Sun He

Historical Record

Sun He, courtesy name Bohai, was originally of the Yu clan and a man of Wu Commandery. Because he won the favor of Sun Ce, he was granted the surname Sun and entered into the Sun clan genealogy.^[1] According to the Book of Wu, Sun He was a clansman of Sun Jian, descended from the Yu clan of Sun Jian's paternal aunt, and only later recovered the surname Sun. Loyal and upright by nature, sparing of words but swift in action, possessed of spirit and competence, he was diligent in service. From an early age he followed Sun Jian on campaign, often serving as vanguard. Later he commanded Sun Jian's personal guards and managed internal affairs, entrusted by Sun Jian as a close and vital confidant.^[1]

When Sun Ce pacified Wu Commandery and Kuaiji Commandery, Sun He took part alongside him. When Sun Quan campaigned against Li Shu, Sun He was among the force as well; after Li Shu was crushed, Sun He was appointed General of the Household Who Terrorizes Bandits for his merit, and concurrently Administrator of Lujiang.^[1] Thereafter Sun He was promoted to General and garrisoned the capital city.^[1]

Sun He raised four sons. The eldest, Sun Zhu, and the second, Sun Yi, both served as county magistrates but died young. The third son, Sun Huan, courtesy name Shuwu, was dignified in appearance, keen and bright of mind, broadly learned and retentive of memory, and adept in debate and repartee; Sun Quan often praised him as the Yan Yuan of the imperial clan and promoted him to Commandant of the Martial Guard.^[2] Sun Huan once followed the army in the campaign against Guan Yu at Huarong, luring Guan Yu's remaining partisans to surrender, gaining five thousand men along with great numbers of oxen, horses, and equipment. In the campaign resisting Liu Bei together with Lu Xun, Liu Bei's army was vast in momentum, filling the hills and valleys. Sun Huan fought with all his strength and, in full cooperation with Lu Xun, at last defeated Liu Bei; in the pursuit he cut off the roads at Shangdou and Kuidao, severing the crucial passes of Liu Bei's retreat. Only by scaling mountains and braving perils did Liu Bei escape, sighing in fury, "When I first came to the capital, Sun Huan was but a small child—and now he has driven me to such straits!" For his merit Sun Huan was appointed General Who Establishes Valor and enfeoffed as Marquis of Dantu, then sent to Niugang to oversee the building of the Hengjiang dock, dying not long after.^[2]

Sun He's youngest son, Sun Jun, courtesy name Shuying, was magnanimous in temperament and accomplished in both the civil and the martial; he served as General of the Household Who Settles the Martial, garrisoning Boluo, and died in the thirteenth year of Chiwu.^[2] Sun He had also promoted Wu Can: when Sun He was a county magistrate, Wu Can was only a petty clerk, yet Sun He sensed his uncommon quality. Later, when Sun He became a General and could select his own senior officials, he recommended Wu Can as Aide of Qu'e, and afterward advanced him to Chief Clerk, in which he gained a considerable reputation for governing the locality.^[3]

In the Novel

In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sun He's figure is presented chiefly and indirectly through the introduction of his son Sun Huan.^[4] In Chapter 82, after Sun Quan is enfeoffed as King of Wu, Liu Bei leads a great army to invade, and the assembled ministers fall silent. At this a young general steps forth and volunteers to break the enemy—this is none other than Sun Huan, son of Sun He.^[4]

The novel's account of Sun He accords in the main with the histories, noting that he was originally of the Yu clan and was granted the surname Sun for Sun Ce's favor, so that Sun Huan too counted as kin of the King of Wu.^[4] The novel further relates that Sun He had four sons, of whom Sun Huan was the eldest, skilled with bow and horse, often accompanying the King of Wu on campaign and repeatedly winning distinction, rising to Commandant of the Martial Guard at the age of twenty-five.^[4] These details accord with the Records of the Three Kingdoms and its cited Book of Wu, without notable divergence. The novel, however, does not directly depict Sun He's own life or the campaigns he joined, but treats him as background to Sun Huan, setting off Sun Huan's valor and lineage.^[4]

In the novel, when Liu Bei's great army bears down, Sun Huan volunteers of his own accord, wins Sun Quan's trust, and is appointed Left Chief Commander, leading fifty thousand troops together with Zhu Ran to resist the Shu army.^[4] Though this episode highlights Sun Huan's military talent, Sun He himself never directly appears in the novel; his function is rather as family background, lending legitimacy and plausibility to Sun Huan's entrance. Thus Sun He's figure in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a comparatively flat one, existing mainly as a symbol of family origin.

Key Relationships

* Sun Ce: Sun He won Sun Ce's esteem and favor, was granted the surname Sun and entered into the Sun clan genealogy—a crucial turning point in his life.^[1]
* Sun Jian: In his early years Sun He followed Sun Jian on campaign, often as vanguard, and was entrusted by Sun Jian with heavy responsibility, managing internal affairs and treated as a close confidant.^[1]
* Sun Quan: Sun He followed Sun Quan in the campaign against Li Shu and was enfeoffed for his merit. Sun He's son Sun Huan was likewise greatly valued by Sun Quan and praised as "the Yan Yuan of the imperial clan."^[2]
* Sun Huan: Son of Sun He, who won brilliant merit in the Battle of Yiling resisting Liu Bei and was an important general of Wu.^[2] In the novel, Sun Huan's entrance also indirectly makes mention of Sun He's background.^[4]
* Wu Can: While a county magistrate, Sun He discerned Wu Can's talent and promoted him to Aide of Qu'e, whereby Wu Can was able to realize his ambitions and rose to fame.^[3]

Signature Scenes

* Granted the Surname Sun, Entered into the Genealogy: Sun He was originally of the Yu clan; because he won Sun Ce's favor and regard he was granted the surname Sun and formally entered into the Sun clan genealogy, marking his transformation from an outside clan into a member of the Sun house and winning higher standing and trust.^[1]
* Campaigning with Sun Jian and Sun Ce, Managing Internal Affairs: From an early age Sun He followed Sun Jian on campaign, often as vanguard, then commanded the personal guards and managed internal affairs, regarded by Sun Jian as a confidant. He also followed Sun Ce in pacifying Wu and Kuaiji, showing his military talent and loyalty.^[1]
* Campaigning Against Li Shu, Made General of the Household Who Terrorizes Bandits: Sun He followed Sun Quan against Li Shu; after Li Shu was crushed, Sun He was appointed General of the Household Who Terrorizes Bandits for his merit and concurrently Administrator of Lujiang—an important milestone in his military career.^[1]
* Promoting Wu Can: As a county magistrate, Sun He, with a discerning eye, promoted Wu Can—then still a petty clerk—so that he might display his gifts and at last become a celebrated minister of Wu. This shows Sun He's ability to recognize and employ talent.^[3]
* His Son Sun Huan Shining at the Battle of Yiling: Though Sun He himself did not directly take part in the Battle of Yiling, his son Sun Huan performed outstandingly there, defeating Liu Bei together with Lu Xun and forcing from Liu Bei the sigh, "When I first came to the capital, Sun Huan was still a small child—and now he has driven me to this pass!" This indirectly manifests the martial tradition and honor of Sun He's house.^[2] (a novel-only episode, though the histories too record Sun Huan's merit in this battle^[2])