Sun Lü

Historical Record

Sun Lü, styled Zhizhi, was a younger brother of Sun Deng, the brother of Sun Quan's heir. From childhood he was clever and gifted, and was deeply esteemed and favored by Sun Quan^[1]. In the seventh year of Huangwu (228 CE), Sun Lü was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jianchang. Two years later, the Chancellor Gu Yong and others memorialized Sun Quan, saying that Sun Lü was clever in disposition and perceptive of affairs, his virtue improving by the day, comparable to the feudal kings of the Han dynasty, and proposed elevating his rank to king. However, Sun Quan did not immediately consent at the time^[1].

Before long, the Vice Director of the Secretariat Wu Can again submitted a memorial, stressing that when kings and emperors arise, they all exalt their closest kin in order to bring luster to their ministers. He cited the standing of Lu and Wey in the Zhou dynasty, and the example of Emperor Gao of Han enfeoffing five kings to serve as bulwarks of the dynasty, and pointed out that the Marquis of Jianchang, Sun Lü, was endowed with a clever nature and was accomplished in both civil and military matters, so that by the ancient institutions his title and rank ought rightly to be fixed. Wu Can further pointed out that the present time, with treacherous foes running rampant and warfare not yet ceased, the state needed trusted men and stout defenders, and that kinsmen and able worthies were precisely the key. After deliberating with the Chancellor Gu Yong and others, they unanimously held that Sun Lü ought to serve as General Who Guards the Army, granted the heavy charge of a region, in order to magnify the imperial enterprise^[1].

Sun Quan in the end adopted this advice, and so Sun Lü was granted the tally, allowed to open his own office and conduct affairs, and stationed to garrison Banzhou. In his edict Sun Quan praised Sun Lü as fine in spirit and resolve, with martial strategy long manifest, able to assist the state in settling the great enterprise; he therefore granted him the rank of a supreme general, bestowed on him exceptional honors, favored him with the power of troops and horses, and entrusted him with the charge of a region, hoping he could overawe the enemy, pacify far and near, comfort and care for the officers and men, and establish merit and accomplishment^[1]. At the time, Sun Lü, as an imperial prince, was still young, and far and near feared he could not attend to affairs. Yet in actually handling government, Sun Lü was able to observe the law strictly and to accept with humility the advice of his teachers and friends, his performance far exceeding everyone's expectations^[1]. In the third year of Huanglong (231 CE), Sun Lü served as General Who Guards the Army, garrisoning Banzhou, and appointed Xue Zong as Chief Clerk to handle the army's affairs and at the same time to instruct Sun Lü in books and learning^[2]. In the first year of Jiahe (232 CE), Sun Lü died at the age of only twenty. As he had no heir, his fief was abolished^[1].

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not give Sun Lü any independent literary portrayal, so there is no specific episode or characterization of him in the novel. The records about Sun Lü in the histories—such as his cleverness and gifts, the esteem in which Sun Quan held him, his enfeoffment as Marquis of Jianchang, his service as General Who Guards the Army garrisoning Banzhou, and his observance of the law and humble acceptance of teachers and friends in handling affairs—are all absent from the novel^[1]. The novel focuses mainly on the major battles and core figures of the Three Kingdoms period, and for an imperial clansman like Sun Lü—important in the histories but short-lived—it generally provides no detailed depiction.

Key Relationships

* Sun Quan: Sun Lü's father, who "esteemed and favored him," and who in the end adopted the advice to grant him the post of General Who Guards the Army, the tally, and his own office to govern Banzhou, placing high hopes in him^[1].
* Sun Deng: Sun Lü's elder brother; the histories state plainly that Sun Lü was "Deng's younger brother"^[1].
* Xue Zong: When Sun Lü served as General Who Guards the Army, he appointed Xue Zong as Chief Clerk, who handled the army's affairs and instructed Sun Lü in books and learning^[2]. This shows Sun Lü's trust in and reliance on Xue Zong.
* Gu Yong, Wu Can: These two ministers jointly memorialized to strongly recommend that Sun Lü be elevated in rank and serve as General Who Guards the Army, reflecting the recognition and support of the court's senior ministers for Sun Lü's ability^[1].
* Eastern Wu: As a son of Sun Quan, Sun Lü was an important member of the Sun-Wu imperial clan; his enfeoffment as Marquis of Jianchang and his service as General Who Guards the Army all reflect his standing in the Sun-Wu regime^[1].

Iconic Scenes

* Enfeoffment as Marquis of Jianchang and Promotion to General Who Guards the Army: Enfeoffed as Marquis of Jianchang in the seventh year of Huangwu (228 CE), and later, owing to the strong recommendations of the Chancellor Gu Yong, the Vice Director of the Secretariat Wu Can, and others, Sun Lü was at last granted by Sun Quan the tally and his own office and made General Who Guards the Army, governing Banzhou. This series of events marks the notable rise of Sun Lü's standing in the Sun-Wu regime and the high hopes Sun Quan placed in him^[1].
* Garrisoning Banzhou and Humbly Accepting Teachers and Friends: Sun Lü, with the dignity of an imperial prince, was entrusted with heavy responsibility at a young age, garrisoning Banzhou. Although the world had doubts because of his youth, he was able to "observe the law in handling affairs and humbly accept his teachers and friends, beyond all expectations"^[1]. This scene displays Sun Lü's outstanding personal character and excellent administrative ability, proving him not a man of empty name but a genuinely able worthy. His appointment of Xue Zong as Chief Clerk and his acceptance of Xue Zong's instruction in books also reflect his humble attitude toward learning^[2].
* Untimely Death and the Abolition of the Fief: In the first year of Jiahe (232 CE), Sun Lü died at the age of only twenty, and having no heir, his fief was abolished^[1]. This ending is lamentable, and prevented him from playing a greater role in the Sun-Wu regime, becoming the tragic mark of his life.