Pan Jun

Historical Record

Pan Jun, styled Chengming, was a native of Hanshou in Wuling. In his youth he studied under Song Zhongzi. He was sharp and perceptive, articulate and orderly in his replies, and was once admired by Wang Can of Shanyang; thus his renown spread far, and the commandery office recruited him as Merit Officer. Before he had reached the age of thirty, the Governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao, recruited him as an Attendant Officer of Jiangxia. At the time the magistrate of Shaxian County was corrupt and lawless; Pan Jun investigated and executed him, shocking the whole commandery. Later he served as magistrate of Xiangxiang County, where his administration was distinguished and he won considerable fame^[1].

When Liu Bei held Jing Province, he appointed Pan Jun as Attendant Officer of the Headquarters. After Liu Bei entered Shu, Pan Jun stayed behind to manage affairs in Jing Province, but he was on poor terms with Guan Yu^[2]. After Sun Quan attacked Guan Yu and annexed Jing Province, Pan Jun went over to Eastern Wu. At first he claimed illness and refused to see Sun Quan, so Sun Quan sent men to carry him, bed and all, to the headquarters. Pan Jun lay prostrate on the bed weeping ceaselessly; Sun Quan personally consoled him and, citing the worthies of old Chu, persuaded him. Pan Jun at last rose and bowed in thanks; he was appointed Attendant of the Headquarters, and all the affairs of Jing Province were referred to him^[3].

Sun Quan appointed Pan Jun as General of the Household Gentlemen Who Supports the Army and granted him military authority. The Attendant Officer of the Wuling division, Fan Zhou, once incited the Yi people in an attempt to attach Wuling to Liu Bei. Sun Quan intended to send a great army to subdue him, but Pan Jun judged that Fan Zhou had only eloquence and no real ability, and that a mere five thousand troops would suffice to put it down. Sun Quan adopted his advice, and Pan Jun indeed led five thousand troops, beheaded Fan Zhou, and pacified the rebellion. Thereafter Pan Jun was promoted to General Who Manifests Might and enfeoffed as Marquis of Changqian Village. After Rui Xuan died, Pan Jun also took command of his troops and garrisoned Xiakou^[3].

After Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor, Pan Jun was appointed Privy Treasurer, later promoted to Marquis of Liuyang and transferred to Grand Master of Ceremonies. When the Wuxi Man barbarians rebelled, Sun Quan granted Pan Jun a staff of authority and ordered him to command the various armies in subduing them. Pan Jun was unfailing in reward and strict in enforcing the law, beheading and capturing tens of thousands; thereafter the barbarian power declined and the region was pacified. He once stopped Bu Zhi from recruiting troops from the various commanderies, holding that powerful families among the populace would cause disorder. The General of the Household Gentlemen, Xu Zong, was beheaded by Pan Jun because his retainers were unruly and disobeyed orders, showing his manner of upholding the law without avoiding private feelings^[3].

Pan Jun's son Pan Zhu once associated with the surrendered Yin Fan and gave him gifts. When Pan Jun learned of it he was furious, wrote to reproach his son, and ordered the messenger to give Pan Zhu a hundred strokes of the cane and recover the gifts. Later Yin Fan indeed plotted rebellion and was executed, and only then did everyone come to trust Pan Jun's foresight. In the second year of Chiwu (239 CE), Pan Jun died, and his son Pan Zhu inherited his rank. Pan Jun's daughter married Sun Lü, the Marquis of Jianchang^[4].

Pan Jun once garrisoned Wuchang together with Lu Xun, jointly managing the affairs of the rear guard. The Investigator Lü Yi monopolized power and falsely accused the Chancellor Gu Yong, the General of the Left Zhu Ju, and others. The Gentleman Attendant at the Yellow Gate, Xie Hong, once sounded out Lü Yi, hinting that Pan Jun might succeed Gu Yong; Lü Yi was greatly alarmed and thereupon dropped the case against Gu Yong. Pan Jun went to Jianye, intending to face Sun Quan and remonstrate with all his strength, but learned that the heir apparent Sun Deng had repeatedly remonstrated without being heeded. Pan Jun then held a great banquet for the officials, planning to kill Lü Yi with his own hand at the feast to rid the state of him. When Lü Yi learned of it, he claimed illness and did not come. Every time Pan Jun was admitted to see Sun Quan, he set forth Lü Yi's treachery. Lü Yi thus gradually lost favor and was at last executed. Sun Quan blamed himself and reproached his ministers^[5].

