Lady Sun
Encyclopedia
Lady Sun, known as Sun Shangxiang in Chinese opera
and contemporary culture, was a noble lady in the late Eastern Han Dynasty
and Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
. She was a daughter of Sun Jian
and younger sister of the warlords Sun Ce
and Sun Quan
, who laid the foundation for the state of Eastern Wu
of the Three Kingdoms. She is often depicted as a tomboy, as she received extensive martial arts training and her maidservants were armed with weapons, which was odd for her time.
She was wed to the warlord Liu Bei
in 209 as his third wife, supposedly to strengthen an alliance between Liu and Sun Quan. Two years later, she returned to Sun Quan's domain when Liu left Jing Province to attack
the warlord Liu Zhang
in Yi Province.
, Sun Quan
, Lady Sun was the only known daughter of Sun Jian and Lady Wu
. Sun Jian had two other daughters by consorts, older than Lady Sun, who were recorded in history. One daughter was married to Hong Zi and highly respected the abilities of Zhuge Jin
. The other was borne by a Lady Chen, who was possibly a concubine of Sun Jian, and she married Pan Mi.
Although the personal name of Lady Sun (or any of her sisters) was not recorded in history, in legend, she was commonly referred to as "Sun Shangxiang". She was a woman of strong personality and this is shown in events throughout her life. The biography of Fa Zheng
tells that she had the courage and energy of her brothers.
In the 12th lunar month of 209, she married Liu Bei as a part of an alliance between Sun Quan and Liu. At the time, Lady Sun was a little over 20 years of age but because of the marriage, she took general control over his household as well as guardianship over Liu Bei's son and heir, Liu Shan
. This is because both of Liu Bei's previous spouses had already died of natural causes. Because Lady Sun was accompanied by more than a hundred female attendants, all of whom were capable of bearing arms, whenever Liu Bei visited her, he was afraid. It is unknown if they had any children.
Two years later, however, in 211, there was tension within the Sun-Liu alliance over the affairs of Jing Province. It was at this time when Sun Shangxiang returned to her brother's side. According to Zhao Yun
's biography, Lady Sun attempted to take Liu Shan with her but was stopped by Zhang Fei and Zhao. Through negotiations by the two generals, Lady Sun surrendered the young heir before she journeyed downriver to Jiangdong. It is through this event that the marriage and alliance effectively ended. She never met Liu Bei again, and presumedly never remarried.
, Lady Sun was known as "Sun Ren" (孫仁), possibly a corruption of her name "Sun Renxian" (孫仁獻) as recorded in the unofficial historical text Hanjin Chunqiu. In the novel, she is depicted as a very fiery and determined woman; however, the footnotes of the novel state that she was considered a handful to deal with and Liu Bei's followers had to keep an eye on her to make sure she did not run amok.
Sun Quan invited Liu Bei, ruler of Jing Province at the time, to travel to Eastern Wu. Liu Bei was told that the purpose of the visit was to marry Sun Shangxiang and to strengthen their alliance with the deed. However, the marriage proposal turned out to be a lethal trap set by Sun Quan's strategist Zhou Yu
. The plan was to lure Liu into Eastern Wu unarmed, and then hold him hostage in exchange for Jing Province. Liu got word of the plot and fled back to Jing Province with Sun Shangxiang. However, on the way back, the two were stopped by Eastern Wu guards who had received orders to recapture Liu Bei at all costs. Sun scolded the guards and forced them to give way.
After the first plan failed, Sun Quan spread fake news that Lady Wu
, Sun Shangxiang's mother, was extremely ill and wished to see her daughter and step-grandson, Liu Shan. Sun Quan planned to then capture Liu Shan and hold him captive, once more asking for Jing Province in return for the boy's freedom. Very distressed, Sun Shangxiang attempted to leave with her stepson. However, Zhao Yun blocked the way and retrieved Liu Shan. Undeterred, Sun Shangxiang travelled on back to Eastern Wu where she would remain for the remainder of her life. Upon learning of Liu Bei's death at the Battle of Xiaoting
, she rode out to a forest and threw herself in a river. There is no historical record of this event.
video game series. She also appears in Warriors Orochi
, a crossover between Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors
. She is referred to as "Sun Shang Xiang" in the games.
In Koei's Kessen 2 she is named "Sun Li" and is one Liu Bei's many love interests.
In John Woo
's 2008 epic war film Red Cliff, Zhao Wei
played the role of Sun Shangxiang. In the first part, she and her all-female bodyguards lured Cao Cao's troops into an ambush. In the second part, she infiltrates Cao Cao's camp and draws a map of the enemy formation.
Lady Sun is referenced in the game and anime series Koihime Musō
where she is named as Sonshōkō or Shaoren. She charges out of the kingdom to fight against the Hongo Faction who are falsely accused for betraying the Go faction. After being captured by Hongo Faction and clearing up the misunderstanding, she takes a liking to Kazuto and enjoys playing around with him.
