Shu Han

Shu Han 蜀漢
← 221–263 →
The territories of Shu Han (in red), AD 262
Capital	Chengdu
Language(s)	Ba-Shu Chinese
Religion	Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
- 221–223	Liu Bei
- 223–263	Liu Shan
Historical era	Three Kingdoms
- Establishment	221
- Conquest of Shu by Wei	263
Population
-  est.	1,300,000
Currency	Chinese coin, Chinese cash

Shu Han
Traditional Chinese	蜀漢
Simplified Chinese	蜀汉
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Shǔ Hàn Cantonese (Yue) - Jyutping Suk6 Hon3

Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu. Some historians argue it was the last Han Dynasty because its founding emperor Liu Bei was directly related to the sovereign family of the original Han Dynasty, and bore their surname. The other two states were Cao Wei in central and northern China and Eastern Wu in southeastern China. The state is sometimes known as the Kingdom of Shu, though this usage is ambiguous as it was the name of the older Shu state in the area (ca. 1046 BC – 316 BC).

History

Towards the end of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bei, a warlord and distant relative of the Han imperial clan, rallied the support of many capable followers. Following the counsel of his advisor Zhuge Liang and Zhuge's Longzhong Plan, Liu Bei conquered parts of Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan) in 208 and 209. Between 212 and 215, Liu Bei took over Yi Province (covering the Sichuan Basin) from the warlord Liu Zhang, and wrestled control of Hanzhong from rival warlord Cao Cao in 219.

From the territories he gained, Liu Bei established a position for himself in China during the final years of the Han Dynasty. However in 219, the alliance between Liu Bei and his ally, Sun Quan, was broken when Sun sent his general Lü Meng to invade Jing Province. Jing Province came under Sun Quan's control after the surprise attack, and Liu Bei's general Guan Yu was captured and executed on Sun's order.

In 220, after the death of Cao Cao, his son Cao Pi forced the Han Dynasty's last ruler, Emperor Xian to abdicate, taking over the Han throne and starting a new Cao Wei dynasty. The following year, Liu Bei proclaimed himself emperor in Chengdu, with his dynasty known as "Shu Han". Although Liu Bei is seen as the founder of Shu Han, he never claimed to be the founder of a new dynasty; rather, he claimed to be continuing the fallen Han Dynasty.

In 222, Liu Bei launched an attack on Sun Quan to retake Jing Province and avenge Guan Yu, culminating in the Battle of Xiaoting. However, due to grave tactical mistakes, Liu Bei suffered a dramatic defeat with the burning of his line of camps and the decimation of his already numerically inferior army. Liu Bei survived the battle and fled to Baidicheng, where he died a year later due to illness. His son, Liu Shan, succeeded him as emperor of Shu Han. The chancellor Zhuge Liang and general Li Yan were appointed as regents to assist the young Liu Shan.

Zhuge Liang felt that it was more important for Shu to attack and topple the Wei government and restore legitimacy to the Han Dynasty, hence he made peace with Sun Quan and reaffirmed Shu's alliance with Sun. Sun Quan later declared himself emperor of Eastern Wu in 229, and his status was recognized by Shu. Between 228 and 234, Zhuge Liang launched a series of six invasions on Wei but failed each time due to lack of supplies or incompetency of his officers, eventually dying of sickness at the Battle of Wuzhang Plains. Zhuge Liang's protege, Jiang Wei, continued his legacy by leading another nine campaigns against Wei between 247 and 262, but failed to make any significant territorial gains.

In 263, armies led by Wei generals Zhong Hui and Deng Ai attacked Shu and conquered its capital Chengdu. Liu Shan surrendered to Deng Ai outside Chengdu, marking the end of Shu. Jiang Wei attempted to incite conflict between Zhong Hui and Deng Ai, hoping to take advantage of the situation to revive Shu. However, his plan failed and he was killed by Wei troops along with Zhong Hui and Deng Ai. Liu Shan was brought to the Wei capital Luoyang and lived a comfortable and peaceful life as the "Duke of Anle" until the end of his days.

Shu was not merely a nation of war. During peace time, Shu began many irrigation and road-building projects designed to improve the economy. Many of these public works still exist and are widely used. For example, the Zipingpu Dam is still present near Chengdu, Sichuan. These works helped improve the economy of southwestern China and can be credited with beginning the history of economic activity in Sichuan. It also promoted trade with southern China, which was then ruled by Eastern Wu.

It was claimed that many refugees fled west to Sasanian Persia when Shu fell in 263.

