Pei Xingyan was a general in

Sui dynasty The Sui dynasty (, ) was a short-lived imperial dynasty of China that lasted from 581 to 618. The Sui unified the Northern and Southern dynasties, thus ending the long period of division following the fall of the Western Jin dynasty, and layi ...

who was known for his superior fighting skills on the battlefield. He was also a highly celebrated warrior in popular culture and traditional Chinese dramas.

In history

Pei Xingyan was the son of Pei Renji, a general of

during Emperor Yang's reign. He was born with great strengths and acquired superb fighting skills when he was young. He served in Sui army under general

Zhang Xutuo Zhang Xutuo, courtesy name Guo, was one of the most celebrated generals during the Sui dynasty. He was best known for his achievements in suppressing rebellions and uprisings during Emperor Yang's reign. In history Zhang Xutuo originally served i ...

and suppressed several peasant uprisings in the northern plain. After Zhang Xutuo was defeated and killed in a battle against

Wagang Army Wagang Army ({{zh, s=瓦岗军, 611–618) was a key rebel army in the late Sui dynasty of China. The Wagang Army was primarily led by Zhai Rang before 617, and Li Mi after 617. To its greatest extent, it occupied major territories in the Henan ...

, Pei Xingyan and his father Renji surrendered to Wagang. The leader of Wagang Army, Li Mi, appointed Xingyan to be Shang-Zhuguo () and gave him the title Duke of Jiang County (绛郡公). Along with

Qin Shubao Qin Qiong (died 638), courtesy name Shubao, better known as Qin Shubao, was a Chinese general who lived in the early Tang dynasty of China. Along with Yuchi Gong, he continues to be worshipped in China as a door god. He is also known by his post ...

Cheng Yaojin Cheng Zhijie (589 – 26 February 665), courtesy name Yizhen, better known by his original name Cheng Yaojin, was a Chinese general who served under the emperors Gaozu, Taizong and Gaozong in the early Tang dynasty. His portrait was on display ...

and

Luo Shixin Luo Shixin (c. 600–622) was a general during the transitional period between the Sui and Tang dynasties of China. History Luo Shixin was originally a young soldier under Zhang Xutuo, one of top generals of the Sui Dynasty during Emperor Y ...

, Pei Xingyan became one of the four most trusted generals under Li Mi. In 618, a war broke out between Li Mi's Wagang Army and the warlord

Wang Shichong Wang Shichong (; 567– August 621), courtesy name Xingman (行滿), was a Chinese military general, monarch, and politician during the Sui dynasty who deposed Sui's last emperor Yang Tong and briefly ruled as the emperor of a succeeding state ...

. During the war, Wang Shichong sent his men to attack

Yanshi Yanshi District () is a district in the prefecture-level city of Luoyang in western Henan province, China. Yanshi lies on the Luo River and is the easternmost county-level division of Luoyang. History After the Zhou conquest of Shang in mid-11th ...

, which was guarded by

Shan Xiongxin Shan Xiongxin (? - 5 June 621) was a general, top warrior and peasant uprising leader during the Transition from Sui to Tang, transitional era between Sui and Tang dynasties. In history Shan Xiongxin was born in Cao County, Caoxian, Shandong reg ...

. Shan Xiongxin did not have many troops and could not hold the city. Li Mi thus sent Cheng Yaojin and Pei Xingyan to reinforce Shan Xiongxin. Outside of Yanshi, Cheng and Pei was attacked by Wang Shichong's men, and Pei was shot by an arrow and was almost killed. He was saved by Cheng Yaojin. Soon after this, however, Li Mi was completely defeated by Wang Shichong and submitted to

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...

