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Pang Juan 龐涓

Dec 11, 2010 © Ulrich Theobald

Pang Juan 龐涓 (d. 341 BCE) was a general of the state of Wei 魏 during the Warring States period 戰國 (5th cent.-221 BCE).

Together with Sun Bin 孫臏 he had studied the art of war by Master Guiguzi 鬼谷子.

Later on he entered the service of King Hui of Wei 魏惠王 (better known as King Hui of Liang 梁惠王, r. 379-335). Envious of Sun Bin, who was a better strategist than himself, Pang Juan had Sun Bin come to Wei and accused him of some crime. Sun Bin was charged guilty and cut off his kneecaps.

In 354, Pang Juan led the army of Wei against the state of Zhao 趙, and one year later, he conquered Handan 邯鄲, the capital of Zhao. Shortly after his army was defeated by the army of Qi 齊, which was led by Tian Ji 田忌 and Sun Bin. He was taken captive, but soon released, and returned to Wei.

In 341, the army of Wei under the commmand of Pang Juan and Prince Shen 申 attacked the state of Han 韓, and again, relief troops from Qi were dispatched. In the battle of Maling 馬陵 (modern Daming 大名, Hebei) Sun Bin defeated the army of Wei, Pang Juan was again taken captive, and committed suicide.

Sources:
Cang Xiuliang 倉修良, ed. (1991). Shiji cidian 史記辭典 (Jinan: Shandong jiaoyu chubanshe), 814.
Huang Banghe 黃邦和, Pi Mingxiu 皮明庥, ed. (1987). Zhong-wai lishi renwu cidian 中外歷史人物詞典 (Changsha: Hunan renmin chubanshe), 302
Yi Xingguo 衣興國, ed. (1988). Shiyong Zhongguo mingren cidian 實用中國名人辭典 (Changchun: Jilin wenshi chubanshe), 75
Zhang Ke 張克, Huang Kangbo 黃康白, Huang Fangdong 黃方東, ed. (1991). Shiji renwu cidian 史記人物辭典 (Nanning: Guangxi renmin chubanshe), 174
Zhuang Hanxin 莊漢新, Guo Juyuan 郭居園, ed. (1991). Zhongguo gujin mingren da cidian 中國古今名人大辭典 (Beijing: Jingguan jiaoyu chubanshe), 439.