Early life and career

Sun Jian was born in Fuchun County, Wu Commandery, around present day Fuyang, Zhejiang. He was allegedly a descendant of Sun Tzu, the author of The Art of War. No more immediate records survive, indicating his family probably played a very small part during the Han dynasty. Even his father's name is unrecorded, although a folk tradition gives it as Sun Zhong.

Sun Jian was a civil official in his home county during his youth. When he was 16, Sun Jian travelled with his father to Qiantang, where they encountered a band of pirates dividing up their spoils on land. Sun Jian jumped on shore with a sabre in hand and pointed in different directions as if commanding a detachment of soldiers to surround the pirates. Seeing this, the pirates were deceived and fled. Sun Jian pursued, and only after taking the head of every pirate did he return (or just the leaders according to some accounts). His name henceforth spread.

In 172, he became acting major for the pro-government militias which fought against Xu Chang's rebellion in Kuaiji Commandery. He raised a militia of about 1,000 men and served with distinction, whereupon he was recommended to the court by Yang Province Inspector Zhang Min. Sun Jian was consequently rewarded with a post as assistant magistrate in Guangling Commandery, and later in two counties in Xiapi. This allowed him to gather many followers.

In 184, the Yellow Turban Rebellion led by Zhang Jiao broke out across the country. Sun Jian joined the general Zhu Jun to quell the rebellion in Yu Province (covering roughly present-day southern Henan and northern Anhui). The soldiers fought hard, forcing the rebels to retreat to Wan (宛; present-day Wancheng District, Nanyang, Henan). Sun Jian placed himself in the forefront and climbed onto the city walls alone. The rest then swarmed in and defeated the rebels.

Around this time, Bian Zhang and Han Sui colluded with the Qiang tribes and rebelled in Liang Province (涼州; present-day western Gansu). After Dong Zhuo failed to put down the rebellion, the central government sent in his place the Minister of Works Zhang Wen, who invited Sun Jian along as an adviser. When Zhang Wen summoned Dong Zhuo to the encampment at Chang'an, Dong Zhuo procrastinated and took a long time to arrive. When he did, he showed little respect for Zhang Wen. Sun Jian then advised Zhang Wen to execute Dong Zhuo, but Zhang Wen declined as Dong Zhuo held high reputation in the west.

Despite scoring a major victory against the rebels at Meiyang, Zhang Wen could not press their advantage and the rebellion was still not quelled. Zhang Wen and the rest returned to the capital Luoyang in disgrace and thus no honor was accorded. Meanwhile, another local-scale rebellion broke out near Changsha Commandery and the rebels besieged the city. Sun Jian was then appointed as the Administrator of Changsha Commandery. Within a month upon taking up office, Sun Jian had quelled the rebellion. Meanwhile, rebellions also broke out in the neighbouring commanderies of Lingling (零陵; around present-day Yongzhou, Hunan) and Guiyang (桂陽; around present-day Guiyang County, Hunan). Sun Jian defeated the rebel leaders Ou Xing, Zhou Chao (周朝) and Guo Shi (郭石), and suppressed both rebellions. The Han imperial court enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Wucheng in recognition of his contributions.

Coalition against Dong Zhuo

In 189, Emperor Ling died, leaving his young son in the care of Empress Dowager He and General-in-Chief He Jin. He Jin then summoned Dong Zhuo to lead troops into the capital to assist in a plot to eliminate the powerful eunuch faction. Before Dong Zhuo arrived, however, He Jin was assassinated by the eunuchs and Luoyang fell into chaos following a clash between supporters of both sides. Dong Zhuo then seized military control of the capital and deposed the young emperor for the puppet Emperor Xian. However, his tyrannical ways incurred the wrath of many and in the following year, warlords from eastern China formed a coalition against him.

Sun Jian also raised an army and joined Yuan Shu, one of the leaders of the coalition at Luyang (魯陽; present-day Lushan County, Henan). On his way, he killed Inspector of Jing Province Wang Rui and Administrator of Nanyang Zhang Zi. Yuan Shu appointed Sun Jian as General Who Destroys Barbarians (破虜將軍, also translated as "General Who Smashes the Caitiffs") and Inspector of Yu Province (豫州刺史). Sun Jian then began training and preparing his troops at Luyang. A force sent by Dong Zhuo was so impressed with the strict discipline of Sun Jian's troops that they gave up the plan to attack Luyang. When Sun Jian moved out to Liangdong (梁東; east of present-day Linru County, Henan), he was outnumbered by Dong Zhuo's forces. With several dozen horsemen, Sun Jian broke out of the encirclement. He took off the red felt scarf he had always been wearing and handed it to his trusted aide Zu Mao (祖茂), whom Dong Zhuo's soldiers then chased after while Sun Jian escaped. Unable to shake off his pursuers, Zu Mao then dismounted, hung the scarf onto a half-burnt pillar, and hid himself in the tall grass nearby. The enemies surrounded the pillar and approached cautiously till they realised they had been fooled, whereupon they retreated.

