.”

References

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 14, Biographies of Cheng Yu, Guo Jia, Dong Zhao, Liu Ye, Jiang Ji, and Liu Fang (with Sun Zi)
Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 3, Annals of Emperor Ming