Sun Chuanting

Sun Chuanting
Born (1593-01-01)1 January 1593
Dai County, Shanxi, Ming Empire
Died 3 November 1643(1643-11-03) (aged 50)
Tongguan County, Shaanxi, Ming Empire
Allegiance Ming Empire (to 1643)
Years of service 1636–1643
Rank Field Marshal
Commands held Governor of Shaanxi
Defence Minister
Field Marshal
Battles/wars
  • Battle of Zhouzhi
  • Battle of Tongguan Nanyuan
  • Decisive Battles of Henan
  • Battle of Nanyang
  • Battle of Zhuxianzhen
  • Battle of Tongguan

Sun Chuanting (Chinese: 孫傳庭; pinyin: Sūn Chuántíng; 1 January 1593 – 3 November 1643), courtesy name Boya, was born in Shanxi; he was the late Ming Dynasty's Defence minister (Bingbu Shangshu), and field Marshal (Dushi). He led 100,000 Ming troops against Li Zicheng's 700,000 troops. He was defeated and killed by Li in the Battle of Tongguan (1643).

Graduating as jinshi in 1619, he rose in 1635 to be Governor of Shaanxi, and by active measures stamped out the existing rebel movement. After an unsatisfactory campaign in Henan against the rebels there, he became Viceroy of Shandong and a part of Zhili. The fall of Jinan in 1639 was made a pretext for imprisoning him; however, in 1642 he was appointed Vice President of the Board of War and hastened with the garrison of Beijing to relieve Kaifeng, long besieged by Li Zicheng.

After Sun scored some initial victories, Li retreated his forces while leaving behind mass amounts of valuables. The Ming troops were undisciplined and broke rank to loot the valuables. Li then countered attacked and scattered the Song troops. Sun had no choice but to retreat to Shaanxi as Viceroy. He planned to hold off Li's forces until the rest of Ming can reinforce it. But in spite of Sun's representation that all the tried soldiers were dead and the new recruits not yet serviceable, Chongzhen Emperor wants a quick victory against the rebels and Sun was obliged to advance against Li. Li soon scattered his raw levies.

With great difficulty he raised fresh forces and again advanced. At first successful, he reached the Jia District only to find that heavy rains had made it impossible for supplies to come forward. He therefore fell back with two divisions, pursued by the rebels. The inexperienced artillerymen deserted their guns and a rout ensued, 40,000 men being lost. Li followed up his advantage, and in November the Tongguan Pass was forced and Sun was killed, fighting to the last.[1]

Sun Chuanting is a primary character in the 2013 Chinese historical film Fall of Ming (Chinese: 大明劫), played by actor Leon Dai.[2]

See also

References

History of Ming Ch.262

  1. ↑ Herbert Allen Giles, A Chinese Biographical Dictionary, p. 686.
  2. ↑ Elley, Derek (August 16, 2013). "Fall of Ming". Film Business Asia. Retrieved April 15, 2015.

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