Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Sun Ben was a military general serving under the Sun family during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He was the eldest son of Sun Qiang and a cousin of Sun Ce. After the death of Sun Jian, Sun Ben took command of his uncle’s troops and joined Yuan Shu. Later, he defected to Sun Ce and actively participated in the expansion of the Sun family’s power in the Jiangdong region, notably serving as the Administrator of Yuzhang.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s epic, Sun Ben is depicted as a loyal supporter of his cousin Sun Ce. He provides steady leadership in the southern regions and helps stabilize the territories secured by the Sun clan, acting as a reliable military commander during the conquest of the south.
Sun Ben — Historical & Literary Timeline
Joining Sun Ce
Sun Ben abandons Yuan Shu to join forces with his cousin Sun Ce in Jiangdong.
Administrator of Yuzhang
Sun Ben is appointed to govern Yuzhang Commandery and continues to serve the Sun clan faithfully.
Key Relationships
Family
- Sun Qiang (孙羌, Tôn Khương): Father. Elder twin brother of foundational warlord Sun Jian.
- Sun Jian (孙坚, Tôn Kiên): Paternal uncle. Posthumously Emperor Wulie, the famed Tiger of Jiangdong.
- Sun Fu (孙辅, Tôn Phụ): Younger brother. Senior general and Marquis of Fengli who assisted in conquering Jiangdong.
- Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách): First cousin. Little Conqueror of Jiangdong under whose leadership Sun Ben fought as a core frontline commanding general.
- Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền): First cousin. Founding Emperor Da of Eastern Wu who appointed Sun Ben as Grand Administrator of Yuzhang and Marquis of Linru.
- Sun Lin (孙邻, Tôn Lân): Son. Senior general of Eastern Wu who rose to General of the Martial Guard and Area Commander of Raozhou.
- Lady Sun (孙氏, Tôn Thị): Daughter. Married Cao Zhang (Prince of Rencheng, son of Cao Cao), forging a dynastic marital alliance.
Friends
- Yuan Shu (袁术, Viên Thuật): Warlord of Huainan. Following Sun Jian’s death in 191 AD, Sun Ben led Sun Jian’s remaining army to join Yuan Shu, who appointed him Inspector of Yuzhou; Sun Ben later severed ties when Yuan Shu usurped the imperial throne (197 AD).
- Wu Jing (吴景, Ngô Cảnh): Maternal uncle of Sun Ce. Co-commanded the Jiangdong conquest campaigns alongside Sun Ben at Hengjiang and Dangli (195 AD).
- Zhou Yu (周瑜, Chu Du): Grand Commander of Wu who collaborated with Sun Ben during the consolidation of the southern commanderies.
Enemies
- Liu Yao (刘繇, Lưu Do): Han Governor of Yang Province. Clashed with Sun Ben and Wu Jing across the Yangtze River at Hengjiang and Qu’a before being completely routed by Sun Ce’s army (195 AD).
- Zhou Ang (周昂, Chu Ngang): Warlord under Yuan Shao who attempted to seize Yuzhou; Sun Ben co-commanded the army that defeated him at Yangcheng (191 AD).
- Hua Xin (华歆, Hoa Hâm): Grand Administrator of Yuzhang. Sun Ben and Sun Ce marched on Yuzhang in 199 AD, successfully persuading Hua Xin to surrender peacefully.
- Shanyue Rebels (豫章山越叛军, Quân nổi loạn Sơn Việt ở Dự Chương): Mountain tribal insurgents whose repeated uprisings in Yuzhang Sun Ben pacified across his sixteen-year governorship (200–208 AD).
Others
- No information
In Novel
Chapter 15
- Sun Ben (孙贲, Tôn Bôn): Sun Ben is Sun Jian’s nephew and an early supporter of Sun Ce. After Sun Jian’s death, he helps maintain the family’s military and political position in Jiangdong and participates in Sun Ce’s expansion.
In History
Early Sun Family
- Sun Ben (孙贲, Tôn Bôn) was a cousin of Sun Ce (孙策, Tôn Sách) and Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền). He was one of the early military leaders who helped the Sun family establish power in Jiangdong.
Service under Sun Ce
- Sun Ben joined Sun Ce during the campaigns to conquer territories south of the Yangtze. He commanded troops and received important regional appointments.
Political Importance
- Because of his kinship with the Sun clan and his military experience, Sun Ben became one of the senior figures of the early regime.
Later Life
- He remained associated with the Sun family after Sun Quan inherited leadership following Sun Ce’s death. His career represents the role of close relatives in the formation of Eastern Wu.