In the Novel

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms portrays Pan Jun relatively little, mentioning him mainly against the backdrop of Guan Yu's downfall. As Attendant Officer of the Headquarters of Jing Province, after Guan Yu lost Jing Province, he surrendered to Sun Quan together with Mi Fang, Shi Ren, Hao Pu, and others^[2]. The novel does not elaborate in detail on Pan Jun's specific deeds before and after going over to Wu, nor does it emphasize his character or political skill; he appears more as a background figure to the historical events. Pan Jun appears in the novel in Chapters 73 and 75, only two chapters; his vivid character in the histories as "pure, demanding, and decisive" and one who "upheld the law without fearing private criticism" is not fully reflected in the novel, contrasting with his rich image in the historical biographies. The novel gives no detailed description of how Pan Jun came to be valued by Sun Quan after going over to Wu, nor of his important achievements in pacifying the barbarians and impeaching Lü Yi; these are all simplifications or omissions of the historical facts by the Romance^[2].

Key Relationships

* Guan Yu (rival_of): After Liu Bei entered Shu, Pan Jun stayed behind to administer Jing Province, but he was on poor terms with Guan Yu^[2].
* Eastern Wu (defected_to): After Guan Yu's downfall, Pan Jun went over to Sun Quan and was given important responsibilities, becoming an important official of Eastern Wu^[2].
* Song Zhongzi (student_of): In his youth Pan Jun studied under Song Zhongzi^[1].
* Liu Biao's faction (serves): Before he reached the age of thirty, Pan Jun was recruited by the Governor of Jing Province, Liu Biao, as Attendant Officer of Jiangxia^[1].
* Liu Bei's faction (serves): When Liu Bei held Jing Province, he appointed Pan Jun as Attendant Officer of the Headquarters; later, when Liu Bei entered Shu, Pan Jun stayed behind to guard Jing Province^[1].
* Lü Yi (rival_of): While garrisoning Wuchang together with Lu Xun, Pan Jun bitterly hated the power-monopolizing Investigator Lü Yi; he once attempted to assassinate Lü Yi and repeatedly set forth his treachery to Sun Quan, ultimately bringing about Lü Yi's execution^[5].
* Pan Zhu (father_of): Pan Jun's son, once severely punished by Pan Jun for associating with Yin Fan^[3].
* Sun Lü (father_in_law_of): Pan Jun's daughter married Sun Lü, the Marquis of Jianchang^[4].
* Jiang Wan (cousin_of): Pan Jun's elder cousin was Jiang Wan, the Grand General of Shu Han^[3].

Signature Scenes

* Investigating the magistrate of Shaxian: While Pan Jun served as Attendant Officer of Jiangxia, the magistrate of Shaxian was corrupt and lawless; Pan Jun investigated and executed him, shocking the whole commandery and showing his pure, demanding, and decisive character^[1].
* Refusing to see Sun Quan after going over to Wu: After Sun Quan took Jing Province, Pan Jun claimed illness and refused to see him; Sun Quan sent men to carry him, bed and all, to the headquarters. Pan Jun lay prostrate weeping, then was persuaded and given important responsibilities by Sun Quan. This embodied his loyalty to his former lord and his cautious attitude toward the new one^[3].
* Pacifying Fan Zhou's rebellion in Wuling: The Attendant Officer of the Wuling division, Fan Zhou, incited the Yi people in an attempt to attach to Liu Bei. With his precise judgment of Fan Zhou, Pan Jun put down the rebellion with a mere five thousand troops, displaying his military talent and his ability to judge men^[3].
* Beheading Xu Zong, upholding the law without avoiding private feelings: The General of the Household Gentlemen, Xu Zong, was beheaded by Pan Jun because his retainers were unruly and disobeyed orders. Pan Jun upheld the law without fearing private criticism and enforced it strictly, showing no mercy even toward men of renown^[3].
* Sternly reproaching his son Pan Zhu: Pan Jun's son Pan Zhu befriended the surrendered Yin Fan and gave him gifts; when Pan Jun learned of it he was furious, wrote to reproach his son severely, ordered him given a hundred strokes of the cane, and recovered the gifts, embodying his strict family discipline and his defense of the state's interests^[3].
* Plotting to assassinate Lü Yi: When the Investigator Lü Yi monopolized power and falsely accused ministers, Pan Jun held a great banquet for the officials, intending to kill Lü Yi with his own hand at the feast to rid the state of him. Although he did not succeed, this fully displayed his resolve and courage to rid the state of treachery^[5].
* Remonstrating with Sun Quan to give up pheasant-shooting: Sun Quan had repeatedly shot pheasants; Pan Jun remonstrated against it, and Sun Quan heeded him and never shot pheasants again. Pan Jun even tore down the pheasant blind with his own hands, embodying his frank remonstrance to his lord and his concern for the affairs of state^[3].