Quick Answer: Who Was Lu Xun of Eastern Wu?
Lu Xun (陆逊, Lù Xùn, 183–245) was a general and chancellor of Eastern Wu (东吴, Dōng Wú) who served Sun Quan (孙权, Sūn Quán). His career spanned the end of Han rule and the emergence of the Three Kingdoms.[2]
- Military command: He led Wu’s defense at Yiling (夷陵, Yílíng) in 222.[4]
- Civil office: Sun Quan made him chancellor after the death of Gu Yong.[3]
- Succession dispute: Lu urged the court to preserve the position of the designated heir.[1]
The general’s name is written 陆逊. The modern Chinese writer also known in English as Lu Xun used the pen name 鲁迅.
Lu Xun appears in military histories for the defeat of a rival ruler’s army. His last years show another side of his career. At court, he argued that the relationship between two princes could threaten the stability of the state he had helped defend.
How Lu Xun Entered Sun Quan’s Service
Lu came from one of the leading families of Wu Commandery in the lower Yangzi region. His early posts included local administration as well as military service. Chen Shou’s biography credits him with releasing grain to help people during a drought.[1]
As Sun Quan built his authority in the southeast, local families supplied men who could manage territories and hold senior office. Lu and Gu Yong both rose from such families to serve as chancellor.[3]
Jing Province and the Battle of Yiling
In 219, Lu took part in a campaign with Lü Meng (吕蒙, Lǚ Méng) to seize territory in Jing Province (荆州, Jīngzhōu) held by forces under Guan Yu (关羽, Guān Yǔ). The conflict concerned control of the middle Yangzi, where the interests of Sun Quan and his former ally Liu Bei (刘备, Liú Bèi) had long collided.[2][4]
Liu Bei led an expedition against Wu a few years later. In 222 Sun Quan put Lu in charge of the defense. Lu defeated the invading army at Yiling, and Liu Bei withdrew. The victory helped Wu hold the middle Yangzi.[4] That foothold mattered to the survival of a separate southern state.[5]
Sun Quan’s annals also preserve Lu’s proposals for governing territory Wu held. When grain was short in his area, he urged commanders to bring more land into cultivation. Later that year, he advised Sun Quan to ease taxes and labor levies. The annals record these as proposals, with a favorable reply to the first.[4]
Why Lu Xun Clashed With Sun Quan at Court
Lu became chancellor in 244. At court the status of the crown prince Sun He (孙和, Sūn Hé) had become a point of contention as his brother Sun Ba (孙霸, Sūn Bà) gained influence. Lu submitted repeated memorials asking that the distinction between the heir and his brother be maintained.[1]
The biography says Sun Quan repeatedly rebuked Lu and that Lu died in 245. The prince’s standing remained unsettled when Lu died.[1]
FAQs About Lu Xun of Eastern Wu
Which Lu Xun Served Eastern Wu?
Lu Xun, written 陆逊, served Sun Quan in the third century. The modern writer’s name is written 鲁迅.
Whom Did Lu Xun Defeat at Yiling?
Lu commanded Wu’s forces against Liu Bei in 222. The battle followed an earlier struggle over territory in Jing Province.[4]
Was Lu Xun Also a Civil Official?
Yes. He held local administrative posts and eventually became chancellor of Wu, succeeding Gu Yong.[3]
Sources
[1] Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Biography of Lu Xun
[2] Rafe de Crespigny. The Three Kingdoms and Western Jin, The Struggle for the Middle Yangzi
[3] Rafe de Crespigny. Wu, The Cambridge History of China
[4] Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Biography of Sun Quan
[5] Rafe de Crespigny. Generals of the South