After regrouping his troops, Sun Jian pressed his troops towards Luoyang and engaged in battle against Dong Zhuo's forces at Yangren (陽人; believed to be near present-day Wenquan, Ruzhou, Henan). He scored a brilliant victory and killed the enemy commander Hua Xiong in battle (191). At this time, someone told Yuan Shu that if Sun Jian defeated Dong Zhuo and took over Luoyang, he would no longer submit to anyone. Feeling doubtful, Yuan Shu stopped providing food supplies to Sun Jian's army. Sun Jian rode the hundred odd li from Yangren to Luyang overnight to see Yuan Shu, whereupon he told the latter, "I put myself in danger during battle, firstly to eliminate the villain (Dong Zhuo) for the Han Empire, and secondly to avenge the deaths of your family members. I have no personal grudge against Dong Zhuo. Yet you believe slanderous talks and suspect me!" The words put Yuan Shu to shame and he immediately ordered his men to continue delivering food supplies to Sun Jian's army.

Fearing Sun Jian, Dong Zhuo then sent his general Li Jue as an emissary to seek peace and propose a marriage to cement the alliance. However, Sun Jian rejected the proposals with harsh words and continued to lead his troops towards Luoyang. In late 190, his army was merely 90 li away from the capital when Dong Zhuo retreated west to Chang'an after ordering the destruction of Luoyang by fire. Entering the ruins of Luoyang, Sun Jian ordered his men to reseal the tombs of Han emperors that were excavated by Dong Zhuo, after which he returned to Luyang. It was said in the Book of Wu by Wei Zhao that Sun Jian found one of the emperor's jade seals in a well south of Luoyang and kept it. Later, when Yuan Shu declared himself emperor, he held Sun Jian's wife Lady Wu hostage in exchange for the seal.

Later life

In 191, Yuan Shu sent Sun Jian to attack Liu Biao, the Governor of Jing Province (荆州; covering present-day Hubei and Hunan). He defeated Liu Biao's forces led by Huang Zu and pursued the enemy across the Han River to Xiangyang. While he was travelling alone through Xianshan (峴山), Huang Zu's troops ambushed him and shot him to death with arrows. The Record of Heroes by Wang Can, however, claims that Sun Jian died in 193 and that he was crushed to death by boulders while pursuing the enemy commander Lü Gong. Sun Jian's nephew, Sun Ben, gathered his uncle's troops and returned to Yuan Shu, who then appointed him as the Inspector of Yu Province to replace his uncle.

Sun Jian was buried in the Gao Mausoleum in Qu'e (曲阿; in present-day Danyang, Jiangsu). He was survived by at least five sons and three daughters. His eldest son, Sun Ce, became a warlord and conquered several territories in the Jiangdong region. Like his father, Sun Ce died at a relatively young age and was succeeded by his younger brother, Sun Quan. Sun Quan built on his brother's legacy and eventually established the state of Eastern Wu in 229, with himself as its founding emperor, during the Three Kingdoms period. After ascending the throne, Sun Quan honoured his father with the posthumous title "Emperor Wulie" (武烈皇帝).

Family

family tree

Wu family trees#Sun Jian|Eastern Wu family trees

Sun Jian

Four of Sun Jian's sons – Sun Ce, Sun Quan, Sun Yi and Sun Kuang – and one of his daughters (Lady Sun) were born to his wife Lady Wu, who was Wu Jing's elder sister. Lady Sun married Liu Bei.

Father

• Sun Zhong ,is the father of Sun Jian, grandfather of Sun Quan. Living with his mother, he believes in filial piety and grows melons as a career.

Brothers

• Sun Jing

• Sun Qiang

Children

• Sun Ce, eldest son, warlord in Jiangdong.

• Sun Quan, second son, Emperor Da of Wu

• Sun Yi, third son.

• Sun Kuang, fourth son.

• Lady Sun, the wife of Emperor Zhaolie Liu Bei.

• Sun Lang, fifth son, later disowned by Sun Quan.

Grandchildren

• Sun Shao, posthumous son of Sun Ce.

• Sun Deng, was an imperial prince of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the eldest son of Sun Quan.

• Sun Lü, as a noble and military general of the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the second son of Sun Quan, the founding emperor of Eastern Wu.

• Sun He, as an imperial prince of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the third son of Sun Quan, the founding emperor of Wu.

• Sun Ba, was an imperial prince of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the fourth son of Sun Quan, the founding emperor of Eastern Wu.

• Sun Fen, was an imperial prince of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the fifth son of Sun Quan, the founding emperor of Eastern Wu.

• Sun Liang, was the second emperor of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the youngest son and heir of Sun Quan.

• Sun Luban, was an imperial princess of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. She was the elder daughter of Sun Quan,

• Sun Luyu, was an imperial princess of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. She was the younger daughter of Sun Quan.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, some events of Sun Jian were romanticised by Luo Guanzhong.

Sun Jian first appears the novel in Chapter 5, in which he joined the coalition against Dong Zhuo. In the battle against Hua Xiong, the commander of the enemy army, Sun Jian took off his own red scarf and handed it to Zu Mao (祖茂) when Sun Jian's army was raided. Having distracted Hua Xiong and let Sun Jian escape, Zu Mao was chased after by Hua Xiong, so he hid himself in woods after hanging the scarf on a half-burnt pillar. When Hua Xiong found himself to be fooled, he killed Zu Mao who dashed out of his hideout to challenge him. Hua Xiong then launched an attack on Sun's army, which lasted for a whole night. Sun Jian could not resist Hua Xiong, so he called for assistance from the coalition. Hua Xiong was unrivalled until he met the unfamed Guan Yu.