. Pei Xingyan and his father Renji was trapped near Luoyang and had to submit to Wang Shichong. In 619, Wang Shichong claimed to be the Emperor of Zheng. He appointed Pei Renji to be the chief minister of the Ministry of Rites under his reign, and Pei Xingyan to be Left Vice General-in-chief. Pei Xingyan fought in several battles for Wang Shichong. He was so strong and brave that his enemies gave him a nickname of Wanrendi (). However, Wang Shichong was a suspicious and jealous person. He thought that Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan would submit to Tang dynasty some day and would become his enemy. Therefore, Wang Shichong planned to assassinate the Pei family. Noticing the plan of Wang Shichong, Pei Renji, Pei Xingyan and their allies proposed a mutiny in order to escape from Luoyang and reinstall the Sui dynasty. Unfortunately, their plan was exposed before their action. Wang Shichong executed Pei Renji and Pei Xingyan in Luoyang. All their family members were wiped out except for Xingyan's younger brother Xingjian who was less than one year old at that time and somehow survived in this tragedy.

In popular culture

Pei Xingyan is known as Pei Yuanqing in popular cultures and is known as the third strongest warrior during Sui dynasty. People believe that he is the reincarnation of

Nezha Nezha ( 哪吒) is a protection deity in Chinese folk religion. His official Taoist name is "Marshal of the Central Altar" (). He was then given the title "Third Lotus Prince" () after he became a deity. Origins According to Meir Shahar, Nezh ...

.'' Shuo Tang (Story of Tang)'' Chapter 31: 茂公道：“臣算阴阳，今日巡天都太保、八臂膊哪叱临凡，第三条好汉杀来了，瓦岗城内这些大小将官不经打。'' His weapons are a pair of silver hammers. He originally served in Sui army. Due to the circumvention of his political opponents, he submitted to Wagang Army with his father Pei Renji. During the battle at Hongni Pass, Pei Yuanqing was ambushed and killed by Xin Wenli with explosive powders.

Family

Notable ancestors: *

Feizi Feizi (; died 858 BC), also known by the title Qin Ying, was the founder of the ancient Chinese state of Qin, predecessor of the Qin Dynasty that would conquer all other Chinese states and unite China in 221 BC. Mythical origin of Qin Accordi ...

: Founder of

State of Qin Qin () was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. Traditionally dated to 897 BC, it took its origin in a reconquest of western lands previously lost to the Rong; its position at the western edge of Chinese civilization permitted ex ...

in ancient times *Pei Zhen: A noble man in

Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

*Pei Mao: A mid-ranked official in the central court of

Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...

*Pei Weng: Chancellor in Jin dynasty *Pei Shuanghu: Guard of Hedong Prefecture in

Northern Wei Wei (), known in historiography as the Northern Wei (), Tuoba Wei (), Yuan Wei () and Later Wei (), was founded by the Tuoba (Tabgach) clan of the Xianbei. The first of the Northern and Southern dynasties#Northern dynasties, Northern dynasties ...

dynasty Great Grandfather: *Pei Bofeng: Duke of Langya Prefecture and governor of Fenzhou in

Northern Zhou Zhou (), known in historiography as the Northern Zhou (), was a Xianbei-led dynasty of China that lasted from 557 to 581. One of the Northern dynasties of China's Northern and Southern dynasties period, it succeeded the Western Wei dynasty and ...

dynasty Grandfather: *Pei Dinggao: Governor of Fengyi County in

dynasty Father: *Pei Renji: Duke of Hedong Prefecture in

Brother: *

Pei Xingjian PEI or Pei may refer to: Places *Matecaña International Airport, Pereira, Colombia, IATA code PEI *Pei County (沛县), Jiangsu, China *Pei Commandery (沛郡), a commandery in Chinese history *Prince Edward Island, a province of Canada *Pei, T ...

: General-in-chief of Right Guard Army; Duke of Wenxi Prefecture in

Nephews: *Pei Zhenying: A general in Shaonan Fu *Pei Yanxiu: County magistrate of Wenshui *Pei Qingyuan: A low-ranked officer in the central court of

in charge of sacrificial ceremonies *

Pei Guangting Pei Guangting (; 676-March 27, 733), courtesy name Liancheng (連城), formally Baron Zhongxian of Zhengping (正平忠獻男),That Pei's posthumous name was 忠獻 rather than 忠憲 (both pronounced "Zhongxian") was per his biography in the ''Old ...

: Chancellor and the chief minister of Ministry of Personnel during Emperor Xuanzong's reign

References

{{reflist Sui dynasty Transition from Sui to Tang Sui dynasty people 619 deaths