sū 苏

Su Qin (unknown - 317 BC) Style name: Jizi. A native of Luoyang, he was a strategist during the Warring States period. He studied under Guiguzi together with Zhang Yi. In his early years, he traveled around to lobby but returned penniless. Later, he wore the prime - minister seals of six states and served as the leader of the vertical alliance, which prevented the Qin State from sending troops east out of Hangu Pass for as long as fifteen years. Eventually, he was a guest in the Qi State and was killed there. Su Wu (unknown - 60 BC) Style name: Ziqing. A native of Duling in the Western Han Dynasty (now southeast of Chang'an County, Shaanxi Province). During Emperor Wu's reign, he was sent as an envoy to the Xiongnu. The Chanyu of the Xiongnu tried to coerce him into surrender, but he remained unyielding and was detained for nineteen years, still holding the Han Dynasty's envoy's staff. During Emperor Zhao's reign, when the Xiongnu and the Han Dynasty made a peace and marriage alliance, he was finally able to return. He was appointed as the official in charge of diplomatic affairs. When Emperor Xuan came to the throne, he was granted the title of Marquis within the Pass and his portrait was hung in the Qilin Pavilion. His works that have been passed down to the present include four poems, "Reply to Li Ling's Poem", and "Farewell to Li Ling", etc. The Three Sus In the Song Dynasty, Su Xun and his two sons, Su Shi and Su Zhe, were all well - known for their literary talents, and they were collectively called "the Three Sus". In "Four Poems in Response to Ziyou's Poems Written When He Reached Zhuozhou on His Mission to the Khitan" by Su Shi of the Song Dynasty: "These years, the Khitan people have also become quite civilized. From time to time, they would enquire about the Three Sus." In "Story of Miss Su Testing Her Bridegroom Three Times" in Volume 11 of *Anecdotes to Awaken Men*: "Old Master Su had two sons: the Elder Su and the Younger Su... People in the world called the two brothers 'the Two Sus', and the father and sons 'the Three Sus'." Su Shi (1038 - 1101) Style name: Zizhan. A native of Meishan, Meizhou in the Song Dynasty, and the eldest son of Su Xun. He was well - known for his poetry, ci (a type of lyric poetry), prose, calligraphy, and painting. His prose was grand and unrestrained, and his poetry was clear, sparse, and elegant. He was the master of the Northern School. When Wang Anshi advocated the implementation of the New Policies, Su Shi submitted a memorial strongly stating the inconveniences, which offended Wang Anshi and led to his consecutive demotions to several states. When he was in Huangzhou, he built a house on Dongpo and named himself "Dongpo Jushi" (the hermit of Dongpo). Later, he was gradually promoted to be the Scholar of Duanming Palace and the Imperial Tutor. After his death, he was posthumously given the title of "Wenzhong". He wrote *Collected Works of Dongpo* and *Ci Poems of Dongpo*, etc.