After Dong Zhuo retreated to Chang'an, Sun Jian was the first to enter Luoyang and ordered to put off the fires set by Dong Zhuo. Seeing the destruction of the imperial capital and Han dynasty, Sun Jian sighed and shed a tear. However, when his men found a jade seal, which was proven to be the imperial seal, Sun Jian grew ambitious and requested to retreat to his base. The news was leaked, to Sun Jian's miscalculation. When Yuan Shao, the leader of the coalition, interrogated Sun Jian, the latter swore by saying, "Should I have hid the treasure, I shall die miserably under arrows!" Under the protection by his guards, Sun Jian left Luoyang immediately.

On the way to his base, Sun Jian passed through Jing Province, where the governor, Liu Biao, was asked by Yuan Shao to attack Sun Jian. Sun Jian badly lost the battle and barely escaped. When he later launched a revenge attack upon Jing Provence, in accordance with the order of his senior, Yuan Shu, he was lured under a cliff where he was shot dead by arrows from the above. Sun's camp reclaimed Sun Jian's corpse using a captive, Huang Zu, who was Liu Biao's brother-in-law. When Dong Zhuo heard of Sun's death in Chang'an, he said, "One of my greatest enemies is removed!" and consequently usurped more power in the imperial court.

In popular culture

Sun Jian is featured as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video game series. He also appears in Koei's Romance of the Three Kingdoms series.

He is a playable warlord in the 2019 game Total War: Three Kingdoms by Creative Assembly.

In the SD Gundam series BB Senshi Sangokuden, which is based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Sun Jian is characterised as the Gundam Sonken Zephyranthes. His design invokes a white tiger motif.

生平

少年英才

孫堅出生于永壽元年（155年）。《三國志》記載孫堅「世仕吳，家于富春」。

《三國志》記載他17歲就單挑群盜，隨其父孫鍾一起乘船去錢塘，途中，正碰上海盜胡玉等人搶掠商人財物，在岸上分贓。商旅行人，一見此情此景，都嚇得止步不前，過往船隻，也不敢向前行駛。孫堅見狀，對父親說：「此賊可擊，請討之。」他父親說：「非爾所圖也」。,但孫堅已經拿刀衝上岸，並且指手劃腳，分贓人以為官兵捕捉，嚇得立刻拋棄財物逃跑；孫堅追捕海賊，還斬下一個首級回來，其父孫鍾大驚，孫堅因此事出名並做了縣吏。「以驟勇敢為見重于州郡」，歷任郡縣的司馬、縣丞。

漢靈帝熹平元年（172年）會稽妖賊許昌起於句章，自稱陽明皇帝，與其子韶煽動諸縣，眾以萬數。孫堅以郡司馬募召精勇，得千餘人，與州郡之兵合力討破許氏。刺史臧旻列上功狀，詔孫堅真除鹽瀆丞，數歲徙盱眙丞，又徙下邳丞。

征伐黃巾

中平元年（184年）四月，加入討伐軍行列黃巾起義軍的戰鬥，左中郎將皇甫嵩及右中郎將朱儁各領一軍，控制五校、三河騎士及剛招募來的精兵勇士共四萬多人，討伐潁川一帶的黃巾軍。當時孫堅募集諸商旅及淮、泗精兵，鄉里少年在下邳者皆願隨孫堅從軍，千餘多人。朱儁上表召募下邳的孫堅為佐軍司馬，與朱儁並力奮擊，所向無前。六月，黃巾黨便改以趙弘為帥，以十餘萬人佔據宛城。而皇甫嵩與朱儁繼續進擊汝南、陳國的黃巾軍，追擊波才到陽翟，最後在西華大敗彭脫，餘軍想逃到宛城，但孫堅登城先入，眾人蟻附般推進，大破敵軍，成功討平豫州一帶的黃巾軍。張角唯有撤到廣宗，盧植建築攔擋、挖掘壕溝，製造雲梯，將可攻下城池。朝廷下詔再重新調動將領：皇甫嵩北上東郡；朱儁則進攻南陽的趙弘。

十月，零陵人觀鵠自稱「平天將軍」寇桂陽，被孫堅所斬。走保宛城。有一次孫堅乘勝追擊，孤軍深入，結果受傷墜馬倒在草叢裏，當時軍士分散而沒有人發現，後來孫堅的坐騎跑回營地，將士便隨馬而來，才隨馬在草叢裏找到孫堅，並將孫堅扶回營地裡養傷。戰傷養了十多日，傷勢好轉後，又奔赴沙場。汝、穎賊困迫，逃至宛城，固守。孫堅勇當一面，親冒矢石，登城先入，眾乃蟻附，遂大破黃巾。手下士兵受到如此鼓舞，一鼓作氣，從南門打進去拿下了宛城。朱儁將此事奏表朝廷，封孫堅為別部司馬。

