[1]Identity and datesSun Chengzong lived from 1563 to 1638 and was a late-Ming political and military figure who served as Minister of War and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The record gives his English name, birth and death years, military status, and office of Minister of War.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entries identify him as a late-Ming political and military figure and list his dates and principal offices.
WikidataSun Chengzong (Q3429287)The entity label, late-Ming grand-secretary description, and birth and death time values support this identification.
[2]Names and originHis courtesy name was Zhisheng, his hao Kaiyang, and his native place was Gaoyang.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The record identifies Zhisheng as his courtesy name, Kaiyang as his style name, and Gaoyang as his ancestral address.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entries and profile give the same names and place of origin.
[3]Early educationAt sixteen he became a licentiate and later taught the children of Jiang Bi and Fang Shoushi.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entry gives the 1578 licentiate examination and his teaching in the households of Jiang Bi and Fang Shoushi.
[4]Imperial College and provincial examinationHe entered the Imperial College in 1593 and placed fifth in the Shuntian provincial examination the following year, after teaching in the borderlands and questioning veterans.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The entries describe his teaching in border commanderies, questioning of old soldiers, entry into the Imperial College, and fifth-place Shuntian examination result.
[5]Datong experienceIn 1598 he went to Datong to teach Fang Shoushi's children and developed knowledge of frontier affairs through contact with commanders and retired soldiers.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entry describes the Datong appointment, teaching, and inquiry into frontier affairs.
[6]Jinshi and Hanlin careerIn 1604 he placed second in the jinshi examination, became a Hanlin compiler, and later held several Hanlin and palace-tutorial offices.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The examination entry gives first-class second place, while the office list gives Hanlin compiler and Left Yude.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entries give the 1604 bangyan result, Hanlin appointment, ten years in the Hanlin, and the subsequent offices.
[7]Late Wanli officesHe held Left Zhongyun, Left Yude, and Zuo Shuzi in 1614–1620 and was involved in abolishing the mining tax and releasing inner-treasury funds.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The office list gives Left Yude and its starting year, 1619.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entry lists the offices held from Wanli 42 through Wanli 48 and the mining-tax and treasury actions.
[8]Imperial tutor and associationsAfter the Tianqi accession he became a lecturer, was unsuccessfully proposed for a Liaodong-related vice-ministerial post, associated with Gao Panlong and Zhao Nanxing, and became the emperor's tutor.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The entries describe his lectures to the emperor, the rejected appointment, his associations with Gao Panlong and Zhao Nanxing, and his role as tutor.
[9]Appointment to LiaodongAfter Guangning fell in 1622, he became Minister of War and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion and volunteered to command in Liaodong.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The office list gives his 1622 appointments as Minister of War and regional commander.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entries connect the fall of Guangning with his appointment as Minister of War and Eastern Pavilion Grand Secretary and his voluntary command in Liaodong.
[10]Liaodong strategyThe account preserves the uncertainty about the dispute with Wang Zaijin and records Chengzong's advocacy of stronger commanders and less civilian interference.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entry uses a hearsay formulation for the Wang Zaijin dispute and states the principles of strengthening commanders, granting military authority, and allowing subordinate appointments.
[11]Liaodong measuresOver four years Chengzong appointed commanders, repaired fortifications, trained troops, opened farmland, expanded the frontier, and deployed troops; the sources give both a general and a detailed count of the fortifications.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The entries list the commanders, the general and detailed fortification counts, troop training, reclaimed farmland, territorial expansion, and garrisons.
[12]Frontier situationThe frontier was temporarily stable while the Later Jin was fighting the Chahar and did not attack the Ming.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entry says that the passes became quiet and that the Later Jin was fighting the Chahar rather than attacking the Ming.
[13]Dismissal under TianqiAfter the 1625 Battle of Liuhe, Wei Zhongxian impeached Chengzong over political nonalignment and military losses, including horses and armor.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entry describes Liu Yingkun's reward funds, Chengzong's reaction, the Battle of Liuhe, and Wei Zhongxian's impeachment on political and military grounds.
[14]Return homeThe Tianqi Emperor approved his leave to recover at home on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, and Gao Di replaced him.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The entry gives the date of the approval, the leave to recover at home, and Gao Di's replacement appointment.
