Sun Jun (Eastern Wu)
Sun Jun (孫峻) (219-256), courtesy name Ziyuan (子遠), was a regent for the emperor Sun Liang of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period.
He was a great-grandson of Sun Jing (孫靜), the uncle of Eastern Wu's founding emperor Sun Quan (Emperor Da). Late in Sun Quan's reign, he became a trusted personal assistant of Sun Quan's, and he was said to have been, in conjunction with Sun Quan's daughter Sun Dahu (孫大虎), involved in falsely accusing Crown Prince Sun He, leading to Sun He's removal as crown prince in 250. At his and Princess Dahu's recommendation, Sun Quan created his youngest son Sun Liang as his successor. Again at Sun Jun's recommendation, Sun Quan named Zhuge Ke regent for Sun Liang in 251, and after his death in 252, Sun Jun became a key assistant to Zhuge.
In 253, after Zhuge had suffered a major military defeat to Cao Wei and subsequently refused to admit fault but instead tried to wipe out all dissent, Sun Jun assassinated him and took over as regent. There was initial anticipation that he might be willing to share power with other key officials, but he instead consolidated power into his own hands. He was not known for his accomplishments during his regency, and he was severe in his punishments. As a result, there were several conspiracies against his life during his regency, including one in 254 led by Sun Ying (孫英) the Marquess of Wu, the son of Sun Quan's oldest son Sun Deng, and one in 255, which Princess Dahu (with whom Sun Jun might have had an affair) falsely accused her sister Sun Xiaohu (孫小虎) of being the leader of, and Sun Jun had Princess Xiaohu executed.
In 256, at the urging of Wen Qin, a Cao Wei general who had surrendered to Eastern Wu after a rebellion of his and Guanqiu Jian's failed, Sun Jun considered launching a major attack against Cao Wei, but as he was about to do so, he grew ill. He transferred his powers to his cousin Sun Lin and then died. Sun Lin succeeded him.
In 258, after Sun Lin had deposed Sun Liang and had in turn been executed by the succeeding emperor Sun Xiu, Sun Jun's casket was disinterred and reduced in size, as a sign of imperial disapproval.
References
- Records of the Three Kingdoms, vol. 64.
- Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 75, 76, 77.