涼州兵變

中平二年（185年），涼州邊章與韓遂兵變，朝廷派遣以董卓為中郎將，副左車騎將軍皇甫嵩征討。皇甫嵩以無功免歸，不利。後再派張溫出任司空、車騎將軍，張溫邀請孫堅一起前往，任參軍，屯軍長安。當時，張溫以詔書邀召集董卓，董卓隔了很久才到，張溫於是責罵董卓。當時，孫堅也在場，於是偷偷告訴張溫：「董卓不怕犯罪而對您高傲，應該以檄召不到，以軍法處斬。」張溫說：「董卓以威名在隴蜀之間，今天殺了他恐怕征討邊章等不利。」孫堅說：「您以中央軍討賊，名聲已震天下，何必要依賴董卓？我聽董卓的言論，已經冒犯上司，這是第一罪；邊章等人在西域跋扈多年，應該立即撲滅，董卓討寇不力，使士氣大挫，是第二罪；董卓無功無勞，又應召不到，氣宇高傲，是第三罪。古代將領，以朝廷威儀服眾，沒有說不殺人就可以立威的。過去穰苴斬莊賈，魏絳殺揚干都是。今天您對他心軟，不立即動手，恐怕有損軍威。」懦弱的張溫實在不敢這麼做，反而說：「你快走罷！免得董卓懷疑。」孫堅於是離去。後來，董卓進京，張溫反被董卓所殺。

區星之亂

中平四年（187年）長沙賊軍首領區星自稱將軍，萬眾餘人攻圍城邑，朝廷敕封孫堅為長沙太守。孫堅到郡中親率將士，施方略設備，不到一個月的時間，攻克破區星。周朝、郭石亦率徒眾起於零陵、桂陽，與區星相呼應起兵，遂越境過去零陵與桂陽征討周朝、郭石，郡中震服，三郡整肅。漢朝以孫堅的平亂戰功，封其爵位為烏程侯。當任太守期間推舉當地名士桓階為孝廉。

當時宜春縣被賊兵攻打，時宜春縣令是廬江太守陸康的侄兒，卻派使者求助于孫堅。孫堅整裝待發，主簿勸孫堅不要越界征討，孫堅說：「我沒有什麼文德，以征討為功，越界幫忙也是為了保全別的郡國，即使獲罪，我也無愧于天下！」于是進兵，賊兵聞風而散。

群雄討董

初平元年（190年）初，東郡太守橋瑁向各地諸侯發出討伐董卓的檄文，眾諸侯紛紛起兵響應討伐董卓，孫堅在長沙起兵北上前往會盟。荊州刺史王叡一向待孫堅無禮。王叡起兵討伐董卓前，聲稱要先討伐與自己不和的武陵太守曹寅。曹寅怕被殺，便偽造案行使者溫毅的檄文交給孫堅，檄文中要求孫堅誅殺王叡。孫堅立即領兵前往王叡處，王叡問：「我（有）何罪？」孫堅答道：「坐無所知。」（你的罪過就是什麼都不知道。）王叡便吞金自殺（把生金削到酒中，然後灌下，古書載：生金有毒。）。南陽太守張咨在孫堅軍過時不加以支援。孫堅送牛、酒給張咨，張咨次日亦上門答謝，二人酒宴正酣時，長沙主簿入內報告孫堅：「前移南陽，而道路不治，軍資不具，請收主簿推問意故。」張咨十分恐懼，卻因四周士兵封鎖無法離開。不久，主簿又報：「南陽太守稽停義兵，使賊不時討，請收出案軍法從事。」張咨隨即被斬。從此無人敢不滿足孫堅軍的要求。孫堅率軍到達魯陽，盟於袁術。袁術立即上表朝廷，表奏孫堅破虜將軍，領豫州刺史。故孫堅又稱為「孫破虜」。

臨危不懼

初平元年（190年）冬，孫堅派長史公仇稱回州督促軍糧，於城門東外設帳幔，邀請官屬為公仇稱設宴送行。剛好董卓軍數萬步、騎突然出現，但孫堅仍在行酒令、談笑自若，整頓部曲，命他們不可妄動。後來董軍騎兵漸到，孫堅才起來，徐徐率軍入城，對他們說：「向堅所以不即起走，恐兵相蹈藉，諸君不得入耳。（我之所以不立即起來走避，是怕士兵互相爭先，令各人反而不能入城。）」董卓軍見孫堅軍整齊，不敢攻勢而歸還。

後孫堅改屯梁東，而董卓派徐榮、李蒙四出虜掠，與孫堅在梁縣發生遭遇戰，孫軍大敗，孫堅與數十騎突圍而走。因為孫堅兜鍪配戴赤幘（紅色頭巾），太過顯眼被董軍認出，便脫下來給了近將祖茂戴上，引開徐榮軍騎兵，孫堅則由小路逃出。祖茂被敵軍追得困迫，便下馬將頭巾放在一條燒過的柱上，自己則隱藏在草堆中。騎兵看見頭巾，以為是孫堅，便將頭巾重重圍繞，到近看才發現是柱後便離去。孫軍大多兵將被俘，更以殘酷手段所殺，如潁川太守李旻就被烹死，其他士卒則以布纏裹，吊起倒立到地，用熱油灌殺。