[15]Return to commandIn 1629 he was restored to office after the Qing advance and later became supreme commander again after Yuan Chonghuan's imprisonment, protecting Zu Dashou and moving to Shanhai Pass.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The entries describe the 1629 Qing advance, the order to defend Tongzhou, Yuan Chonghuan's imprisonment, Chengzong's protection of Zu Dashou, and his renewed command.
[16]Laolongtou and Zun-Yong victoryHe built Laolongtou and the Ninghai City tower, and in 1630 his commanders recovered four cities in the campaign called the Zun-Yong Victory.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entry describes Laolongtou, the Ninghai City inscription, the recovery of four cities, and the name Zun-Yong Victory.
[17]Dalinghe and dismissalAfter the 1631 Dalinghe campaign, Zu Dashou surrendered to the Qing, Chengzong was dismissed, and he lived at home for seven years.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The entries give the Dalinghe campaign, the failed relief, Zu Dashou's surrender, Chengzong's dismissal, and his seven years at home.
[18]Death at GaoyangIn 1638 Chengzong defended Gaoyang with his family, was captured after its fall, and hanged himself; many descendants died, with one account giving a total of more than forty family members.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The entries describe the defense of Gaoyang, Chengzong's hanging, the deaths of descendants, and the account of more than forty family members dying.
[19]Restoration and funeral ritesAfter his death the Chongzhen Emperor restored his former offices and provided funeral rites.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The entry states that the emperor restored his former offices and provided sacrificial and burial rites.
[20]Honors and officesHis honors included the Crown Prince's Junior Guardian, Junior and Senior Preceptor titles, Grand Academician of the Wenhua Palace, and the posthumous title Grand Preceptor.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The office list includes the Crown Prince, Preceptor, Senior Preceptor, Wenhua Palace academician, and Grand Preceptor titles.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entry lists the successive additions of these honors and the posthumous grant of Grand Preceptor.
[21]Children and nephewThe recorded sons are Sun Shi, Sun Han, and Sun Zhen, and the recorded nephew is Sun Lian.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The kinship entries identify the three sons and Sun Lian as a nephew or collateral nephew.
[22]GrandchildrenThe kinship entries name five grandsons and six further-line grandsons or collateral grandnephews.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The kinship entries name five grandsons and six relatives classified as further-line grandsons or collateral grandnephews.
[23]Literary styleHis prose, poetry, and ci were characterized respectively as vigorous and flowing, forceful and deeply resonant, and rugged and heroic.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The literary entry uses these descriptions for his prose, poetry, and ci.
[24]Gaoyang ji and Nanyang jiThe twenty-volume Gaoyang ji is attributed to him and contains his ci, while Nanyang ji is another title associated with him.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The works list gives the twenty-volume Gaoyang ji and identifies him as its author.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entries mention Gaoyang ji or Nanyang ji and state that the ci is in Gaoyang ji.
[25]Other worksOther associated titles include memorials, a collected prose anthology, a military handbook, and one- and two-volume versions of Cheying baiba kou.
[26]CorrespondenceVolumes 19 and 20 of Gaoyang ji contain letters addressed to Mao Wenlong, Yuan Chonghuan, and others.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The works and association entries identify Gaoyang ji and letters in volumes 19 and 20 to Mao Wenlong and Yuan Chonghuan.
[27]Posthumous titlesThe sources disagree on the Hongguang-era posthumous title, giving Wenzhong and Wenzheng, while the Qianlong-era title is Zhongding in 1776.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The posthumous-name entries include Zhongding, Wenzhong, and Wenzheng.
Souyun孫承宗 (44818)The biographical entries give both Hongguang-era variants and the Qianlong forty-first-year, 1776, Zhongding title.
WikidataSun Chengzong (Q3429287)The entity's posthumous-name claims include Wenzhong, Wenzheng, and Zhongding.
[28]Later writings and assessmentsYe Xianggao wrote a preface, Qian Qianyi praised Chengzong's conduct and wrote a sacrificial text and biography, and Fang Bao wrote a biography.
CBDBSun Chengzong (63882)The association entries identify Ye Xianggao's preface, Qian Qianyi's praise, sacrificial text, and biography, and Fang Bao's biography.
CBDB
