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Shusun Tong (; died ca 188 BCE) was a Chinese politician and writer who served the Qin dynasty and Western Han courts. He is known for organization of the first court worship for the Emperor Gaozu of Han (202 BCE), as well as for the custody over the young crown prince Ying, the future Emperor Hui. His biography is presented in Chapter 99 of Shiji and Chapter 19 of the Book of Han. According to Martin Kern, he is the best-documented among the Qin "erudites" ( boshi 博士, ritual and canonical specialists).Kern, Martin. The Stele Inscriptions of Ch'in Shih-huang: Text and Ritual in Early Chinese Imperial Representation. 2000:184. After leaving the Qin court, he joined the services of Xiang Liang, Emperor Yi of Chu and Xiang Yu, before surrendering to Liu Bang when the Han armies took Pengcheng in 205 BC. In 195 BC, before his death, Liu Bang thought of changing his crown prince from Liu Ying to Liu Ruyi, son of Consort Qi; Shusun was one of the officials who advised against the change.
Characterizing his contribution, Shi ji (vol. 23, "Book on Rituals") states: "Shusun Tong roughly made some additions and subtractions, but for the most part in everything he imitated the old practices of Qin." Thus, Shusun Tong was the linchpin in the continuity of the court ritual from Qin to Han, while the former tradition in its own right stemmed from the Zhou ritual.Kern, Martin. The Stele Inscriptions of Ch'in Shih-huang: Text and Ritual in Early Chinese Imperial Representation. 2000:176-7.
Shusun Tong was a native of Xue (薛国), only about 30 km from the birthplace of Liu Bang, which made him well acquainted with the Chu musical tradition and thus allowed to accommodate the Qin ritual to the Han imperial taste.Kern, Martin. The Stele Inscriptions of Ch'in Shih-huang: Text and Ritual in Early Chinese Imperial Representation. 2000:179.
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