Qu Duan

Qu Duan was one of the most formidable frontier generals of the Southern Song Dynasty, renowned for his fierce resistance against the Jin invaders. Stationed along the volatile western front, he earned a reputation for iron discipline, tactical brilliance, and unbreakable resolve in defending Song territory.

Yet Qu Duan’s strength and independence also made him a victim of court politics, where suspicion and intrigue outweighed merit. Despite his loyalty and battlefield achievements, he met a tragic end through execution, becoming a symbol of the Song Dynasty’s internal weakness—where great defenders were sometimes destroyed by the very empire they served.