Sun En

Sun En (孫恩; died April or May 402[1]) courtesy name Linxiu (灵秀), was a native of Langya (in modern Shandong) who rebelled against the Eastern Jin dynasty.

Life

A member of Sun Xiu's clan,[2] he joined his uncle Sun Tai (孫泰), who was regarded as a magician member of the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice movement, sharing their revolutionary aspirations. When Sun Tai was put to death, Sun En took the lead himself. At the head of a considerable force Sun En captured Kuaiji (modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang province) and proclaimed himself Generalissimo of the East (征東將軍), giving to his followers the title of "Immortals" (長生人). After a long struggle, with alternating fortune, he found himself without resources and committed suicide by drowning himself in the sea.[3] Although eventually the rebellion was put down by Liu Laozhi (刘牢之) and others, the rebellion caused massive devastation and major loss of life, including that of many civilians, to the point where whole cities were almost completely deserted.[4]

See also

References
  1. Volume 112 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Sun En died in the 3rd month of the 1st year of the Yuanxing era of Sima Dezong's reign. This corresponds to 18 Apr to 17 May 402 on the Julian calendar.
  2. (孙恩，字灵秀，琅邪人，孙秀之族也。) Jin Shu, vol.100
  3. Herbert Allen Giles, A Chinese Biographical Dictionary, p. 689-690.
  4. Yeh Chia-ying. "陶淵明詩講錄" ("Lectures on Tao Yuan-ming's Poems"). Translation Josey Shun and Bhikshuni Heng Yin, "Vajra Bhodi Sea" No.393, February, 2003, part of a series of lectures at Gold Buddha Monastery, Canada (lecture tapes were transcribed by Tu Xiaoli, An Yi, and Yang Aidi). Accessed 26 April 2020.


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