In 2019, Sun was the twelfth most common surname in mainland China.[3] A 2013 study found it to be the 12th most common name as well, shared by 18,300,000 people or 1.38% of the population, with the province with the most beingShandong.
Note that in Hong Kong and regions with Cantonese-speaking populations, the surnameXin (辛) is also transliterated as Sun.
Sun Shu (孫叔), the style name ofSunshu Ao, an official inChu during the Spring and Autumn period His descendants part of the style mame nas their surname.[4]
Hui Sun (惠孫), style name of the son of Wei Wu Gong Hui Sun's grandson later inherited 孫 as his surname.[4]
Sun Shu (孫書), an official in theQi, was given the name byDuke Jing of Qi because of his contributions in the war between the state of Qi and the state ofLü. Notable descendants through this line includeSun Tzu
People with the surnameXun (荀). changed it to 孫 during the reign of Liu Xun (劉恂), also known asEmperor Xuan of Han, because it had the same pronunciation as the given name of the emperor (inOld Chinese). After the death of Han Xuan Di, some people kept the surname, while others changed it back to their original.
Sun Jing (孫敬) – 2nd-century native ofXindu,Zhili, who was such an ardent student that at night he always tied his hair to a beam overhead, to prevent himself from dozing over his books. He also habitually bolted the door of his study to keep out intruders.[5]
Sun Shao (163–225), first chancellor of the Eastern Wu state in the Three Kingdoms period
Sun Qian, official serving under the Han dynasty warlordLiu Bei
Sun Kang (孫康; 4th century) – A native of Luoyang, who in his youth was so poor that he could not afford a lamp to read by. He therefore studied in winter by light reflected from the snow, and ultimately rose to be a Censor.[6]
Sun Shi (962–1033) – a native of Po-p'ing in Shandong, who graduated asjinshi after nine attempts and entered the public service, rising to high office under the Emperor Cheu Tseung. In 1008 there was a pretended revelation from God in the form of a letter, which the Emperor and his Court regarded with profound awe. But Sun Shi said, "I have heard that God does not speak; how then should He write a letter?"[7]
Sun Changru (孫長孺) – a scholar of theSong dynasty, noted for his vast collection of books, which earned for him the sobriquet of Library Sun. In 1015 he was mademagistrate ofXunzhou in Guangxi, and subsequently rose to an important office in the household of the Heir Apparent.[7]
Sun Fang (12th century) – An imperial physician, who called himself the Hermit of the Four Stops. He explained this to mean that when he had taken his fill of plain food, he stopped; when he had put on enough plain clothes to keep himself warm, he stopped; when he had realized a fair proportion of his wishes, he stopped; and that after growing old, free from covetousness or envy, he would also be prepared to stop.[8]
Sun Sike (died 1700) – a Chinese Bannerman, noted for his successes against the Oelots, against the Shensi rebels in 1675–79, and against Galdan. He rose to be a general, and was ennobled as Baron.[9]
Sun Zhizu – a native of Hangzhou, who graduated asjinshi in 1766, and served as a Censor. Author of a work on the discrepancies in the various editions of the famous work byXiao Tong; and also of a hostile criticism on theKongzi Jiayu.[5]
Sun Xingyan (1752–1818) – A native ofJiangsu. From 1795 to 1811 he served with distinction in Shantung, where his honesty was often distasteful to his superiors. He published editions of several Classics and topographies he wrote many classical and antiquarian works; and he discovered the graves ofMin Sun,Tantai Mieming, andZeng Dian, three of thedisciples of Confucius.[10]
This page lists people with thesurnameSun. If aninternal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change thatlink by adding the person'sgiven name(s) to the link.
