Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Sun Quan 孫權

Attested AD 196 - AD 252

Passages: 91
Chapters: 6
Histories: 4

Overview

The translated histories identify Sun Quan as a general, royal family member, ruler, and warlord. This record brings together 91 passages from 6 chapters across 4 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Sun Quan	孫權	Sun Quan
Title	King of Wu	吳王	Wu wang
Title	King of Wu	吳王	Wu Wang
Given name	Quan	權
Given	Quan	權	Quán
Given	Quan	權	Quan
Surname	Sun	孫	Sūn
Surname	Sun	孫	Sun
Personal name	Sun Quan	權	Quan
Personal name	Sun Quan	孫權	Sūn Quán
Personal name	Sun Quan	孫權
Personal name	Sun Quan	孫權	Sun Quan
Title	Your Majesty	陛下
Clan name		孫氏

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · jinshu:108:s0126, sanguozhi:031:s0111, sanguozhi:062:s0010, sanguozhi:063:s0004
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · liaoshi:057:s0006, sanguozhi:031:s0109, weishu:039:s0114

Roles

General
Royal Family Member
Ruler
Warlord

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 黃武五年 · Regnal Year: 5 · Western Year: AD 226
Explicit event contextual date · sanguozhi:063:s0072, sanguozhi:063:s0074
Source Date: Text: 傳至孫權，以歸於魏 · Western Year: AD 220
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:057:s0006
Source Date: Text: 孫權殺關羽 · Western Year: AD 219
Explicit event contextual date · sanguozhi:031:s0109
Source Date: Text: 孫權起於東南 · Western Interval: Start: AD 200 · End: AD 222
Explicit event contextual date · sanguozhi:063:s0004
Source Date: Text: 孫氏割據 · Western Interval: Start: AD 222 · End: AD 252
Strongly inferred · weishu:039:s0114
Source Date: Text: 建安中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 196 · End: AD 220
Explicit · sanguozhi:063:s0085
Source Date: Text: 权即尊号 · Western Year: AD 229
Explicit · sanguozhi:063:s0118
Source Date: Text: 權復以璋子闡為益州刺史 · Western Year: AD 220
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0111
Source Date: Text: 權據揚越 · Western Interval: Start: AD 200 · End: AD 252
Explicit event contextual date · jinshu:108:s0126
Source Date: Text: 立為吳王 · Western Year: AD 222
Explicit · sanguozhi:063:s0040
Source Date: Text: 黃武中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 222 · End: AD 229
Explicit event contextual date · sanguozhi:062:s0017
Source Date: Text: 黃武八年夏 · Western Year: AD 229
Explicit · sanguozhi:062:s0056

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Parent of Sun Deng (孫登)
Kinship Term: heir / 太子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: heir / 太子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Parent of Prince of Lu (魯王)
Kinship Term: Prince of Lu / 魯王 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: Prince of Lu / 魯王 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father

Career and standing

Title: King of Wu / 吳王 · Action: received
Explicit · sanguozhi:062:s0154
Office: Emperor / 天子 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 权即尊号 · Western Year: AD 229
Explicit · sanguozhi:063:s0118
Office: King of Wu / 吳王 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 立為吳王 · Western Year: AD 222
Explicit · sanguozhi:063:s0040
Title: emperor / 尊號 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 黃武八年夏 · Western Year: AD 229
Explicit · sanguozhi:062:s0056

Places and affiliations

Polity: Eastern Wu / 吳 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · sanguozhi:062:s0056, sanguozhi:063:s0004, sanguozhi:063:s0040
Polity: Wu / 吳 · Relation: ruled
Strongly inferred · liaoshi:057:s0006

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: ambushed · Other Person Id: Guan Yu (關羽)
Explicit · sanguozhi:063:s0018, sanguozhi:063:s0023
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: attacked · Other Person Id: Huang Zu (黃祖)
Explicit · sanguozhi:063:s0006, sanguozhi:063:s0009
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: killed · Other Person Id: Guan Yu (關羽)
Explicit · sanguozhi:031:s0109
Kind: diplomatic · Role: transferor · Action: surrendered-seal-to-Wei
Explicit · liaoshi:057:s0006
Relation: sibling-of · Person Id: Sun Ce (孫策) · Kinship Term: brother · Shared Parentage: uncertain
Strongly inferred · sanguozhi:063:s0066
Relation: patron-of · Person Id: Wu Fan (吳范)
Explicit · sanguozhi:063:s0004, sanguozhi:063:s0034

