Sun Jian

Examination and official career

In 807, the second year of the Yuanhe era, he passed the presented-scholar examination; his examination placement was associated with Cui Bin, and he later joined the Jingnan headquarters. His appointments included Secretariat Corrector, Surveillance Commission Investigating Officer in the Hezhong command, County Commandant of Hu County, Acting Investigating Censor, Investigating Censor, Secretary of the Secretariat, Palace Censor, Assistant to the Taiyuan Left-behind, Military Commissioner's Judicial Assessor in the Zhenguo command, Military Commissioner's Secretary, Staff Judge in the Jingnan command, and Investigating Censor.

His later appointments included Assistant Director of Merit, Director in the Ministry of Rites, Director of the Left Office of the Secretariat, Director in the Ministry of Personnel, Grand Master of Remonstrance, Drafter of Imperial Edicts, Secretariat Drafter, Vice Chief Censor, Supervisor of Personnel Selection, and Vice Minister of Personnel. From 836 to 838, he served as governor of Tong Prefecture; from 838 to 839, he was Surveillance Commissioner for the Shaan-Guo command. In 839, the fourth year of the Kaicheng era, he became Vice Minister of Justice and took part in the judicial investigation of Xiao Ben.

At the beginning of the Huichang era under Emperor Wuzong, he was promoted to Left Assistant Minister of the Secretariat; the office is also given as Right Assistant Minister. He was appointed Military Commissioner of Hezhong, and later served as Military Commissioner of Shannan West and Xuanwu, as well as governor of Henan Prefecture, Intendant of Henan, governor of Hedong, and governor of Liangzhou. In Huichang 5 (845) he became Minister of Ceremonies, and in Huichang 6 (846) he became Minister of Personnel. At the beginning of the Dazhong era under Emperor Xuanzong, he reached the office of Left-behind of the Eastern Capital; another term in that office is dated 853–856.

Family

His family line included Sun Jiazhi, described as his great-great-grandfather or fourth-generation ancestor, and Sun Ti, his great-grandfather. His father was Sun Gongqi; his mother was Lady Pei, his paternal uncle was Sun Shenxiang, and his younger brother was Sun Xianke. His wives were Lady Wu and Lady Li, while his fathers-in-law were Wu Yuanheng and Li Shi.

His sons included Sun Yu, the fifth son, Sun Hui, the sixth son, Sun Youshi, Sun Dang, Sun Jingmeng, Sun Shu, and Sun Qi. Two further sons are listed under the name Sun Mou, alongside Sun Jingyu, Sun Qiu, Sun Hongxiu, Sun Yi, and Sun Ji. Sun Youshi was born in 837 and died in 880; Sun Yi and Sun Ji both died in 872. His sons-in-law included Linghu Jian, Shen Chengshi, Li Chou, Wei Biao, Mou Ben, and Yang Shu.