斬殺華雄

初平二年（191年）二月，孫堅收復散兵，屯兵陽人，董卓便派胡軫為大督護、呂布為騎督及其他多位都督，率五千步騎攻擊孫堅。呂布與胡軫不和，軍中惟亂，士卒散亂。孫堅追擊，胡軫與呂布敗退。胡軫揚言要斬殺一個長官，做為整肅軍紀手段，各都督聽到後都十分討厭他。當到達離陽人城數十里的廣成已是黃昏，兵馬疲乏，又受董卓節度，便下紮餵馬、休息，準備在夜裡出發，次日早上攻城。各將領討厭胡軫，想要破壞他的計劃，呂布等便揚言陽人的士兵已走，應立即追擊。胡軫立即出兵，但原來孫堅軍已整頓守備，董軍無奈，加上吏士飢渴，人馬疲乏，唯有就地休息。呂布又大喊敵人偷襲，全軍混亂，棄甲逃走，騎失馬鞍。逃出十多里外，才發現沒有敵人，剛好天亮，便拿回兵器，想再攻城，可是軍隊已被孫堅軍發現，城池已被加固，胡軫等唯有撤退。孫堅出城追擊，大敗敵軍，斬殺都督華雄等人（三國演義為尊劉貶曹抑孫戲劇效果移花接木給關羽因而虛構出溫酒斬華雄）。

孫堅大敗董卓軍，有人便向袁術進言：「孫堅若得到洛陽，就無法再制約他了，趕走了董卓這匹狼，卻反而迎來了孫堅這隻老虎。」袁術心生疑懼，便不發放運輸糧草給孫堅。孫堅便連夜趕回魯陽，嚴辭切責袁術，且說：「我之所以不顧性命出兵，上為報國討賊、下為報將軍您族人之仇。我孫堅與董卓亦無殺害親人的仇怨，而將軍您卻聽信讒言，竟然還懷疑我。」袁術聽完孫堅之言後感到羞愧，於是立即調度孫堅軍的糧草及軍械，孫堅亦回到陽人。

誓殺董卓

董卓知道孫堅厲害，便派李傕游說孫堅和親，更稱可以令其子弟們擔任刺史、郡守，但孫堅一身英雄氣概，且義正辭嚴的不為所動，並拒絕董卓的利誘，還厲聲嚴喝斥責董卓，聲言要滅其三族，並立即進軍大谷，董卓親自率兵與孫堅在先帝陵墓間發生戰鬥，董卓敗走，移屯澠池，另在陝集兵。孫軍便進入洛陽宣陽城門，擊破董卓軍殿後的中郎將呂布。並掃除宗廟，祠以太牢，孫堅祭祀天地後，分兵出函谷關，到新安、澠池防禦董卓軍。董卓留董越屯兵澠池，段煨屯兵華陰，牛輔屯兵安邑，其他將領留守各縣，制衡山東，自己則出發向長安。而孫堅得不到各路諸侯支持，于修繕漢室皇陵後，便率軍還魯陽。孫堅勇敢對抗董卓引起董卓重視，董卓對長史劉艾說：「關東諸將屢戰屢敗，不足為慮，只有孫堅這傢伙，大家要警惕。」

聯軍星散

雖然先鋒隊孫堅軍攻進了洛陽，但聯軍的諸侯軍閥卻各懷鬼胎，故意按兵不動且飲酒作樂，為了擴大勢力地盤紛紛兼併割據。袁紹、袁術雖為兄弟，可互相也爾虞我詐，勾心鬥角。因袁術不贊同袁紹擁立新帝劉虞的提議，使兄弟二人就此不和。當袁術派孫堅去攻打董卓未歸之時，袁紹卻改派周喁為豫州刺史，想要奪取孫堅的地盤，率兵襲取豫州陽城（今河南省鄭州市登封市陽城區鎮）。孫堅得此訊息，感慨道：「我們同舉義兵，是為了挽救江山社稷。如今逆賊將被掃滅，內部卻如此爭鬥起來，我跟誰戮力同心，回天轉日呢？」語畢便流下英雄淚來，之後孫堅在豫州戰事中對上周喁屢次取勝，亦得到汝潁地區黃巾軍的依附。在此同時，孫堅雖為討董先鋒隊，但始終得不到聯軍各路人馬的支援，當得知討董的聯軍諸侯已經各自割據勢力後，只能在沒有多大的成果之下結束了董卓討伐戰。有史料記載孫堅軍進入洛陽後拾獲傳國璽，但後來被袁術劫持孫堅妻吳夫人以奪取玉璽，作為稱帝的憑據。

將星殞落

初平二年（公元191年），孫堅奉袁術之命討伐荊州劉表。劉表派其部將黃祖出戰，於樊城與鄧州之間決戰，孫堅趁夜幕突襲，黃祖逃入峴山。孫堅部眾繼而入山乘勝追擊黃祖殘部，追至峽谷中一竹林之際，遭黃祖部下呂公佈於兩邊山峽上之伏兵投擲圓木落石。孫堅被落石擊中頭部，當場腦漿迸裂陣亡，享年三十七歲。