Assessments and attributes

Item: imperial transmission seal / 傳國寶 · Relation: transferred
Explicit · liaoshi:057:s0006

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Book of Jin, Chapter 108Volume 108 Records 8: Murong Hui · 1 passage

及權據揚、越，外杖周、張，內馮顧、陸，距魏亦壁，克取襄陽。 Sun Quan's teamwork humbled northern power.

History of Liao, Chapter 57Volume 57 Treatises 27: Ceremonial Guards 3 · 1 passage

獻帝失之，孫堅得於井中，傳至孫權，以歸於魏。 Emperor Xian lost possession of it; Sun Jian recovered it from a well. It passed down to Sun Quan, who in turn surrendered it to Wei.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 31Volume 31: Book of Shu 1: Biographies of the Two Governor Lius · 2 passages

孫權殺關羽，取荊州，以璋為益州牧，駐秭歸。 After Sun Quan killed Guan Yu and seized Jingzhou, he named Liu Zhang governor of Yizhou and stationed him at Zigui.

權復以璋子闡為益州刺史，處交、益界首。 Sun Quan then appointed Liu Zhang’s son Liu Chan inspector of Yizhou and posted him on the Jiao–Yi frontier.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 62Volume 62: Book of Wu 17: Biographies of Shi Yi and Hu Zong · 38 passages

孫權承攝大業，優文征儀。 Sun Quan, taking charge of Wu's destiny, sent him a warm letter of invitation.

到見親任，專典機密，拜騎都尉。 Once he arrived he won Sun Quan's confidence, handled confidential affairs, and was named chief of the capitals grooms.

呂蒙圖襲關羽，權以問儀，儀善其計，勸權聽之。 When Lü Meng planned the strike on Guan Yu, Sun Quan consulted Shi Yi, who endorsed the scheme and urged him to act.

儀陳謝，權令曰："孤雖非趙簡子，卿安得不自屈為周捨邪？ Shi Yi tried to decline; Sun Quan told him, "I may not be Zhao Jianzi, but will you not humble yourself as Zhou She did for him?"

欲復授兵，儀自以非材，固辭不受。 Sun Quan later offered him a military command; Shi Yi, judging himself no soldier, refused firmly.

大駕東遷，太子登留鎮武昌，使儀輔太子。 When Sun Quan shifted east, Crown Prince Sun Deng stayed to hold Wuchang with Shi Yi as his aide.

典校郎呂壹誣白故江夏太守刁嘉謗仙國政，權怒，收嘉系獄，悉驗問。 Inspector Lü Yi denounced former Jiangxia prefect Diao Jia for criticizing the throne; Sun Quan jailed Diao and ordered a full inquiry.

權遂捨之，嘉亦得免。 Sun Quan dropped the case, and Diao Jia went free.

蜀相諸葛亮卒，權垂心西州，遣儀使蜀申固盟好。 After Zhuge Liang's death Sun Quan turned his eyes westward and sent Shi Yi to Chengdu to renew the alliance.

鄰家有起大宅者，權出望見，問起大室者誰。 When a neighbor put up a grand mansion Sun Quan noticed it from the palace and asked whose it was.

"權曰："儀儉，必非也。 Sun Quan answered, "Shi Yi is too frugal—that cannot be his."

權聞之，幸儀捨，求視蔬飯，親嘗之，對之歎息，即增俸賜，益田宅。 Sun Quan called at his home, tasted his spare fare, sighed, and raised his stipend and land grants.

權常責儀以不言事，無是所非，儀對曰："聖主在上，臣下守職，懼於不稱，實不敢以愚管之畜，上干天聽。 Sun Quan once scolded him for holding his tongue; Shi Yi answered, "Under a sage king each man has his charge; I fear falling short of mine and would not waste your ear with trifles."

權歎曰："使人盡如是儀，當安用科法為?" Sun Quan sighed, "If all my men were like Shi Yi, I could throw away the law codes."