Chinese opera
Chinese opera is a popular form of drama and musical theatre in China with roots going back as far as the third century CE...
and contemporary culture, was a noble lady in the late Eastern Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
and Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
. She was a daughter of Sun Jian
Sun Jian
Sun Jian was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He allied himself with Yuan Shu in 190 when warlords from eastern China formed a coalition to oust Dong Zhuo, a tyrannical warlord who held the puppet Emperor Xian in his power...
and younger sister of the warlords Sun Ce
Sun Ce
Sun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
and Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
, who laid the foundation for the state of Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
of the Three Kingdoms. She is often depicted as a tomboy, as she received extensive martial arts training and her maidservants were armed with weapons, which was odd for her time.
She was wed to the warlord Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
in 209 as his third wife, supposedly to strengthen an alliance between Liu and Sun Quan. Two years later, she returned to Sun Quan's domain when Liu left Jing Province to attack
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province was a military campaign by the warlord Liu Bei in taking control of Yi Province from its Governor, Liu Zhang. The campaign took place between 212 and 215 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
the warlord Liu Zhang
Liu Zhang (warlord)
Liu Zhang was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He became governor of Yi Province , succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei...
in Yi Province.
Biography
Younger sister of the founding emperor of Eastern WuEastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
, Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
, Lady Sun was the only known daughter of Sun Jian and Lady Wu
Lady Wu
Lady Wu was the wife of the warlord Sun Jian, who lived during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. She had five children: four sons, Sun Ce, Sun Quan, Sun Yi, Sun Kuang, and a daughter, Lady Sun...
. Sun Jian had two other daughters by consorts, older than Lady Sun, who were recorded in history. One daughter was married to Hong Zi and highly respected the abilities of Zhuge Jin
Zhuge Jin
Zhuge Jin , style name Ziyu , was a military general and politician of Eastern Wu during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Early life:...
. The other was borne by a Lady Chen, who was possibly a concubine of Sun Jian, and she married Pan Mi.
Although the personal name of Lady Sun (or any of her sisters) was not recorded in history, in legend, she was commonly referred to as "Sun Shangxiang". She was a woman of strong personality and this is shown in events throughout her life. The biography of Fa Zheng
Fa Zheng
Fa Zheng , style name Xiaozhi , was an advisor to the warlord Liu Bei during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history....
tells that she had the courage and energy of her brothers.
In the 12th lunar month of 209, she married Liu Bei as a part of an alliance between Sun Quan and Liu. At the time, Lady Sun was a little over 20 years of age but because of the marriage, she took general control over his household as well as guardianship over Liu Bei's son and heir, Liu Shan
Liu Shan
Liu Shan, , was the second and last emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. As he ascended the throne at the young age of 16, Liu Shan was entrusted to the care of the Chancellor Zhuge Liang and Imperial Secretariat Li Yan...
. This is because both of Liu Bei's previous spouses had already died of natural causes. Because Lady Sun was accompanied by more than a hundred female attendants, all of whom were capable of bearing arms, whenever Liu Bei visited her, he was afraid. It is unknown if they had any children.
Two years later, however, in 211, there was tension within the Sun-Liu alliance over the affairs of Jing Province. It was at this time when Sun Shangxiang returned to her brother's side. According to Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun was a military general who lived during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. For most of his career, Zhao served the warlord Liu Bei, playing a part in the establishment of state of Shu Han...
's biography, Lady Sun attempted to take Liu Shan with her but was stopped by Zhang Fei and Zhao. Through negotiations by the two generals, Lady Sun surrendered the young heir before she journeyed downriver to Jiangdong. It is through this event that the marriage and alliance effectively ended. She never met Liu Bei again, and presumedly never remarried.
Names
Other names of Lady Sun include the following:- Sun Ren in Romance of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
- Sun Renxian in Hanjin Chunqiu (漢晉春秋)
- Sun Shangxiang in popular culture
- Xiao Ji , nickname in popular culture
- Gongyao Ji , nickname in popular culture
Family
- Father: Sun JianSun JianSun Jian was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He allied himself with Yuan Shu in 190 when warlords from eastern China formed a coalition to oust Dong Zhuo, a tyrannical warlord who held the puppet Emperor Xian in his power...
- Mother: Lady WuLady WuLady Wu was the wife of the warlord Sun Jian, who lived during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. She had five children: four sons, Sun Ce, Sun Quan, Sun Yi, Sun Kuang, and a daughter, Lady Sun...
- Siblings:
- Sun CeSun CeSun Ce was a military general and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the oldest of the children of Sun Jian who was killed during the Battle of Xiangyang when Sun Ce was only 16. Sun Ce then broke away from his father's overlord, Yuan Shu, and headed to...