長沙人桓階因為曾被孫堅推舉為孝廉，為報此恩，他大膽前往劉表處與其斡旋。劉表欣賞其義行，於是答允其要求，把孫堅的遺體送還給孫家。之後孫堅的侄子孫賁（孫堅之兄孫羌之子）統率孫堅部眾投靠袁術，袁術上奏孫賁為豫州刺史。

卒年疑問

關于孫堅的卒年，史料上有三種記載：

• 初平二年（191年）。《三國志·吳書·孫策傳》裴松之註引《吳錄》所載孫策表文稱「臣年十七，喪失所怙」，孫策死于建安五年（200年），時年26歲，則初平二年（191年）孫策17歲時父親孫堅去世；註文又載「張璠《漢紀》及《吳曆》併以堅初平二年死」。裴松之據以上史料認為陳壽所記載的孫堅卒於192年有誤。司馬光、潘眉、盧弼也認同這一推論。

• 初平三年（192年）。《三國志·吳書·孫堅傳》對孫堅死亡的記載在「初平三年（192年），術使堅征荊州」後，部分人據此認為孫堅卒于192年。《後漢書》、《後漢紀》也記載孫堅死于初平三年（前者作春季、後者系於五月）。

• 初平四年（193年）。《三國志·吳書·孫堅傳》裴松之注引《英雄記》稱：「堅以初平四年正月七日（193年2月25日）死。」

以下為司馬光的《通鑑考異》內容：

後繼有子

孫堅身故之後，由其侄孫賁率領其軍隊，並護送靈柩。另長子孫策本當承襲父親爵位（烏程侯），但孫策讓之於四子孫匡承襲。

建安三年（198年），孫策成功平定江東，建立起江東政權。建安四年（199年）孫策率軍討伐黃祖，迫使黃祖隻身逃走。孫策死後，次弟孫權繼業。

建安八年（203年），孫權率軍戰黃祖爆發了夏口之戰但無功而返失利損兵折將凌操。

建安十三年（208年）春時，孫權再次率軍征伐黃祖爆發了江夏之戰，大將呂蒙打敗黃祖水軍，並收編了甘寧作為麾下，凌統則攻克江夏守軍，孫權軍大獲全勝，黃祖被孫權配下騎兵馮則所殺，並奪取江夏為領土。同年冬時，爆發了赤壁之戰，周瑜及程普率軍大敗曹操於赤壁烏林一帶，奠定了三國鼎立之局面。

黃龍元年（229年）次子孫權稱帝後，立建業為帝都，追諡其父破虜將軍孫堅為「武烈皇帝」，以「思崇嚴父配天之義」尊廟號始祖，葬高陵墓，追諡其母孫破虜吳夫人為「武烈皇后」，追諡其兄討逆將軍孫策為「長沙桓王」，並冊封長子孫登為皇太子，孫策子孫紹為吳侯。

部下

• 程普，字德謀，追隨孫堅，孫堅死後繼而追隨其長子孫策與次子孫權為主公，為東吳三代老將元勳，功勳卓著，軍中諸將最為年長，東吳軍士尊稱為「程公」，後輕視周瑜，便多次羞辱周瑜，但周瑜每次都容忍下來，程普才認同周瑜的氣量與為人。

• 黃蓋，字公覆，追隨孫堅，孫堅死後繼而追隨其長子孫策與次子孫權為主公，為東吳三代老將元勳，和周瑜商量破曹之計，並獻計於周瑜火攻燒船破曹，周瑜認為可行，赤壁之戰火燒戰船，黃蓋領首功。

• 韓當，字義公，追隨孫堅，孫堅死後繼而追隨其長子孫策與次子孫權為主公，為東吳三代老將元勳，韓當因為善使弓術、騎術而且臂力過人而受到孫堅賞識及提拔，對孫氏江東的奠定與穩定付出功不可沒，為東吳立下赫赫戰功。

• 朱治，字君理，初為縣吏，後察孝廉，州闢從事，隨孫堅征伐。中平五年，拜司馬，從討長沙、零、桂等三郡賊周朝、蘇馬等，有功，孫堅表朱治行都尉。從破董卓於陽人，入洛陽。上表為行督軍校尉，特將步騎，東助徐州牧陶謙討黃巾。孫堅戰死後，助孫策，依附袁術。後知袁術心術不正，勸孫策平江東。時太傅馬日磾在壽春，闢朱治為掾，遷吳郡都尉。是時吳景已在丹楊，而孫策為袁術攻廬江，於是劉繇恐為袁術、孫策所並，遂搆嫌隙。而孫策家門盡在州下，朱治使人於曲阿迎孫堅妻吳夫人及孫家弟妹，所以供奉輔護，甚有恩紀。朱治從錢唐欲進到吳郡，破吳郡太守許貢。山賊嚴白虎，朱治遂入郡，領太守事。

• 祖茂，字大榮，在梁縣孫堅遭徐榮伏擊而率眾包圍孫堅，孫堅令近身侍衛祖茂穿戴著孫堅常戴的紅頭巾，董卓騎兵隊以為戴紅頭巾的祖茂是孫堅，祖茂負責引開董卓追兵，於是追擊祖茂，孫堅因此能逃脫。

