Shu Han

Shu Han 蜀漢
← 221–263 →
The territories of Shu Han (in red), 262 CE.
Capital		Chengdu
Languages		Ba-Shu Chinese
Religion		Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion
Government		Monarchy
Emperor
-	221-223	Liu Bei
-	223–263	Liu Shan
Historical era		Three Kingdoms
-	Established	221
-	Conquest of Shu by Wei	263
Currency		Chinese coin, Chinese cash

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

Shu Han (221-263), commonly known as Shu, was one of the three major states that competed for supremacy over China in the Three Kingdoms period (220-280). The state was based in the area around present-day Sichuan and Chongqing, which was historically known as "Shu" after an earlier state of Shu. Its name "Shu Han" was derived from "Shu", the place it was based, and "Han" from the Han Dynasty, because its founder Liu Bei was directly related to the imperial clan of the Han Dynasty and shared the same surname - Liu - as the Han emperors.

History

Beginnings and founding

Further information: End of the Han Dynasty

Towards the end of the Eastern 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 present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) from the warlord Liu Zhang, and wrestled control of Hanzhong from his rival 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 by Sun's forces.

In 220, Cao Cao died and was succeeded by his son Cao Pi, who forced the last Han ruler, Emperor Xian, to abdicate the throne in his favour. Cao Pi then established the state of Cao Wei and declared himself emperor. Liu Bei contested Cao Pi's claim to the throne, so, in 221, he proclaimed himself "Emperor of Shu Han". Although Liu Bei is widely seen as the founder of Shu, he never claimed to be the founder of a new dynasty; rather, he viewed Shu as a continuation of the fallen Han Dynasty.

Liu Bei's reign

See also: Battle of Xiaoting

Liu Bei ruled as emperor for less than three years. In 222, he launched a campaign against 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 crushing defeat at the hands of Sun Quan's general Lu Xun and lost the bulk of his army. He survived the battle and retreated to Baidicheng, where he died from illness a year later.

Liu Shan's reign

See also: Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions and Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions

A Qing Dynasty illustration of a battle between Wei and Shu at the banks of the Wei River. Many battles were fought between Shu and Wei in the Three Kingdoms period.

Liu Bei was succeeded by his son Liu Shan, who became emperor. Before his death, Liu Bei also appointed his chancellor Zhuge Liang and the general Li Yan as regents to assist Liu Shan.

Zhuge Liang was the de facto head of the Shu government throughout Liu Shan's reign, and he was responsible for masterminding most of Shu's policies during his regency. Shu was the weakest of the three major powers in China at that time because it lacked resources and manpower as it controlled only one province (Yi Province) whereas the other two ruled more than one province each. As such, Zhuge Liang made peace with Sun Quan, reaffirmed the alliance between Sun Quan and Shu, and even recognised Sun Quan's legitimacy when the latter declared himself "Emperor of Eastern Wu" in 229. He advocated an aggressive foreign policy towards Cao Wei, because he believed that it was critical to the survival of Shu.

Between 228 and 234, Zhuge Liang launched a series of five military campaigns against Wei with the aim of conquering Chang'an, a strategic city located on the road to the Wei capital Luoyang. Most of the battles were fought around present-day Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. However, Shu failed to achieve any significant success in the five expeditions, and Zhuge Liang eventually died of illness in a stalemate between Shu and Wei forces at the Battle of Wuzhang Plains.

The Shu government was headed by Jiang Wan, Fei Yi and others after Zhuge Liang's death, and Shu temporarily ceased its aggression towards Wei. Wei attempted an invasion on Shu in 244, leading to the Battle of Xingshi, but the invasion failed and Wei forces retreated. Between 247 and 262, the Shu general Jiang Wei continued Zhuge Liang's legacy by leading a series of nine military campaigns against Wei, but also failed to make any significant territorial gains.

Fall of Shu

Main articles: Conquest of Shu by Wei and Zhong Hui's Rebellion

In 263, armies led by the Wei generals Deng Ai and Zhong Hui attacked Shu and conquered its capital Chengdu within that year. Liu Shan surrendered to Deng Ai outside Chengdu, which marked the end of Shu. Jiang Wei attempted to incite conflict between Deng Ai and Zhong Hui, hoping to take advantage of the situation to revive Shu. Zhong Hui captured Deng Ai and openly rebelled against the Wei regent Sima Zhao, but the revolt was suppressed by Wei forces and Jiang Wei, along with Zhong Hui and Deng Ai, were all killed.

Liu Shan was brought to the Wei capital Luoyang and was granted the title of "Duke of Anle". He lived a comfortable and peaceful life in Luoyang until the end of his days. It was claimed that many refugees fled west to Sasanian Persia when Shu fell in 263.

Economy

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.

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
Yuexi 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 rulers

Temple name	Posthumous name	Family name (in bold) and personal name	Reign	Era names and their year ranges	Notes
(N/A)	Emperor Zhaolie 昭烈皇帝	Liu Bei 劉備	221-223	Zhangwu 章武 (221-223)	Liu Bei was also referred to as the "Former Lord" (先主) in some historical texts.
(N/A)	(N/A)	Liu Shan 劉禪	223-263	Jianxing 建興 (223-237) Yanxi 延熙 (238-257) Jingyao 景耀 (258-263) Yanxing 炎興 (263)	Liu Shan was posthumously granted the title of "Duke Si of Anle" (安樂思公) by the Jin Dynasty. He was later posthumously honoured as "Emperor Xiaohuai" (孝懷皇帝) by Liu Yuan, the founder of the Han Zhao state of the Sixteen Kingdoms. He was also referred to as the "Later Lord" (後主) in some historical texts.

See also

• Shu Han family trees
• Three Kingdoms
• Cao Wei
• Eastern Wu