- Sun QuanSun QuanSun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
- Sun Yi
- Sun KuangSun KuangSun Kuang, style name Jizuo , was the fourth son of the warlord Sun Jian during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Upon his father's death, he fled to Jiangnan with his elder brother, Sun Ce, who was given succession as Marquis of Wucheng , but instead chose to give the position to...
- Sun LangSun LangSun Lang, style name Zao'an , was a son of the warlord Sun Jian during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a half-sibling of the other five known children of Sun Jian, all of whom were born to Sun's first wife Lady Wu.Sun Lang's misfortune occurred in 222,...
, half-brother. He was her full brother in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as both of them were born to Lady Wu's fictional younger sister, who was known as Wu Guotai.
- Sun Ce
- Spouse: Liu BeiLiu BeiLiu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
In fiction
In the historical novel Romance of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
, Lady Sun was known as "Sun Ren" (孫仁), possibly a corruption of her name "Sun Renxian" (孫仁獻) as recorded in the unofficial historical text Hanjin Chunqiu. In the novel, she is depicted as a very fiery and determined woman; however, the footnotes of the novel state that she was considered a handful to deal with and Liu Bei's followers had to keep an eye on her to make sure she did not run amok.
Sun Quan invited Liu Bei, ruler of Jing Province at the time, to travel to Eastern Wu. Liu Bei was told that the purpose of the visit was to marry Sun Shangxiang and to strengthen their alliance with the deed. However, the marriage proposal turned out to be a lethal trap set by Sun Quan's strategist Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu was a military general and strategist who served his close friend, the warlord Sun Ce, during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history...
. The plan was to lure Liu into Eastern Wu unarmed, and then hold him hostage in exchange for Jing Province. Liu got word of the plot and fled back to Jing Province with Sun Shangxiang. However, on the way back, the two were stopped by Eastern Wu guards who had received orders to recapture Liu Bei at all costs. Sun scolded the guards and forced them to give way.
After the first plan failed, Sun Quan spread fake news that Lady Wu
Lady Wu
Lady Wu was the wife of the warlord Sun Jian, who lived during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. She had five children: four sons, Sun Ce, Sun Quan, Sun Yi, Sun Kuang, and a daughter, Lady Sun...
, Sun Shangxiang's mother, was extremely ill and wished to see her daughter and step-grandson, Liu Shan. Sun Quan planned to then capture Liu Shan and hold him captive, once more asking for Jing Province in return for the boy's freedom. Very distressed, Sun Shangxiang attempted to leave with her stepson. However, Zhao Yun blocked the way and retrieved Liu Shan. Undeterred, Sun Shangxiang travelled on back to Eastern Wu where she would remain for the remainder of her life. Upon learning of Liu Bei's death at the Battle of Xiaoting
Battle of Xiaoting
The Battle of Xiaoting, also known as the Battle of Yiling and the Battle of Yiling and Xiaoting, was fought between the states of Eastern Wu and Shu Han in 222 during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history...
, she rode out to a forest and threw herself in a river. There is no historical record of this event.
Modern references
Lady Sun is one of the first female playable characters to make a debut in Koei's Dynasty WarriorsDynasty Warriors
is a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...
video game series. She also appears in Warriors Orochi
Warriors Orochi
, is a PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 hack and slash video game developed by Koei and Omega Force. It is a crossover of two of Koei's popular video game series, Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors...
, a crossover between Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors
Samurai Warriors
is the first title in the series of video games created by Koei's Omega Force team based loosely around the Sengoku period of Japanese history and it is a spinoff of the Dynasty Warriors series...
. She is referred to as "Sun Shang Xiang" in the games.
In Koei's Kessen 2 she is named "Sun Li" and is one Liu Bei's many love interests.
In John Woo
John Woo
John Woo Yu-Sen SBS is a Hong Kong-based film director and producer. Recognized for his stylised films of highly choreographed action sequences, Mexican standoffs, and use of slow-motion, Woo has directed several notable Hong Kong action films, among them, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer, Hard...
's 2008 epic war film Red Cliff, Zhao Wei
Zhao Wei
Zhao Wei is a mainland Chinese film actress and pop singer. Audiences sometimes refer to her by her English name, Vicki Zhao...
played the role of Sun Shangxiang. In the first part, she and her all-female bodyguards lured Cao Cao's troops into an ambush. In the second part, she infiltrates Cao Cao's camp and draws a map of the enemy formation.
Lady Sun is referenced in the game and anime series Koihime Musō
Koihime Muso
is a Japanese adult visual novel and strategy game based on the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It was developed by BaseSon, and was first released on January 26, 2007, for the PC as two DVD-ROMs, followed by a re-release on April 11, 2008, containing an extra CD-ROM...
where she is named as Sonshōkō or Shaoren. She charges out of the kingdom to fight against the Hongo Faction who are falsely accused for betraying the Go faction. After being captured by Hongo Faction and clearing up the misunderstanding, she takes a liking to Kazuto and enjoys playing around with him.