• 徐琨，追隨孫堅征伐有功，拜偏將軍。孫堅死後，隨孫策討樊能、于麋等於橫江，擊破張英於當利口，擊走笮融、劉繇。領丹楊太守，會吳景委廣陵來東，復為丹楊守，以督軍中郎將領兵，從破廬江太守李術，封廣德侯，遷平虜將軍。後從討黃祖，中流矢卒。父為孫堅妹夫徐真，女兒為孫權徐夫人、孫登養母。

• 吳景，追隨孫堅征伐有功，受騎都尉。孫堅死後，討伐丹楊太守周昕，佔領了丹楊後袁術上表吳景為丹楊太守。袁術與劉備爭奪徐州時，任命吳景為廣陵太守。袁術僭越稱帝時，孫策派人通知吳景。吳景東歸孫策，孫策仍任他為丹陽太守。漢使到來，授銜揚武將軍，仍舊領丹楊。其姊為孫堅正妻孫破虜吳夫人。

• 孫靜，字幼臺，孫堅幼弟，孫堅起兵後以宗室數百人戒備故鄉，協助孫策平定江東一帶，攻伐會稽時，獻策以聲東擊西之計擊敗易守難攻的會稽，後來孫策平定江東後予以重任，孫靜因思念故鄉而推辭，回到家中病死。

• 孫河，字伯海，孫堅族子，曾出繼姑家俞氏。孫河自少跟隨孫堅出征，常常作前驅，後來領孫堅親兵，軍隊內部的事項軍紀他都清楚，被孫堅視為心腹。

• 孫香，字文陽，孫堅再從弟孫孺之子，追隨孫堅征伐有功，孫堅戰死後隨孫策投靠袁術，後因路途遙遠而未能回到江東追隨孫策創業，病死於壽春。

• 孫賁，字伯陽，孫堅侄子，孫堅在長沙起兵時，孫賁棄官追隨孫堅征伐，孫堅戰死後護送孫堅靈柩，並統領孫家部眾依附袁術，孫策率兵過江平江東給予協助，孫策與袁術決裂後，孫賁響應孫策的號召而渡江回江東，領豫章太守封都亭侯。

• 芮祉，字宣嗣，從孫堅征伐有功，孫堅舉薦芮祉為九江太守，後轉吳郡，所在有聲。其長男芮良(字文鸞)隨孫策平江東，孫策任其為會稽東部都尉，其次男芮玄(字文表)在兄長死後統領其兵，並立下不少汗馬功勞，以功被封為溧陽侯。孫權欲為太子孫登娶妃，群臣皆以芮祉、芮良、芮玄以德義文武顯名三世，而推薦芮玄之女。

• 公仇稱，孫堅部下，擔任長史一職，孫堅討伐董卓時派他袁術軍駐地去催促糧草。

評價

• 陳壽：「勇摯剛毅，孤微發跡，導溫戮卓，山陵杜塞，有忠壯之烈。」

• 董卓：「孫堅小戇，頗能用人，當語諸將，使知忌之。」

• 劉艾：「堅雖時見計，故自不如李傕、郭汜。」「堅用兵不如李傕、郭汜。堅前與羌戰於美陽，殆死，無能為！」

• 陸機：「權略紛紜，忠勇伯世，威稜則夷羿震蕩，兵交則醜虜授馘，遂掃清宗祊，蒸禋皇祖。……忠規武節，未有如此其著者也。」

• 華譚：「昔吳之武烈，稱美一代，雖奮奇宛葉，亦受折襄陽。討逆雄氣，志存中夏，臨江發怒，命訖丹徒。」

• 裴松之：「孫堅于興義之中最有忠烈之稱，若得漢神器而潛匿不言，此為陰懷異志，豈所謂忠臣者乎？吳史欲以為國華，而不知損堅之令德。如其果然，以傳子孫，縱非六璽之數，要非常人所畜，孫皓之降，亦不得但送六璽，而寶藏傳國也。受命于天，奚取於歸命之堂，若如喜言，則此璽今尚在孫門。匹夫懷璧，猶曰有罪，而況斯物哉！」

• 孫元宴：「委存張公翊聖材，幾將賢德贊文台。爭教不霸江山得，日月征曾入夢來。」

• 何去非：「特孫堅激于忠勇，投袂特起于區區之下郡，奮以誅卓，雖卓亦獨憚而避之。惜乎！三失大機而功業不就，卒以輕敵遂殞其身，由無謀夫策士以發其智慮之所不及故也。」

