Duan Pidi
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Duan Pidi ( 312–321) was a Duan-
Xianbei The Xianbei (; ) were a Proto-Mongolic ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. They originated from the Donghu people who splintered into the ...
chieftain during the
Jin dynasty (266–420) The Jin dynasty (; ) or the Jin Empire, sometimes distinguished as the (司馬晉) or the (兩晉), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed from 266 to 420. It was founded by Sima Yan (Emperor Wu), eldest son of Sima Zhao, who had pr ...
and
Sixteen Kingdoms The Sixteen Kingdoms (), less commonly the Sixteen States, was a chaotic period in Chinese history from AD 304 to 439 when northern China fragmented into a series of short-lived dynastic states. The majority of these states were founded by ...
period. He was the brother of chieftain,
Duan Jilujuan Duan may refer to: * Duan (surname), a Chinese surname ** Duan dynasty, the ruling dynasty of the Dali Kingdom * Duan tribe, pre-state tribe during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China * Duan language, spoken on the Laotian–Vietnamese border * ...
, and served as his general in Jin's war with the
Han Zhao The Han Zhao (; 304–329 AD), or Former Zhao (), was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Xiongnu people during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of Chinese history. In Chinese historiography, it was given two conditional state titles, the Northern ...
state. After Jilujuan made peace with Han in 313, Pidi led his branch of the tribe to continue fighting Han from Jicheng. Pidi became the most powerful Jin vassal in the north, but his decision to kill his ally,
Liu Kun Liu Kun (; born December 1956) is a Chinese politician and the current Minister of Finance. Previously he served as director of Budgetary Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress, Vice-Minister of Finance, and vice-governor of Guan ...
and a civil war with his cousin,
Duan Mopei Duan may refer to: * Duan (surname), a Chinese surname ** Duan dynasty, the ruling dynasty of the Dali Kingdom * Duan tribe, pre-state tribe during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China * Duan language, spoken on the Laotian–Vietnamese border * ...
severely weakened him. In 319, he was forced to flee to another Jin vassal,
Shao Xu Shao Xu (died ), courtesy name Sizu, was a military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420). Shao Xu was an official under the Youzhou warlord, Wang Jun but after Wang was killed in 314, he submitted to Han Zhao. In 315, Shao Xu decl ...
. He was eventually captured by the
Later Zhao The Later Zhao (; 319–351) was a dynasty of the Sixteen Kingdoms in northern China. It was founded by the Shi family of the Jie ethnicity. The Jie were most likely a Yeniseian people and spoke next to Chinese one of the Yeniseian languages.Vov ...
in 321, and despite receiving favourable treatment from its ruler,
Shi Le Shi Le (274–17 August 333), courtesy name Shilong, formally Emperor Ming of (Later) Zhao, was the founding emperor of the Jie-led Later Zhao dynasty of China. At a young age he was sold as a slave by Jin officials, but he later helped start a ...
, he would later be executed in fear of that he would rebel.


