Biography

Sun Yang initially served as a Military Secretary to the Light Chariot Prince and heir of Linchuan in the Southern Liang. He later transferred to serve as a Middle Army Officer for Water Transport under Prince Xiaoling of Shao. When Prince Xiaoling, Xiao Lun, was assigned to govern Yingzhou, Sun Yang accompanied him. During the Hou Jing Rebellion, Sun Yang was appointed as Acting Commander, Proclaimed Valiant General, and Military Leader.

Wang Sengbian led a campaign against Hou Jing, and Sun Yang was recommended by his classmate Wang Lin to serve as Rongzhao General and Prefect of Yidu. He followed Wang Sengbian to assist Xu Wensheng in rescuing Wuchang. When Yingzhou fell, Sun Yang defended Baling, fortifying the defenses. Hou Jing's army attacked and besieged Baling, but Sun Yang fought day and night, forcing Hou Jing to retreat. Sun Yang then joined the Liang forces advancing eastward, making significant contributions at Gushe. He was appointed as an Additional Riding Constable and enfeoffed as the Marquis of Fuyang. He served as Acting Commander, Xiongxin General, and Magistrate of Hengyang Commandery but did not take up the post. Instead, he transferred to serve as Military Secretary in the Pingnan Army in Hengzhou.

He achieved military success by defeating the Yellow Cave tribes and was appointed Prefect of Dongguan Commandery and Acting Governor of Guangzhou. He received the title Zhiewu General and was put in charge of Xiangzhou affairs. In 555 (the first year of Shaotai), Emperor Jing of Liang ascended the throne and appointed him as Commander, Renwei General, and Prefect of Bashu Commandery.

In 557 (the first year of Yongding), the Southern Chen Dynasty was established. The following year, Wang Lin in Yingzhou supported Prince Yongjia of Liang, Xiao Zhuang. Wang Lin summoned Sun Yang to serve as Grand Treasurer and appointed him as an Additional Riding Constable. When Wang Lin attacked the Southern Chen, he named Sun Yang as Commander, Riding Constable, Governor of the Five Commanderies (Yingzhou, Jingzhou, Bazhou, Wuzhou, and Xiangzhou), Anxi General, and Prefect of Yingzhou, leaving him to defend Yingzhou. In 560 (the first year of Tianjia), Northern Zhou's Shi Ning led an army of 40,000 to attack Yingzhou. Sun Yang's assistant Zhang Shigui surrendered the outer city to Northern Zhou, resulting in the loss of 3,000 civilians and soldiers for Sun Yang. The Northern Zhou army built earth mounds and high ladders, attacking day and night, setting fire to the inner city's southern walls, burning fifty towers. With fewer than a thousand soldiers, Sun Yang encouraged his troops with food and drink. The Northern Zhou attack on Yingzhou was strenuous. They offered Sun Yang the rank of Pillar State General and Prefect of Bashu Commandery, enfeoffing him as Marquis of Ten Thousand Households to win his loyalty. Sun Yang pretended to agree but took advantage of the slower attacks to reinforce the city defenses. The Chen army defeated Wang Lin and pursued them, leading the Northern Zhou forces to lift the siege on Yingzhou and retreat. In March, Sun Yang surrendered to the Southern Chen, serving as Commander, Riding Constable, Annan General, Prefect of Xiangzhou Commandery, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Dingxiang.

In 561 (the second year of Tianjia), Sun Yang requested an audience at court and was appointed as Riding Constable and Central Leader. However, he did not take up the position. Emperor Wen of Chen asked Sun Yang, "In the Western Han Dynasty, Zhu Maichen wished to serve as Prefect of his home commandery. Do you have similar aspirations?" Thus, Sun Yang transferred to Commander, Antong General, and Prefect of Wuxian Commandery. After completing his term, he was recalled to serve as Riding Constable and Middle Protector. When Liu Yi rebelled in Dongyang, Sun Yang led the navy to suppress him. In January 563 (the fourth year of Tianjia), he received the title Zhenyou General. He then served as Commander, Antong General, Prefect of Jian'an Commandery. During the Guangda period, he was dismissed from office due to a public matter but later reinstated as an Additional Riding Constable.

In March 572 (the fourth year of Taijian), Sun Yang served as Commander and Governor of Jingzhou and Xingzhou Military Affairs, Anxi General, Prefect of Jingzhou Commandery, stationed in Gong'an. He held this position for six years before being dismissed due to involvement in a case. He was later reinstated as an Additional RidingConstable. In March 578 (the tenth year of Taijian), he served as Commander and Supervisor of Water and Land Military Affairs along the Yangtze River, Zhenxi General. In October, he served as Riding Constable, Commander and Governor of the Five Commanderies' Military Affairs (Jingzhou, Yingzhou, Bazhou, Wuzhao, Xiangzhou), Prefect of Yingzhou Commandery. In 580 (the twelfth year of Taijian), due to a crime involving communication with enemy states at the border, he was dismissed by Emperor Xuan of Chen.

