Shan Xiongxin

Shan Xiongxin (? – 5 June 621[1]) was a general, top warrior and peasant uprising leader during the transitional era between the Sui and Tang dynasties.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Shan.
Shan Xiongxin
单雄信
Left Wuhou General
In office
617 (617)–618 (618)
MonarchLi Mi
Grand General
In office
618 (618)–620 (620)
MonarchWang Shichong
Personal details
Bornunknown
Caoxian
Died5 June 621
Luoyang

In history

Shan Xiongxin was born in Caoxian, Shandong region. He possessed great physical strength and specialised in the use of spears; he was nicknamed "Flying General" (飛將) for his martial prowess. When the uprising of Wagang Army broke out in 613, Shan Xiongxin and his friend Xu Shiji joined this peasant rebellion.[2] Due to his bravery, he was soon promoted to become a general in the peasant army. In 617, after the highest power of the Wagang Army shifted from Zhai Rang to Li Mi, Shan Xiongxin was promoted to Left Wuhou General. After an internal struggle, Li Mi killed Zhai Rang. Li Mi's advisor Fang Yanzao suggested that Li Mi should kill Shan Xiongxin because Shan was a close follower to Zhai Rang. However, Li Mi did not kill Shan Xiongxin because he liked Shan's talent.[3][4]

In 618, Shan Xiongxin took part in the battle between Wagang Army and Yuwen Huaji, who just executed the Emperor Yang of Sui earlier in the same year. Yuwen Huaji was seriously weakened in this battle and would finally be defeated by Dou Jiande. Later, Wagang Army started to fight against Wang Shichong, the warlord based in Luoyang. Li Mi underestimated Wang Shichong's strength and was defeated in Yanshi. Shan Xiongxin surrendered to Wang Shichong.[5]

Wang Shichong named Shan Xiongxin as his grand general. In 620, Tang forces, led by Li Shimin, started to attack Wang Shichong, aiming to wipe him out and reunify China. Shan Xiongxin was the most reliable general fighting for Wang Shichong during this campaign. When Li Shimin was touring the Xuanwuling to inspect the frontline, Shan Xiongxin charged forth and engaged Li Shimin in a duel, and almost killed him. However, Li Shimin's follower Yuchi Jingde arrived in time and defeated Shan Xiongxin.[6]

After the Battle of Hulao, Wang Shichong surrendered to the Tang dynasty. Shan was captured by Li Shimin and was executed. Before the execution, his friend Xu Shiji, who surrendered to the Tang dynasty after the collapse of Wagang Army, tried to save him by persuading Li Shimin that Shan was one of the best warriors in the region who could be useful for Tang. However, Li Shimin had made his mind on killing Shan Xiongxin. Xu Shiji met Shan Xiongxin in the prison for the last time and cried. He cut off a piece of his flesh from the leg and asked Shan Xiongxin to swallow it, so that he could be always with Shan Xiongxin.[7][8]

Main article: 18 Warriors of Sui-Tang Period

Shan Xiongxin is one of the most important figures in folk tales about the Sui and Tang dynasties. In the legend, Xiongxin was said to be his courtesy name while his given name was Shan Tong. He was one of the top-tier warriors at that time and was known for his bravery and generous. His weapon was a lance with golden nails. He had an elder brother named Shan Xiongzhong, who was accidentally killed by Li Yuan, who later became the founding emperor of the Tang dynasty. Shan brothers were said to be gang heads in Hebei area with good reputations on helping poor people and punish bad officials. When Qin Shubao was in trouble, Shan Xiongxin tried his best to help Qin. Later, both Shan and Qin joined Wagang Army. After the Wagang failed, Qin Shubao submitted to the Tang dynasty. However, because the Tang emperor killed his brother, Shan refused to do so. He became a son-in-law of Wang Shichong. After battles at Luoyang, Shan Xiongxin was captured by Li Shimin. Li Shimin apologized his father's fault to Shan Xiongxin, hoping Shan would submit to Tang. However, Shan still refused to surrender. Li Shimin had to execute him.

In some versions of a legend, Yeon Gaesomun, the general of Goguryeo, was said to be the next life of Shan Xiongxin. In the legend, he had at least one son called Shan Tianchang, who submitted to the Tang dynasty later, and was finally killed in a battle against Turkic Khaganate.

Family

Ancestor:

Son:

  • Shan Daozhen: Sima (vice governor) of Liangzhou in the Tang dynasty

Grandsons:

Notable great-grandsons:

  • Shan Youling: Teacher of the Crown Prince
  • Shan Buxian
  • Shan Guangye

After 11 generations:

  • Brothers Shan Xing, Shan Wang, Shan Mao and Shan Sheng: Key members of Huang Chao's uprising

References
  1. Volume 189 of Zizhi Tongjian mentioned that Shan Xiongxin was executed along with other supporters of Wang Shichong on the dingmao day of the 5th month of the 4th year of the Wude era of Li Yuan's reign. This corresponds to 5 Jun 621 on the Julian calendar. ([武德四年五月]丁卯，世民入宫城，命记室房玄龄先入中书、门下省收隋图籍制诏，已为世充所毁，无所获。命萧瑀、窦轨等封府库，收其金帛，班赐将士。收世充之党罪尤大者段达、王隆、崔洪丹、薛德音、杨汪、孟孝义、单雄信、杨公卿、郭什柱、郭士衡、董睿、张童儿、王德仁、朱粲、郭善才等十馀人斩于洛水之上。 )
  2. Zizhi Tongjian, vol.183：同郡单雄信，骁健，善用马槊，聚少年往从之。
  3. Old Book of Tang, vol.53：让于是推密为主，号为魏公。二月，于巩南设坛场，即位，称元年，其文书行下称行军元帅魏公府。以房彦藻为左长史，邴元真为右长史，杨得方为左司马，郑德韬为右司马。拜翟让为司徒，封东郡公。单雄信为左武候大将军，徐世勣为右武候大将军。
  4. Zizhi Tongjian, vol.186：彦藻以雄信轻于去就，劝密除之；密爱其才，不忍也。
  5. Old Book of Tang, vol.53：密偃师失利，遂降于王世充，署为大将军。
  6. New Book of Tang, vol.89：单雄信者，贼骁将也，骑直趋王，敬德跃马大呼横刺，雄信坠，乃翼王出，率兵还战，大败之。
  7. Zizhi Tongjian, vol.189：初，李世勣与单雄信友善，誓同生死。及洛阳平，世勣言雄信骁健绝伦，请尽输己之官爵以赎之，世民不许。世勣固请不能得，涕泣而退。雄信曰：「我固知汝不办事！」世勣曰：「吾不惜余生，与兄俱死；但既以此身许国，事无两遂。且吾死之后，谁复视兄之妻子乎？」乃割股肉以啖雄信，曰：「使此肉随兄为土，庶几犹不负昔誓也！」士民疾朱粲残忍，竞投瓦砾击其尸，须臾如冢。囚韦节、杨续、长孙安世等十余人送长安。士民无罪为世充所囚者，皆释之，所杀者祭而诔之。
  8. Sui Tang Jiahua, vol.01：充既平，雄信将就戮，英公请之不得，泣而退。雄信曰：‘我固知汝不了此。’绩曰：‘平生誓共为灰土，岂敢念生，但以身已许国，义不两遂。虽死之，顾兄妻子何如。"因以刀割其股，以肉啖雄信曰：‘示无忘前誓。’雄信食之不疑。”
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