Early life and career

Duan Pidi was a member of the Xianbei Duan clan of
Liaoxi Liaoxi () was a former province in Northeast China, located in what is now part of Liaoning and Jilin provinces. It existed from 1949 to 1954, and its capital was Jinzhou Jinzhou (, ), formerly Chinchow, is a coastal prefecture-level city ...
. His father,
Duan Wuwuchen Duan may refer to: * Duan (surname), a Chinese surname ** Duan dynasty, the ruling dynasty of the Dali Kingdom * Duan tribe, pre-state tribe during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China * Duan language, spoken on the Laotian–Vietnamese border * ...
was the head of the clan between 303 and 311. At the start of the 4th century, the Duan clan allied with the
Youzhou You Prefecture or You Province, also known by its Chinese name Youzhou, was a prefecture ('' zhou'') in northern China during its imperial era. "You Province" was cited in some ancient sources as one of the nine or twelve original provinces of ...
warlord, Wang Jun and played an important role in Wang's campaign against the Prince of Chengdu,
Sima Ying Sima Ying (司馬穎) (279 – December 306), courtesy name Zhangdu (章度), was a Jin Dynasty (266–420) imperial prince who served briefly as his brother Emperor Hui's regent and crown prince. He was the sixth of eight princes commonly asso ...
, during the
War of the Eight Princes The War of the Eight Princes, Rebellion of the Eight Kings, or Rebellion of the Eight Princes () was a series of civil wars among kings/princes (Chinese: ''wáng'' 王) of the Chinese Jin dynasty from 291 to 306 AD. The key point of contention in ...
. The Duan tribe and Wang Jun continued their association after the war, combining their efforts to stop the new and growing state of Han Zhao. Some time around 310, Pidi's elder brother, Duan Jilujuan, succeeded Wuwuchen as chieftain following his death. Duan Pidi participated during Jilujuan's attack on Xiangguo in 312, as part of Wang Jun's plan to divert the Han general,
Shi Le Shi Le (274–17 August 333), courtesy name Shilong, formally Emperor Ming of (Later) Zhao, was the founding emperor of the Jie-led Later Zhao dynasty of China. At a young age he was sold as a slave by Jin officials, but he later helped start a ...
, away from the rebelling city of Yuanxiang (苑鄕, in present-day
Hebei Hebei or , (; alternately Hopeh) is a northern province of China. Hebei is China's sixth most populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, an ...
and
Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
). The Duan forces fought Shi Le at Xiangguo but their star general, Pidi's cousin, Duan Mopei, was captured in battle. Despite being a prisoner, Mopei was treated with courtesy by Shi Le, which pleased Jilujuan. Because of this, the Duan tribe ceased their enmity with Shi Le and distanced themselves from Wang Jun. Wang Jun was eventually captured and executed by Shi Le in 314. After Wang's defeat, Shi Le appointed a man named Liu Han (劉翰) to be acting Inspector of Youzhou based in Jicheng. However, Liu Han instead fled to Duan Pidi, who he offered control over Jicheng. Pidi accepted on his own accord before occupying the city and submitting himself to
Sima Rui Emperor Yuan of Jin (; 276 – 3 January 323), personal name Sima Rui (司馬睿), courtesy name Jingwen (景文), was an emperor of the Jin dynasty and the first emperor of the Eastern Jin. His reign saw the steady gradual loss of Jin territor ...
, the paramount leader of Jin in the south. For this, Sima Rui made Pidi Jin's new Inspector of Youzhou. Pidi also urged Shi Le's Administrator of
Leling Laoling (), often mispronounced as Leling, is a county-level city in the northwest of Shandong province, China, bordering Hebei province to the north. Laoling has more than 640,000 inhabitants (1999) and is under the jurisdiction of Dezhou D ...
, Shao Xu, to submit to the Jin prince as well. Shao Xu did so, and Shi Le immediately responded by sending his army to besiege him. However, Pidi sent
Duan Wenyang Duan may refer to: * Duan (surname), a Chinese surname ** Duan dynasty, the ruling dynasty of the Dali Kingdom * Duan tribe, pre-state tribe during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China * Duan language, spoken on the Laotian–Vietnamese border * ...
to reinforce Shao Xu, so Shi Le called off his attack.


As Inspector of Youzhou


Alliance with Liu Kun

In 316, Shi Le sent his nephew
Shi Hu Shi Hu (; 295–349), courtesy name Jilong (季龍), formally Emperor Wu of (Later) Zhao ((後)趙武帝), was an emperor of the Jie-led Chinese Later Zhao dynasty. He was the founding emperor Shi Le's distant nephew, who took power in a coup ...
to attack the Administrator of
Wei Commandery Wei Commandery ( zh, 魏郡) was a historical commandery of China, located in modern southern Hebei and northern Henan. The commandery was created during Emperor Gaozu of Han's reign, with its seat at Ye. In late Western Han, it administered 18 ...
, Liu Yan (劉演). Pidi sent Wenyang to rescue Liu Yan, and while the commandery fell, Liu Yan was safely retrieved. Later that year, the Inspector of Bingzhou, Liu Kun lost his province to Shi Le. Liu Kun was left with nowhere to go, so Pidi sent a letter to invite him over to his base. Liu Kun took what was left of his army to meet with Pidi and the two men quickly befriended each other. Forming a brotherly bond, Pidi and Liu Kun arranged their relatives to marry one another to further cement their friendship. The next year, Pidi and Liu Kun swore an oath of alliance by smearing their lips with blood. Afterwards, they sent their respective envoys to deliver a joint petition urging Sima Rui to claim the imperial title. Liu Kun chose his nephew
Wen Jiao Wen Jiao (溫嶠) (288 – 6 June 329), courtesy name Taizhen (太真), formally Duke Zhongwu of Shi'an (始安忠武公), was a Chinese military general and politician during the Jin dynasty. He was best known for his role in putting down two re ...
to deliver the petition, while Pidi chose his Chief Clerk of the Left, Rong Shao (榮卲). After their envoys reached the southern capital, Pidi proclaimed Liu Kun as Grand Commander. He also later tried to get Jilujuan into joining forces with him in a campaign against Shi Le. However, Duan Mopei advised Jilujuan against agreeing with Pidi, so Jilujuan did not respond, and Pidi had to cancel the campaign.