In 582 (the fourteenth year of Taijian), when Emperor Houzhu of Chen ascended the throne, Sun Yang was reappointed as an Additional Riding Constable and concurrently appointed as Minister of Works. In June, he served as Middle Protector, restoring his title. He entered court as Minister of Revenue and concurrently served as Commander of Foot Soldiers. He received a promotion to Riding Constable and transferred to Attendant-in-Ordinary and Minister of Sacrifice. Emperor Houzhu frequently visited Sun Yang's home, writing poems praising his contributions. He served as Minister of the Five Armies and concurrently as Right Army General. Due to his advanced age, he repeatedly requested retirement, but Emperor Houzhu did not allow it. In 587 (the first year of Zhengming), he died in office at the age of seventy-two. He was posthumously honored as Protector General and given the posthumous name Huan.

Children

Sun Yang had 21 sons.

Sun Rang (died young)

Sun Xun (served as Prefect of Linxiang, Direct Chamber General, and Prefect of Gaotang; after the fall of Chen, he served in the Sui dynasty)

Further Reading

References

• 孫瑒 (Chinese)

生平

初任南梁輕車臨川嗣王行參軍，轉任安西邵陵王水曹中兵參軍事。邵陵王蕭綸出鎮郢州，孫瑒隨蕭綸到郢州赴任。侯景之亂爆發，孫瑒被任命為假節、宣猛將軍、軍主。王僧辯討伐侯景，孫瑒被同學王琳推薦為戎昭將軍、宜都郡太守，跟隨王僧辯救援武昌徐文盛。郢州陷落，孫瑒駐守巴陵，加固防備。侯景軍來攻，包圍巴陵，孫瑒日夜奮戰，侯景軍撤退。孫瑒隨梁軍東下，在姑孰力功有功。受位員外散騎常侍，封富陽縣侯。擔任假節、雄信將軍、衡陽郡內史，沒有赴任，轉任衡州平南府司馬。擊破黃洞蠻立有戰功，任東莞郡太守，代行廣州刺史。受號智武將軍，監湘州事。555年（紹泰元年），梁敬帝即位，任命他為持節、仁威將軍、巴州刺史。

557年（永定元年）南陳建國，翌年王琳在郢州擁立南梁永嘉王蕭莊。王琳召孫瑒擔任太府卿，受位通直散騎常侍。王琳攻打南陳，命孫瑒為使持節、散騎常侍、都督郢荊巴武湘五州諸軍事、安西將軍、郢州刺史，留守郢州。560年（天嘉元年），北周史寧率兵四萬攻打郢州，孫瑒的助防張世貴將郢州外城獻給北周投降，孫瑒因此損失軍民男女三千人。周軍堆土山築高梯，日夜攻城，乘風放火，火燒內城南面五十樓。孫瑒的兵士不足一千人，孫瑒以酒食鼓勵兵士士氣。周軍攻郢州艱苦。以任命孫瑒為柱國、郢州刺史，封萬戶郡公籠絡他。孫瑒假裝同意，趁攻城漸緩加強城防。陳軍破王琳，乘勝追擊，周軍解郢州之圍而退。三月孫瑒降陳，擔任使持節、散騎常侍、安南將軍、湘州刺史，封定襄縣侯。

561年（天嘉二年），孫瑒請求入朝，被任命為散騎常侍、中領軍。沒有赴任，陳文帝問孫瑒「西漢的朱買臣希望擔任本郡的太守，卿有此意乎」，于是孫瑒轉任持節、安東將軍、吳郡太守。任期結束，召還為散騎常侍、中護軍。留異在東陽反陳，孫瑒率水軍征討。563年（天嘉四年）正月受號鎮右將軍。出任使持節、安東將軍、建安郡太守。光大年間，因為公事被免官，複職為通直散騎常侍。

572年（太建四年）三月，擔任都督荊信二州諸軍事、安西將軍、荊州刺史，駐守公安。在任六年，因事連座免官，複職為通直散騎常侍。578年（太建十年）三月，擔任使持節・督緣江水陸諸軍事、鎮西將軍。十月，擔任散騎常侍、都督荊郢巴武湘五州諸軍事、郢州刺史。580年（太建十二年），在國境上犯有與敵國交通之罪被陳宣帝免官。

582年（太建十四年），陳後主即位，再任通直散騎常侍，兼起部尚書。六月擔任中護軍，恢復爵位，入朝為度支尚書，兼步兵校尉。加散騎常侍，轉任侍中、祠部尚書。後主多次到孫瑒家中探望，作詩頌揚他的功勞。擔任五兵尚書，兼右軍將軍。因為年老多次請求致仕，陳後主不許。587年（禎明元年），在官任上去世。享年七十二歲，追贈護軍將軍，諡桓子。

子女

孫瑒有21子。

• 孫讓（早逝）

• 孫訓（歷任臨湘縣令、直閤將軍・高唐郡太守、陳滅亡後，仕隋）

延伸閱讀

參考資料

• 孫瑒 (維基百科)