孫策領會稽太守，綜年十四，為門下循行，留吳與孫權共讀書。 When Sun Ce was administrator of Kuaiji, Zong at fourteen became a gate attendant and stayed in Wu to read with Sun Quan.

策薨，權為討虜將軍，以綜為金曹從事，從討黃祖，拜鄂長。 After Sun Ce's death Sun Quan became general who pacifies barbarians, made Zong a gold-bureau clerk, joined the campaign against Huang Zu, and named him prefect of E.

權為將軍，都京，召綜還，為書部。 When Sun Quan took the title of general and fixed the capital, he recalled Zong to head the documentation office.

劉備下白帝，權以見兵少，使綜料諸縣，得六千人，立解煩兩部，詳領左部、綜領右部督。 When Liu Bei came down from Baidi, Sun Quan, finding his visible troops too thin, had Zong levy the counties for six thousand men and formed two hardship-relief divisions—Xu Xiang led the left and Hu Zong the right.

權使綜與賀齊輕行掩襲，生虜得宗。 Sun Quan sent Zong with He Qi on a swift surprise raid and took Jin Zong alive.

魏拜權為吳王，封綜、儀、詳皆為亭侯。 When Wei recognized Sun Quan as King of Wu, Zong, Yi, and Xiang were all made village marquises.

黃武八年夏，黃龍見舉口，於是權稱尊號，因瑞改元。 That summer of 229 a yellow dragon was sighted at Jukou; Sun Quan thereupon took the imperial title and renamed the era after the omen.

蜀聞權踐阼，遣使重申前好。 Learning that Sun Quan had taken the throne, Shu sent envoys to renew the alliance.

綜為盟文，文義甚美，語在《權傳》。 Hu Zong drafted the treaty; the text was elegant—the full wording appears in Sun Quan's biography.

權下都建業，詳、綜並為侍中，進封鄉侯，兼左、右領軍。 After the court settled at Jianye, Xu Xiang and Hu Zong became joint palace attendants, village marquises, and left and right commanders of the guard.

權即召入。 Sun Quan had him brought in at once.

綜時侍坐，權問何如。 Hu Zong was present; Sun Quan asked his opinion of the man.

"權又問可堪何官？ The emperor asked what post might suit him.

"權以蕃盛論刑獄，用為廷尉監。 Because Yin Fan spoke well of criminal law, Sun Quan made him an assistant in the ministry of justice.

吴主使将入，谓曰：“何乃以肌肉为人受毒乎？” Sun Quan sent an officer to ask why he would let his body absorb another man's torture.

吴历曰：权问普：“卿前盛称蕃，又为之怨望朝廷，使蕃反叛，皆卿之由。”〉 The Wu Calendar records Sun Quan confronting Hao Pu: "You heaped praise on Yin Fan and grumbled against the court until he rebelled—that fault is yours."

遼東之事，輔吳將軍張昭以諫權言辭切至，權亦大怒，其和協彼此，使之無隙，綜有力焉。 When the Liaodong campaign drove Zhang Zhao, general who assists Wu, to remonstrate in blistering terms and Sun Quan raged, Hu Zong helped heal the rift between sovereign and chief counselor.

權愛其才，弗之責也。 Sun Quan prized his gifts and overlooked the excess.

凡自權統事，諸文誥策命，鄰國書符，略皆綜之所造也。 From Sun Quan's accession onward, most edicts, patents, and diplomatic notes to rival courts came from Hu Zong's brush.

初以內外多事，特立科，長吏遭喪，皆不得去，而數有犯者。 Early in his reign Sun Quan barred senior officials from quitting post for funerals, yet men kept breaking the rule.

權患之，使朝臣下議。 Annoyed, he asked the court for a remedy.

遂用綜言，由是奔喪乃斷， Sun Quan took his advice, and unauthorized leave for mourning ended.

評曰：是儀、徐詳、胡綜，皆孫權之時干興事業者也。 The appraisal states that Shi Yi, Xu Xiang, and Hu Zong were the men who kept Sun Quan's government running.

