, was from Zhongdu, Taiyuan. He was a powerful minister in the
during the Three Kingdoms period. Most of his biographical details in the
.
Life
Early Life and Achievements
Sun Zi lost his parents at the age of three and was raised by his elder brother and sister-in-law. He was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, read extensively, and was recognized by Wang Yun from the same county. When Cao Cao served as Grand Commandant, he summoned Sun Zi to serve, but at that time, Sun Zi's brother was killed, and he avenged his brother by slaying the murderer. He then fled to Hedong, thus not accepting Cao Cao's summons. Later, encouraged by his friend Jia Kui, Sun Zi entered public service, initially as a clerk. Cao Cao later recommended him for the position of Secretary, but Sun Zi returned to Hedong due to family difficulties.
After the establishment of the State of Wei, Sun Zi mainly held the title of Director of the Secretariat and, along with the Chief of the Secretariat Liu Fang, managed confidential matters. He was highly favored by Cao Pi and Cao Rui, though his rank was slightly lower than that of Liu Fang.
Defensive Strategy
In 228 AD, when Zhuge Liang prepared to launch a northern expedition from Hanzhong, Cao Rui, following the advice of his ministers, planned to advance to Nanzheng to attack Shuhan. He consulted Sun Zi, who argued that attacking Shuhan would be difficult due to its rugged terrain and the southern threat posed by Wu, which had the natural barrier of the Yangtze River. Sun Zi suggested instead to have a general hold the strategic points, allowing Wei to grow stronger over time while Wu and Shuhan would eventually weaken themselves. Cao Rui followed this advice.
Strategy Against Wu
Around 226 AD, Peng Qi in Jiangnan rebelled. Some believed that it was an opportunity to attack Wu and achieve success, but Sun Zi disagreed. He pointed out that even with the support of rebels, Cao Pi had failed to capture Jiangling, which had only a thousand defenders. Therefore, he concluded that Peng Qi would not be a significant threat to Wu and advised against attacking. Soon after, Peng Qi was indeed defeated.
Towards the end of the Tahe era, Wu tried to recruit Gongsun Yuan in Liaodong. Cao Rui wanted to attack, but most ministers advised against it. Sun Zi supported the idea, and as a result, Wei defeated Wu's forces, leading to his promotion to Marquis of Zuo Xiang.
Rescuing Tian Yu
Tian Yu, the Commandant of Wuhuan, had defeated Kebi Neng and retreated to Mayi. Kebi Neng then led 30,000 cavalry to surround Tian Yu. Cao Rui sought advice from Sun Zi, who suggested: "Yan Zhi, the Governor of Shanggu and brother of Yan Rou, is trusted by Kebi Neng. Send a decree ordering Yan Zhi to persuade Kebi Neng, and it will be resolved without further military action." Cao Rui followed this plan, and Kebi Neng indeed retreated and released Tian Yu.
Close Advisor to Emperor Ming
Sun Zi often advised Cao Rui: "When mobilizing a large army for significant actions, it is advisable to consult with the ministers; this not only demonstrates transparency but also broadens the scope of discussion." Man Chong, the General of the Eastern Expedition, and Xuzhou Governor Xu Miao, who held high positions and significant power while leading troops away from the capital, were frequently criticized. Sun Zi defended them by explaining their usual conduct, ensuring they did not fall under suspicion. Man Chong and Xu Miao maintained their achievements thanks to Sun Zi's help. Sun Zi's fellow townsman, Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat Tian Yu (a different person from the aforementioned Military Advisor Tian Yu of Yuyang), had once slandered him, but Sun Zi was unperturbed. Later, when Tian Yu felt ashamed and sought reconciliation, Sun Zi agreed and arranged for his eldest son Sun Hong to marry Tian Yu's daughter, while also taking care of the elderly Tian Yu.
In the second year of Jingchu, Sun Zi was promoted to Marquis of Zhongdu County for his role in the Liaodong campaign. That year, Cao Rui fell ill and considered appointing Prince Yan (Cao Yu) as Grand General, along with Xiahou Xian, Cao Shuang, Cao Zha, and Cao Cao's adopted son Qin Lang to assist in governance. However, Cao Yu was known for his humility and declined the position. Cao Rui summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi and asked: "Why is Prince Yan acting this way?" Liu Fang and Sun Zi replied: "Prince Yan knows he is not capable of such a great responsibility." Cao Rui then asked if Cao Shuang could take over, to which both agreed. They also strongly recommended recalling Sima Yi to support the royal family. Initially, Cao Rui agreed, but later he was dissuaded by Cao Zha. He summoned Liu Fang and Sun Zi again, saying: "I wanted to recall Sima Yi myself, but I was stopped by Cao Zha and others, almost ruining my plans." Consequently, he dismissed Cao Yu, Xiahou Xian, Cao Shang, Cao Zha, and Qin Lang. Upon his arrival, Sima Yi accepted the summons, and shortly after, Cao Rui died. According to The History of Wei and Jin, Xiahou Xian and Cao Zha had long been hostile towards Liu Fang and Sun Zi, so their actions were likely aimed at eliminating political rivals. Pei Songzhi noted that Liu Fang and Sun Zi's praise of Cao Shuang and recommendation to recall Sima Yi laid the foundation for Wei's decline.
Cao Fang succeeded to the throne, and Sun Zi's fief was increased to 1,000 households. In the first year of Zhengshi, he was appointed as a Right Grand Tutor with a golden seal and purple sash, enjoying the same privileges as the Three Excellencies. In the second year of Jiaping (October 250 AD), he was specially promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry. He died on the day Gengzi in the eighth month of the following year (August 29, 251 AD) and was posthumously honored as Zhong Hou.
Evaluation
• Xun Yu: "The northern regions have suffered from chaos for a long time, and I thought their wise men had all perished. Now I see Sun Ji Jun again!"
• Cao Fang: "You have managed confidential affairs for over thirty years, handling various matters with great accomplishment in the previous reigns. When I ascended to the throne, I relied on your wise advice. Therefore, in the past, I bestowed you with honors and placed you on par with the Three Excellencies, leading the officials outside and expecting candid advice inside."
• Chen Shou, in the Records of the Three Kingdoms: "Liu Fang's talent and strategy surpassed Sun Zi, but his self-cultivation was inferior. Both were good at pleasing their rulers and never openly criticized or praised them. They suppressed Xin Pi while supporting Wang Si, which earned them criticism from contemporaries. However, they often supported the arguments of other ministers in private discussions, offering constructive suggestions without being solely flattering."
• Pei Songzhi: "Praising Cao Shuang and recommending Sima Yi, the downfall of Wei began with these actions."
• Wang Fuzhi: "During Emperor Zihuan's reign, Jia Xu, Xin Pi, Liu Ye, and Sun Zi could foresee events from a distance and handle them steadily."
Artistic Representation
Film and Television
• 2017 TV series The Great Chancellor Sima Yi: Alliance of the Strategists: Wang Gang
Family
Lineage
Ancestors
Sun Hui, a governor of Xihedao during the Western Han dynasty, is his eleventh-generation ancestor.
Further Reading
References
• 孫資 (Chinese)
The text above incorporates content created automatically using artifical intelligence.
Sun Zi (2nd century - 251 AD), styled Yanlong, was from Zhongdu, Taiyuan. He was a powerful minister in the State of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. Most of his biographical details in the Records of the Three Kingdoms are combined with those of Liu Fang, and there is also a separate Biography of Sun Zi.