Arrest and execution of Liu Kun

Jilujuan died in early 318 and was succeeded by his uncle, Duan Shefuchen. Pidi left Jicheng to attend his funeral but without his knowledge, Duan Mopei manipulated Shefuchen into believing that Pidi was about to usurp his power. At Zuobeiping, Shefuchen attacked Pidi but was then betrayed by Mopei who assassinated him while his and Pidi's forces were fighting. Mopei then took command of the assault and routed Pidi. During this, Mopei capturing Liu Kun's son Liu Qun (劉群), who was escorting Pidi to the funeral. Mopei treated Liu Qun well and considered supporting Liu Kun into becoming the new Inspector of Youzhou. He had Liu Qun write a letter to his father asking him to work as an agent within Pidi's camp, but his envoy was caught by Pidi's scouts along the way. Liu Kun knew nothing of the letter when Pidi confronted him with it. Pidi had no suspicion towards Liu Kun, and Liu Kun himself assured that he had no intentions to betray Pidi. Pidi let him off at first, but his younger brother, Duan Shujun (段叔軍), was able to get his brother to heavily reconsider his actions. Pidi quickly had Liu Kun arrested. Liu Kun's son, Liu Zun (劉遵), upon hearing his father's arrest, mounted a defence in his camp but was defeated by Pidi. Two of Liu Kun's generals, Pilü Song (辟閭嵩) and Han Ju (韓據), also planned to retaliate, but Pidi had the conspirators executed after their plot leaked. On 22 June, through the consent of Sima Rui's commander,
Wang Dun Wang Dun () (266 – after 8 August 324According to Sima Shao's biography in ''Book of Jin'', Wang Dun died shortly after the ''renshen'' day of the 7th month of the 2nd year of the ''Taining'' era of Shao's reign; the date corresponds to 8 Aug 3 ...
, Pidi claimed that he had received an imperial edict to arrest Liu Kun and subsequently executed him along with his four sons and nephews via strangulation. Although Liu Kun had long helped Jin in attempting to restore its authority in the north, Sima Rui refused to punish Pidi and forbid anyone from mourning Liu Kun, as Rui and most of the court thought of Pidi as a powerful and valuable asset. Despite Sima Rui's leniency, Pidi had underestimated Liu Kun's popularity, and the breaking of his oath caused many of the Han Chinese and tribal people to lose their trust in Pidi.


Alliance with Shao Xu


Fleeing to Shao Xu

Seeing that support for Pidi was declining, Duan Mopei took the opportunity to attack him. Pidi led his army away from battle and tried to flee to Shao Xu in
Leling Laoling (), often mispronounced as Leling, is a county-level city in the northwest of Shandong province, China, bordering Hebei province to the north. Laoling has more than 640,000 inhabitants (1999) and is under the jurisdiction of Dezhou D ...
but was badly routed by Shi Le's general Shi Yue (石越; not to be confused with the
Former Qin The Former Qin, also called Fu Qin (苻秦), (351–394) was a dynastic state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in Chinese history ruled by the Di ethnicity. Founded by Fu Jian (posthumously Emperor Jingming) who originally served under the Later ...
general of the same name,
Shi Yue Shi Yue or Shiyue may refer to: People * Shi Yue (Former Qin) (died 384), military general of Former Qin *Shi Yue (Go player) (born 1991), Chinese Go player * Shi Yue (fencer) (born 1999), Chinese fencer Others *Shiyue, the tenth month of the Chin ...
) at Mount Yan. Pidi retreated back to Jicheng while Mopei declared himself the new Inspector of Youzhou. Pidi remained in his city for a year, but by 319, his situation had worsened. Shi Le's general
Kong Chang Kong Chang (fl. 4th century) was a barbarian military general of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was one of Shi Le's more active generals during Shi's career in Han Zhao as well as his early reign as Prince of Zhao. He partici ...
had taken all of Youzhou's commanderies while most of Pidi's soldiers abandoned him due to depleting rations. Pidi planned to escape through
Shanggu Shanggu Commandery ( zh, 上谷郡) was a commandery in imperial China from the Warring States period to Tang dynasty. It was located in present-day Hebei and Beijing. The commandery was established by the state of Yan for the defense against the ...
but the Prince of Dai,
Tuoba Yulü Tuoba Yulü (; died 321) ruled as prince of the Tuoba Dai 316 to 321. He was the son of Tuoba Fu, and the father of Tuoba Yihuai and Tuoba Shiyijian. In 310, Tuoba Yulü was ordered by Tuoba Yilu to assist Liu Kun, the Governor of Bingzhou (并 ...
, was waiting to attack him there. Desperate, Pidi abandoned his wife and children and made another attempt to flee to Shao Xu, this time successfully doing so.