儀清恪貞素，詳數通使命，綜文采才用，各見信任，譬之廣夏，其榱椽之佐乎! Shi Yi was incorruptible, Xu Xiang a veteran envoy, Hu Zong a brilliant pen—all earned deep trust; they were the beams that held up Sun Quan's hall.

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 63Volume 63: Book of Wu 18: Biographies of Wu Fan, Liu Dun, and Zhao Da · 48 passages

會孫權起於東南，范委身服事，每有災祥，輒推數言狀。 After Sun Quan rose in the southeast Wu Fan entered his service—whenever heaven sent prodigies he cast figures and explained what they meant.

初，權在吳，欲討黃祖。 Early on, while Sun Quan held Wu and planned to attack Huang Zu,

權遂征祖，卒不能克。 Sun Quan attacked anyway and failed to break Huang Zu.

明年，軍出，行及尋陽，范見風氣，因詣船賀，催兵急行，至即破祖，祖得夜亡。 The following year the fleet advanced; at Xunyang Wu Fan read the omens, boarded Sun Quan’s ship to offer congratulations, and pressed for speed—they smashed Huang Zu, who fled under cover of night.

權恐失之，范曰：“未遠，必生禽祖。” Sun Quan feared losing the prey; Wu Fan said, “Huang Zu cannot have gone far—you will take him alive.”

後呂岱從蜀還，遇之白帝，說備部眾離落，死亡且半，事必不克。 Later Lü Dai came back from Shu and told Sun Quan at Baidi that Liu Bei’s army was shattered and half gone—the conquest would fail.

權以難范，范曰：“臣所言者天道也，而岱所見者人事耳。” Sun Quan challenged him with Lü Dai’s report; Wu Fan replied, “I speak heaven’s pattern—Lü Dai saw only human circumstance.”

權與呂蒙謀襲關羽，議之近臣，多曰不可。 Sun Quan and Lü Meng planned to ambush Guan Yu; most of his inner circle said no.

權以問範，範曰：“得之。” Sun Quan asked Wu Fan; Fan said, “You will take him.”

權問范曰：“競當降否？” Sun Quan pressed, “Is the surrender genuine?”

權使潘璋邀其徑路，覘候者還，自羽已去。 Sun Quan sent Pan Zhang to cut his retreat; scouts reported Guan Yu had slipped away.

權立表下漏以待之。 Sun Quan set a water-clock under a sundial and waited.

及中不至，權問其故，范曰：“時尚未正中也。” Midday came and went; Sun Quan demanded why—Wu Fan said, “True solar noon has not arrived.”

後權與魏為好，范曰：“以風氣言之，彼以貌來，其實有謀，宜為之備。” When Sun Quan befriended Wei, Wu Fan warned, “Their winds bear smiles yet hide knives—brace yourself.”

權以范為騎都尉，領太史令，數從訪問，欲知其決。 Sun Quan named him Colonel of Cavalry and Superintendent of Astrology, questioning him often and pressing for his inner formulas.

范秘惜其術，不以至要語權。 Wu Fan hoarded his secrets and never revealed the core techniques.

權由是恨之。 Sun Quan grew to resent him.

初，權為將軍時，范嘗白言“江南有王氣，亥子之間有大福慶。” While Sun Quan still held the rank of general Wu Fan once said, “South of the river carries imperial vapors—between the hai and zi hours supreme fortune awaits.”

權曰：“若終如言，以君為候。” Sun Quan replied, “If it comes true I will make you a marquis.”

及立為吳王，范時侍宴。 When Sun Quan became King of Wu, Wu Fan waited on him at a feast.

權曰：“有之。” Sun Quan answered, “I remember.”

范權知權欲以厭當前言，輒手推不受。 Wu Fan saw Sun Quan meant only to paper over an old promise and thrust the cords back untouched.

及後論功行封，以范為都亭侯，詔臨當出，權恚其愛道於己也，削除其名。 When rewards were handed out Wu Fan received a village marquisate; just before the edict Sun Quan, enraged that Wu Fan prized arcana above loyalty to him, erased his name.

滕嘗有罪，權責怒甚嚴，敢有諫者死，范謂滕曰：“與汝偕死。” Wei Teng once broke the law; Sun Quan’s rage terrified the court—death awaited any advisor—Wu Fan told him, “I perish at your side.”