• 晁補之：「吳人輕而無謀，自古記之矣。孫堅、孫策皆無王霸器。堅輕騎從敵，策暫出遇仇，俱以輕敗。雖賴周瑜、魯肅輩輔權嗣立，亦權稍持重，故卒建吳國也。」

• 王應麟：「孫堅與策，皆以輕敵隕其身。權出合肥之圍，亦幸而免。 」

• 洪邁：「董卓盜國柄，天下共興義兵討之，惟孫堅以長沙太守先至，為卓所憚，獨為有功。故裴松之謂其最有忠烈之稱。然長沙為荊州屬部，受督于刺史王睿。睿先與堅共擊零、桂賊，以堅武官，言頗輕之。及睿舉兵欲討卓，堅乃承案行使者，詐檄殺之，以償囊忿。南陽太守張咨，鄰郡二千石也，以軍資不具之故，又收斬之。是以區區一郡將，乘一時兵威，輒害方伯、鄰守，豈得為勤王乎？劉表在荊州，乃心王室，袁術志于逆亂，堅乃奉其命而攻之，自速其死，皆可議也。」

• 蕭常：「自董卓稱亂，四方倡義而起者非一，然皆負恃其眾，因之以自封殖，卒無一人嬰其鋒者；獨堅一戰而敗之，遂使西走，修複園陵，祗祀廟社，此其忠義奮發，豈袁、劉輩可同日語哉！惜其孤軍無繼，功弗克就，而其志有足尚也。」

• 郝經：「破虜以雄才壯略，遭漢衰末，慨然有撥定之志。崛起吳會，陵蹈中原，討滅黃巾，勸誅董卓，識度遠矣。逮卓廢立劫遷，奮其忠烈，以偏師追亡逐北，使不敢東。修塞園陵，保完漢璽，威震函洛，向非袁術掣肘，扶義而西，漢未必亡。」

• 王夫之：「孫堅之始起，斬許生而功已著，參張溫之軍事，討邊章而名已立，非不可傑立而稱雄也；奮起誅卓，先群帥而進屯陽人，卓憚之而與和親，乃曰：『不夷汝三族懸示四海，吾死不瞑目。』獨以孤軍進至雒陽，埽除宗廟，修塞諸陵，不自居功，而還軍魯陽。當斯時也，可不謂皎然于青天白日之下而無慚乎？故天下皆舉兵向卓，而能以軀命與卓爭生死者，孫堅而已矣。其次則曹操而已矣。」

• 羅貫中：「誰道江南少將才？明星夜夜照文台。欲誅董卓安天下，為首長沙太守來。」

家庭

子女

• 孫策，字伯符，孫堅長子

• 孫氏，弘咨妻

• 孫氏，陳某妻（未詳是否同一女先後兩嫁）

• 孫權，字仲謀，吳大帝

• 孫翊，字叔弼，孫堅三子

• 孫匡，字季佐，漢烏程侯

• 孫夫人，漢昭烈帝劉備夫人

• 孫朗，孫朗為孫堅庶子，別名孫仁，但未記載生母姓名。而《三國演義》中則將其母定為吳夫人的妹妹吳國太

其中一女為吳夫人所生，未詳是誰。《三國演義》將孫夫人生母定為吳國太。歷史上並未記載吳夫人有妹妹一同嫁給孫堅。

孫

• 孫紹，孫策子，先封吳侯，後改封為上虞侯。

• 孫氏，顧邵妻。

• 孫氏，陸遜妻（陸遜為陸康的從孫）。

• 孫氏，朱紀妻（朱紀為朱治的次子）。

• 孫登，字子高，孫權長子。

• 孫慮，字子智，孫權次子。

• 孫和，字子孝，孫權三子。

• 孫霸，字子威，孫權四子。

• 孫奮，字子揚，孫權五子。

• 孫休，字子烈，孫權六子，被擁立為孫吳第三任皇帝。

• 孫亮，字子明，孫權七子，繼任為孫吳第二任皇帝。

• 孫魯班，字大虎，孫權長女，先配周循，後配全琮。

• 孫氏（待考），孫權次女。劉纂妻，早卒。

• 孫魯育，字小虎，孫權三女，先配朱據，後配劉纂。

• 孫氏（待考），滕胤妻。

• 孫松，字子喬，射聲校尉，封都鄉侯。黃龍三年卒。

• 孫泰（曹氏之甥、為長水校尉。嘉禾三年，跟從孫權圍新城，中流矢而死）

後代

孫堅是孫子的後人，而孫中山的族譜上記載，孫中山是孫子的世系，也就是說其實孫中山是孫堅的後代。

藝術形象

影視形象

• 中國中央電視台電視劇《三國演義》（1994年）：由吳曉東飾演孫堅。

• 台灣民視/八大電視劇《終極三國》（2009年）：由那維勳飾演孫堅。

• 中國電視劇《三國》（2010年）：由范雨林飾演孫堅。

• 周顯揚執導電影《真·三國無雙》（2021年）：由袁文康飾演孫堅。

動漫遊戲形象

• 真三國無雙系列 / 無雙OROCHI系列（光榮公司開發，徳山靖彥配音）

• 《蒼天航路》（王欣太）

• 《火鳳燎原》（陳某）、《火鳳燎原》外傳小說《伯符》（王貽興）:已死，僅在回顧如何得到王壐和戰死的劇情中登場，在外傳小說《伯符》中交代在襄陽之戰中為袁術手下無名軍師的計謀安排下被時為黃祖之手下甘寧所射殺。

• 《BB戰士三國傳》孫堅積菲沙斯

• 《SD高達世界 三國創傑傳》孫堅迷惘高達

註釋及資料來源