List of territories

Yi Province (益州)

Commandery	Counties
Shu 蜀	Chengdu 成都
	Fan 繁
	Jiangyuan 江原
	Linqiong 臨邛
	Pi 郫
Zitong 梓潼	Zitong 梓潼
	Fu 涪
	Hande 漢德
	Hanshou 漢壽
	Boshui 白水
Guanghan 廣漢	Luo 雒
	Shifang 什邡
	Mianzhu 綿竹
	Xindu 新都
	Yangquan 陽泉
Han 漢	Qi 郪
	Deyang 德陽
	Wucheng 五城
	Guanghan 廣漢
Wenshan 汶山	Wenshan 汶山
	Jiandi 湔氐
	Du'an 都安
	Miansi 綿虒
	Pingkang 平康
	Canling 蠶陵
	Guangrou 廣柔
	Boma 白馬
Ba 巴	Jiangzhou 江州
	Dianjiang 墊江
	Linjiang 臨江
	Zhi 枳
Baxi 巴西	Langzhong 閬中
	Xichong (state) 西充國
	Nanchong (state) 南充國
	Hanchang 漢昌
	Xuanhan 宣漢
	Anhan 安漢
	Dangqu 宕渠
Badong 巴東	Yong'an (Yufu) 永安 (魚復)
	Quren 朐忍
	Yangqu 羊渠
	Beijing 北井
	Handan 漢單
	Wu 巫
Fuling 涪陵	Hanfu 漢復
	Fuling 涪陵
	Hanping 漢平
	Hanjia 漢葭
	Wanning 萬寧
Jianwei 犍為	Wuyang 武陽
	Nan'an 南安
	Bodao 僰道
	Zizhong 資中
	Niubing 牛鞞
Jiangyang 江陽	Jiangyang 江陽
	Fu 符
	Han'an 漢安
Hanjia 漢嘉	Hanjia 漢嘉
	Xi 徙
	Yandao 嚴道
	Maoniu 旄牛

Territories conquered by Shu from Wei

Commandery	Counties
Hanzhong 漢中	Nanzheng 南鄭
	Baozhong 褒中
	Mianyang 沔陽
	Chenggu 成固
	Nanxiang 南鄉
Wudu 武都	Xiabian 下辯
	Hechi 河池
	Ju 沮
	Wudu 武都
	Gudao 故道
	Qiangdao 羌道
Yinping 陰平	Yinping 陰平
	Pingguang 平廣

Nanzhong (南中)

Commandery	Counties
Zhuti 朱提	Zhuti 朱提
	Nanguang 南廣
	Hanyang 漢陽
	Nanchang 南昌
	Tanglang 堂狼
Yuesui 越巂	Huiwu 會無
	Qiongdu 邛都
	Beishui 卑水
	Dingzha 定苲
	Taideng 臺登
	Anshang 安上
	Xindao 新道
	Qianjie 潛街
	Sanfeng 三縫
	Suqi 蘇祁
	Chan 闡
Zangke 牂柯	Qielan 且蘭
	Tanzhi 談指
	Yelang 夜郎
	Wulian 毋斂
	Bi 鄨
	Pingyi 平夷
	Guangtan 廣談
Yunnan 雲南	Yunnan 雲南
	Longdong 梇棟
	Qingling 青蛉
	Gufu 姑復
	Xielong 邪龍
	Yeyu 楪榆
	Suijiu 遂久
Xinggu 興古	Juting 句町
	Wanwen 宛溫
	Louwo 漏臥
	Bengu 賁古
	Hanxing 漢興
	Jincheng 進乘
	Xifeng 西豐
	Xisui 西隨
	Duofeng 鐸封
Jianning 建寧	Wei 味
	Cun (Mayi) 存 (馬邑)
	Mudan 母單
	Tonglai 同瀨
	Muma 牧麻
	Guchang 穀昌
	Lianran 連然
	Qinzang 秦臧
	Shuangbai 雙柏
	Yuyuan 俞元
	Xiuyun 修雲
	Dianchi 滇池
	Tonglao 同勞
	Tongjing 同井
	Shengxiu 勝休
	Jianling 建伶
Yongchang 永昌	Buwei 不韋
	Yongshou 永壽
	Bisu 比蘇
	Nanfu 南涪
	Suitang 巂唐
	Ailao 哀牢
	Bonan 博南

List of sovereigns

Shu Han or Kingdom of Shu 221–263 AD

Posthumous names	Family (in bold) name and first names	Year(s) of reigns	Era names and their range of years
Chinese convention: family and first names, and less commonly "Shu" + posthumous name + "di"
Emperor Zhaolie of Shu (Chinese: 昭烈; pinyin: Zhāoliè)	Liu Bei (simplified Chinese: 刘备; traditional Chinese: 劉備; pinyin: Líu Bèi)	221-223	Zhangwu (Chinese: 章武; pinyin: Zhāngwǔ) 220-223
Xiaohuai (simplified Chinese: 孝怀; traditional Chinese: 孝懷; pinyin: Xiàohuái)	Liu Shan (simplified Chinese: 刘禅; traditional Chinese: 劉禪; pinyin: Líu Shàn)	223-263	Jianxing (simplified Chinese: 建兴; traditional Chinese: 建興; pinyin: Jiànxīng) 223-237 Yanxi (Chinese: 延熙; pinyin: Yánxī) 238-257 Jingyao (Chinese: 景耀; pinyin: Jǐngyào) 258-263 Yanxing (simplified Chinese: 炎兴; traditional Chinese: 炎興; pinyin: Yánxīng) 263

See also

• Cao Wei
• Eastern Wu
• Three Kingdoms
• List of people of the Three Kingdoms
• Timeline of the Three Kingdoms period
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms
• Records of Three Kingdoms