Defense of Yanci

In 320, Pidi's army was once again harassed by Mopei. Pidi pleaded to Shao Xu to assist him in getting revenge on Mopei, so the two men headed out and routed Mopei. Pidi followed up his victory by attacking Jicheng together with Duan Wenyang to reclaim his old base. This proved a fatal mistake as Shao Xu was left exposed to Shi Le. Shi Hu attacked Yanci (厭次, around present-day
Dezhou Dezhou () is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders the provincial capital of Jinan to the southeast, Liaocheng to the southwest, Binzhou to the northeast, and the province of Hebei t ...
,
Shandong Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
) and captured Shao Xu. News of Shao Xu's defeat reached Pidi, causing him to rush back to save the city. Duan Wenyang helped the army fight their way back into the city, where Pidi commanded the defence together with Shao Xu's family. In the middle of the year, Wenyang defeated Kong Chang, but it was not enough to completely repel the Zhao army. Fighting continued into the next year in 321. Shi Hu attacked Pidi at Yanci again, while Kong Chang occupied the inner cities. Duan Wenyang volunteered himself to lead a daring charge with his cavalries to drive back the invaders. Wenyang valiantly fought and killed dozens of Shi Hu's soldiers. Supposedly, even after his horse had collapsed, Wenyang fought back with his spear, and when his spear snapped, he fought with his blade. This lasted for a day but Wenyang was eventually captured Shi Hu. His capture lowered the morale of the city's defenders.


Defeat and death

Faced with imminent defeat, Pidi planned to flee alone to the south to serve Sima Rui. However, Shao Xu's brother, Shao Ji (邵樂) detained him and handed over Sima Rui's envoy, Wang Ying (王英) to Shi Hu. Shortly after, Shao Ji and his sons bound themselves to coffins and went out to surrender. When Pidi met with Shi Hu, he said to him, "I have received the favor of Jin, and my ambition was to destroy you. It is unfortunate that things have come to this, but I cannot respect you." Shi Le and Shi Hu had always respected Pidi, so much so that after his capture, Shi Hu lifted him up in the air and had him saluted as a gesture of companionship. Pidi was made Champion General, while Wenyang was made General of the Household Gentlemen of the Left. Despite Shi Le's favour, Pidi remained loyal to Jin. Pidi often dressed himself in clothing used in the Jin court and held the imperial staff of authority that Sima Rui gave him. Shi Le was worried that Pidi's attitude foreboded a future revolt. After some time, Shi Le had Pidi put to death along with Wenyang and Shao Xu.(勒及季龍素與匹磾結為兄弟,季龍起而拜之。匹磾到襄國,又不為勒禮,常著朝服,持晉節。經年,國中謀推匹磾為主,事露,被害。文鴦亦遇鴆而死,惟末波存焉。及死,弟牙立。牙死,其後從祖就陸眷之孫遼立。) Book of Jin, Volume 63


References

* Fang, Xuanling (ed.) (648). ''
Book of Jin The ''Book of Jin'' is an official Chinese historical text covering the history of the Jin dynasty from 266 to 420. It was compiled in 648 by a number of officials commissioned by the imperial court of the Tang dynasty, with chancellor Fang X ...
'' (''Jin Shu''). * Sima, Guang (1084).
Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynast ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Duan, Pidi Jin dynasty (266–420) generals Executed Sixteen Kingdoms people Duan tribe