Pei Min (fl. early 8th century)(裴旻) was a Chinese military general during the Kaiyuan era. He participated in battles against the Xiongnu, the Tibetan Empire, and Khitans.^[1] He is known as the Sword Saint (剑圣) as he was very skilled in swordplay. He also was said to be a great archer and was said to have killed thirty one tigers in a single day.^[2] Emperor Wenzong of Tang, in an imperial decree, included Pei Min in the "Three Wonders of the Tang Dynasty," which refer to Pei Min's swordplay, Li Bai's poetry, and Zhang Xu’s calligraphy.^[3][4][5]

Accounts about Pei Min

It is said that Li Bai once wanted to learn swordplay from Pei Min.^[6] Also, he supposedly "threw the sword into the clouds, more than 109 feet (10 Zhàng) high, as lightning struck down, leading his hands he bore it with the sheath, in front of a thousand spectators, trembling and shuddering.^[7]

At one point in time, Pei Min was an envoy to the Long Hua Army and guarded Beiping (now Beijing). Pei Min was good at archery and shot thirty-one tigers in one day. An old man said to him, "These look like tigers, but yet are not. If a general met a real tiger, he would be helpless." Pei proceeded to ask "Then where is the real tiger?" The old man told him "Thirty kilometers north, there is." When Pei Min arrived there, he saw a small, but fierce, tiger. Its roared shattered rocks on the ground. His horse got away and his bow fell. From that day onwards, Pei Min did not shoot tigers again.^[8]

Poetry about Pei Min

The following is the poem "Gift to General Pei" by Yan Zhenqing:

〈赠裴将军〉顏真卿

大君制六合，猛将清九垓。
战马若龙虎，腾陵何壮哉。
将军临八荒，烜赫耀英材。
劍舞若遊電，隨風縈且回。
登高望天山，白云正崔巍。
入阵破骄囚，威名雄震雷。
一射百马倒，再射万夫开。
匈奴不敢敌，相呼归去来。

功成报天子，可以画麟台。^[9]

It roughly translates to:

"Gift to General Pei" by Yan Zhenqing

The great ruler controls the six hemispheres, the fierce general clears the sky.
The war horses are like dragons and tigers, the tomb is strong.
The general is in the eight directions, his talent shines brightly.
The sword dances just like lightning, lingering then returning to the wind.
Looking up at the heavenly mountains, the white clouds are majestic.
He broke the enemy in battle, and his fame shook thunder.
One shot and a hundred horses fell, another shot and ten thousand people parted.
The Xiongnu did not dare to fight, calling out to each other to retreat.

The job done was reported to the son of heaven, now one can paint the Lintai Pavilion.^[10][11]

References