Liu Kun (271[1] – 22 June 318[2]), courtesy name Yueshi, was a Chinese military general and poet of the Jin dynasty.

An esteemed writer during the early years of his career, he was also known for his time as the Inspector of Bingzhou, during which he spearheaded Jin's efforts in fighting back against the Han-Zhao dynasty.

He was eventually driven out from Bingzhou following a decisive defeat to Shi Le in 316 and fled to Youzhou, where he allied with the chieftain, Duan Pidi.

[5] Liu Kun commanded an army at the Battle of Huangqiao (黃橋, in present-day Wen County, Henan) but he and his allies retreated after being decisively defeated.

Jiong had many of Lun’s partisans executed but he was impressed with the talents possessed by Liu Kun’s family, so he gave them appointments in his new government.

Shortly after declaring the coalition, Sima Yue gave out a number of appointments on his own accord, which Liu Kun and his family benefitted from.

At Jizhou, Liu Kun managed to convince its inspector, Wen Xian (溫羨), who happened to be a relative of his, to give up his post to Sima Xiao.

While the War of the Eight Princes was happening, the tribes of the Five Divisions in Bingzhou, led by Liu Yuan, broke away from Jin and established the Han-Zhao in 304.

As a reward for his assistance, Liu Kun sent a petition to the court, demanding that Yilu be appointed Grand Chanyu and receive Dai commandery as a fief.

The next year, Liu Kun discovered that the mother and nephew of Han’s general, Shi Le were wandering in his territory.

In retaliation, Tuoba Yilu sent his son, Tuoba Liuxiu (拓跋六脩) to help Liu Kun against Wang Jun, but this act proved disastrous when Liuxiu got into a fight with Liu Kun's officer, Xing Yan (邢延), leading to Xing Yan surrendering Xinxing commandery (新興, in present-day Xinzhou, Shanxi) to Han.

Xu had impressed Liu Kun through his musical talents to earn his position, but his administration showed his cruelty and corruption.

The Army Protector, Linghu Sheng (令狐盛) urged Liu Kun to get rid off Xu Run but his advice fell on deaf ears.

Hearing this, Xu Run slandered Linghu Sheng to the point that Liu Kun decided to execute him.

[16] Sheng’s son, Linghu Ni (令狐泥) fled to Han, where he revealed to the now emperor Liu Cong of Kun’s situation.

The following year, Liu Kun and Tuoba Yilu attacked Xiping but movements by Han troops persuaded them to retreat.

Shi Le wrote a letter pretending to look weak by asking Liu Kun for permission to attack Wang while also sending hostages to him.

However, things took a turn after Shi Le captured and executed Wang Jun, causing Liu Kun to realize that he had been trick.

Dai fell into civil war between Liuxiu and Tuoba Pugen which caused Yilu’s general Ji Dan (箕澹) and Wei Xiong (衞雄) to join Liu Kun with thousands of families and livestock.

However, not long after, Shi Le besieged the Administrator of Leping (樂平, in present-day Shanxi), Han Ju (韓據) at Diancheng (坫城).

[19] Shi Le greatly routed Ji Dan, causing him and Wei Xiong to flee back to Dai.

The following year, after Sima Rui ascended the throne as Emperor Yuan of Jin, Liu Kun was appointed Palace Attendant and Defender-in-Chief and was presented a famous sword.

Two of Liu Kun's generals Pilü Song (辟閭嵩) and Han Ju, also planned to do the same, but their plot was leaked, so Pidi captured and executed them along with their other collaborators.

On the 22nd of June, while claiming that he had received an imperial edict, Duan Pidi had Liu Kun strangled along with four of his sons and nephews.

Because he killed Liu Kun and broke his oath, Duan Pidi lost the trust of both the Han Chinese and tribal people.

Prior to his capture by Duan Mopei in 318, he followed his father and fought during his march to Jinyang in 307, helping him secure the provincial capital.

[29] During his time as Registrar in Sizhou in the 290s, Liu Kun befriended a colleague named Zu Ti, who would later become one of Western Jin's most famous general.

This event inspired the Chinese chengyu "rising at cockcrow to practice the sword (聞雞起舞; "wén jī qǐ wǔ")".

[30] Another anecdote tells of how Liu Kun drove back an army of hu people by playing the nomad flute.