言未卒，權大怒，欲便投以戟。 Sun Quan roared mid-sentence and reached for a halberd.

良久，權意釋，乃免滕。 After a long while Sun Quan's anger eased, and he spared Wei Teng.

權追思之，募三州有能舉知術數如吳范、趙達者，封千戶侯，卒無所得。 Sun Quan mourned him and promised a thousand-household marquisate to anyone who matched Wu Fan or Zhao Da’s skill—no one qualified.

〈《吴录》曰：范先知其死日，谓权曰：“陛下某日当丧军师。” 〈The Record of Wu adds: Wu Fan predicted his death and told Sun Quan, “You will lose your strategist on a set day.”

权曰：“吾无军师，焉得丧之？” Sun Quan replied, “I employ no strategist—what loss is there?”

臣松之案，范死时，权未称帝，此云陛下，非也。〉 Pei Songzhi observes Sun Quan was not yet emperor when Wu Fan died—“Your Majesty” is anachronistic.〉

建安中，孫權在豫章，時有星變，以問惇。 In Jian’an Sun Quan camped at Yuzhang; strange stars appeared and he consulted Liu Dun.

"權曰："何如？ Sun Quan asked, “What form will it take?”

初，孫權行師征伐，每令達有所推步，皆如其言。 Whenever Sun Quan marched he made Zhao Da cast ahead—and each forecast hit.

權問其法，達終不語，由此見薄，祿位不至。 Sun Quan demanded the technique; Zhao Da stayed mute—so courtiers snubbed him and promotions stopped.

〈吴书曰：初，权即尊号，令达算作天子之后，当复几年？〈The Book of Wu adds that after Sun Quan took the throne he asked Zhao Da how long his mandate would run.

达曰：“高祖建元十二年，陛下倍之。” Zhao Da answered, “Gaozu's reign-era ran twelve years—Your Majesty will double that.”

权大喜，左右称万岁。 Sun Quan cheered; the hall cried long life.

權聞達有書，求之不得，乃錄問其女，及發棺無所得，法術絕焉。 Sun Quan hunted Zhao Da’s manuscripts—questioned his daughter—opened the tomb—found nothing—the lineage of lore died.

曹不兴善画，权使画屏风，误落笔点素，因就以作蝇。 Ordered to paint a screen Cao Buxing smeared ink—turned the blot into a fly.

既进御，权以为生蝇，举手弹之。 Sun Quan tried to swat the painted fly.

曾从吴主别，到洌州，还遇大风，百官船多没，仙公船亦沉沦，吴主甚怅恨。 Once, after taking leave of the Wu ruler and reaching Liezhou, he was caught on the return journey in a great gale. Many officials' boats went down, the Immortal Lord's boat sank as well, and the Wu ruler was deeply distressed.

吴主身临试之，积荻数千束，使光坐其上，又以数千束荻裹之，因猛风而燔之。 Sun Quan piled reeds, seated Yao Guang, torched the heap.

吴主取其书视之，不能解也。 Sun Quan could not read the script.

吴主闻之，徵象到武昌，甚敬贵之，称为介君，为起宅，以御帐给之，赐遗前后累千金，从象学蔽形之术。 Sun Quan housed him in luxury and studied concealment.

吴主曰：“论近道鱼耳，此出海中，安可得邪？” Sun Quan called sea fish unattainable inland.

吴主惊喜，问象曰：“可食不？” Sun Quan asked if it was safe to eat.

吴主曰：“闻蜀使来，得蜀姜作韲甚好，恨尔时无此。” Sun Quan said, “I heard Shu envoys came and that Shu ginger made into pickles was excellent—I regret we did not have it then.”

吴主指左右一人，以钱五十付之。 Sun Quan picked a runner and fifty coins.

Book of Wei, Chapter 39Volume 34: Wang Luo Er, Che Lutou, Lu Luyuan, Chen Jian, Wan Anguo · 1 passage

義陽王臣昶，深悟存亡，遠同孫氏。 Prince Yiyang, our subject Yuan Chang, deeply understands the stakes of survival and ruin and is well suited to follow the example of Sun Quan.