Pei Xingyan

Pei Xingyan was a general in Sui dynasty 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.

Bùi Hành Nghiễm
裴行俨
Personal details
Bornlate 6th century
Hedong
Died619
Luoyang
FatherPei Renji
OccupationGeneral
TitleDuke of Jiang County
ClanPei clan of Hedong
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Pei.

In history

Pei Xingyan was the son of Pei Renji, a general of Sui dynasty 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 and suppressed several peasant uprisings in the northern plain.

After Zhang Xutuo was defeated and killed in a battle against Wagang Army, Pei Xingyan and his father Renji surrendered to Wagang. The leader of Wagang Army, Li Mi, appointed Xingyan to be Shang-Zhuguo (Chinese: 上柱国; lit.: 'superior pillar of the state') and gave him the title Duke of Jiang County (绛郡公).[1][2] Along with Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin and Luo Shixin, 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. During the war, Wang Shichong sent his men to attack Yanshi, which was guarded by Shan Xiongxin. 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.[3]

Soon after this, however, Li Mi was completely defeated by Wang Shichong and submitted to Tang dynasty. Pei Xingyan and his father Renji was trapped near Luoyang and had to submit to Wang Shichong.[4] 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 (Chinese: 万人敌; lit.: 'the man who could fight alone against ten thousands'). 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.[5] 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.[6]

Main article: 18 Warriors of Sui-Tang Period

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.[7] 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:

Great Grandfather:

  • Pei Bofeng: Duke of Langya Prefecture and governor of Fenzhou in Northern Zhou dynasty

Grandfather:

Father:

Brother:

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 Tang dynasty in charge of sacrificial ceremonies
  • Pei Guangting: Chancellor and the chief minister of Ministry of Personnel during Emperor Xuanzong's reign
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References
  1. Book of Sui:时隋大乱，有功者不录。仁基见强寇在前，士卒劳敝，所得军资，即用分赏。监军御史萧怀静每抑止之，众咸怨怒。怀静又阴持仁基长短，欲有所奏劾。仁基惧，遂杀怀静，以其众归密。密以为河东郡公。其子行俨，骁勇善战，密复以为绛郡公，甚相委昵。
  2. Zizhi Tongjian:密以仁基为上柱国、河东公；仁基子行俨，骁勇善战，密亦以为上柱国、绛郡公。
  3. New Book of Tang:世充与密战，知节以内骑营北邙，单雄信以外骑营偃师。世充袭雄信，密遣知节及裴行俨助之。行俨中流矢坠马，知节驰救之，杀数人，军辟易，乃抱行俨重骑驰。追兵以槊撞之，知节折其槊，斩追者，乃免。
  4. Book of Sui:密难违诸将之言，战遂大败，仁基为世充所虏。
  5. Book of Sui:及僣尊号，署仁基为礼部尚书，行俨为左辅大将军。行俨每有攻战，所当皆披靡，号为“万人敌”。世充惮其威名，颇加猜防。仁基知其意，不自安，遂与世充所署尚书左丞宇文儒童、尚食直长陈谦、秘书丞崔德本等谋反，令陈谦于上食之际，持匕首以劫世充，行俨以兵应于阶下，指麾事定，然后出越王侗以辅之。事临发，将军张童仁知其谋而告之，俱为世充所杀。
  6. Old Book of Tang:五月，世充礼部尚书裴仁基及其子左辅大将军行俨、尚书左丞宇文儒童等数十人谋诛世充，复尊立侗。事泄，皆见害，夷其三族。
  7. 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。
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