| Conventional Long Name: | Han |
| Common Name: | Shu Han Chinese: 蜀漢|nocat=true |
| Era: | Three Kingdoms |
| Status: | Empire |
| Government Type: | Monarchy |
| Year Start: | May 221 |
| Event End: | Conquest of Shu by Wei |
| Year End: | Dec 263 |
| P1: | Han dynasty#Eastern HanEastern Han |
| S1: | Cao Wei |
| Image Map Caption: | The territories of Shu Han (in light pink), as of 262 A.D. |
| Capital: | Chengdu |
| Common Languages: | Ba–Shu Chinese Eastern Han Chinese |
| Religion: | Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion |
| Currency: | Ancient Chinese coinage, Chinese cash |
| Leader1: | Liu Bei |
| Leader2: | Liu Shan |
| Year Leader1: | 221 – 223 |
| Year Leader2: | 223 – 263 |
| Title Leader: | Emperor |
| Stat Year1: | 221[1] |
| Stat Pop1: | 900,000 |
| Stat Year2: | 263 |
| Stat Pop2: | 1,082,000 |
| Today: | China Myanmar |
Han (Chinese: 漢; 221–263), known in historiography as Shu Han or Ji Han (Chinese: 季漢 "Junior Han"),[2] or often shortened to Shu (Chinese: t=蜀|p=Shǔ; Sichuanese Pinyin: Su < Middle Chinese: *źjowk < Eastern Han Chinese: *dźok[3]), was a dynastic state of China and one of the three major states that competed for supremacy over China in the Three Kingdoms period. The state was based in the area around present-day Hanzhong, Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, and north Guangxi, an area historically referred to as "Shu" based on the name of the past ancient kingdom of Shu, which also occupied this approximate geographical area. Its core territory also coincided with Liu Bang's Kingdom of Han, the precursor of the Han dynasty.
Shu Han's founder, Liu Bei (Emperor Zhaolie), had named his dynasty "Han", as he considered it a rump state of the Han dynasty and thus the legitimate successor to the Han throne, while the prefix "Shu" was first used by the rival state of Cao Wei to delegitimize the orthodoxy claims of the Shu Han state.[4] Later on when writing the Records of the Three Kingdoms, the historian, Chen Shou, also used the prefix "Shu" to describe Liu Bei's state of Han as a historiographical prefix to differentiate it from the many other states officially named "Han" throughout Chinese history.[5]
See main article: Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province. 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, took over Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) from the warlord Liu Zhang between 212 and 214, and wrestled control of Hanzhong from his rival, Cao Cao, in 219. Afterwards, Liu Bei proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong.
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. Liu Bei lost his territories in Jing Province to Sun Quan. Guan Yu, the general guarding Liu Bei's assets in Jing Province, was captured and subsequently executed by Sun Quan's forces.
Cao Cao died in 220, 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, and proclaimed himself "Emperor of Han" in 221. Although Liu Bei is widely seen as the founder of Shu Han, he never claimed to be the founder of a new dynasty; rather, he viewed Shu Han as a continuation of the Han dynasty.
To distinguish the state from other historical Chinese states of the same name, historians have added a relevant character to the state's original name: the state that called itself "Han" (漢) is also known as "Shu Han" (蜀漢) or just "Shu" (蜀).
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.
See also: Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions and Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions.
Before Liu Bei's death, he appointed the chancellor Zhuge Liang and the general Li Yan as regents to his son, Liu Shan. The young Liu Shan was only 16 years old, making him the youngest of the rulers of the Three Kingdom states, and Liu Bei expected the two regents to assist Liu Shan in managing state affairs. Zhuge Liang was the de facto head of the Shu government throughout Liu Shan's reign, and was responsible for most of Shu's policies during his regency.
When Liu Shan succeeded his father, Shu was the weakest of the three major powers. Following his father's defeat in 221, the portion of Jing Province previously held by Shu was now firmly under the control of Wu. Shu only included the western lands of Yi Province, while Wei controlled all of the northern lands, and Wu controlled all the lands from the east of Yi Province to the southern and eastern coastlines. Meanwhile, Shu's population was not large enough to stand against the rival state of Wei.[6] This greatly limited Shu in terms of resources and manpower; although the country could efficiently defend itself, Shu could not easily launch successful campaigns. As such, Zhuge Liang parleyed for peace with Wu, and reaffirmed the alliance between Sun Quan and Shu — with the former even recognising Sun Quan's legitimacy when the latter broke with Wei, and declared himself "Emperor of Wu" in 229. In order to strengthen the Shu Han state's authority in the remote southern region of Nanzhong, Zhuge Liang also launched an expeditionary force there in 225 to quell local rebellions, and the growing influence of the Nanman (literal: southern barbarians) in the region.
Zhuge Liang advocated an aggressive foreign policy towards Wei, because he strongly believed it was critical to the survival of Shu and its sovereignty. Between the years of 228 and 234, he 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, aside from gaining Jiang Wei as an officer in 228, Shu failed to achieve any significant victories or lasting gains in the five expeditions. During his final campaign where he fought against the Wei general, Sima Yi, an already taxed and ill Zhuge Liang died under the strain of the long stalemate with the Wei forces at the Battle of Wuzhang Plains.
After Zhuge Liang's death, the Shu government was then headed by Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, and others, and Shu temporarily ceased its aggression towards Wei. In 244, the Wei regent, Cao Shuang, launched an invasion of Hanzhong. Despite being outnumbered 2-to-1, the Shu forces defeated the invading combatants at the Battle of Xingshi, with the humiliated Wei forces fleeing. Between 247 and 262, the Shu general, Jiang Wei, resumed Zhuge Liang's legacy by leading a series of military campaigns against Wei, but also failed to make any significant territorial gains.
See main article: 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, without much struggle — the state having been exhausted by Jiang Wei's ill-fated campaigns. In the same year, Liu Shan surrendered to Deng Ai outside Chengdu, marking the end of Shu. In spite of this, Jiang Wei attempted to incite conflict between Deng Ai and Zhong Hui, in the hope of taking 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. Jiang Wei, Zhong Hui, and Deng Ai were killed in the struggle.
Liu Shan was brought to Luoyang, where he met with Sima Zhao, and was awarded the title of "Duke of Anle." He lived a comfortable and peaceful life in Luoyang until the end of his days.
Shu was not merely a nation at war. During peacetime, the Shu state 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 seen as the beginning of economic activity in Sichuan. It also promoted trade with southern China, which was then ruled by Eastern Wu.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Counties | |
|---|---|
| Shushi 朱提 | Shushi 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 |
See also: Shu Han family trees.
| Reign | Era names and their year ranges | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liezu 烈祖 | Emperor Zhaolie 昭烈皇帝 | Liu Bei 劉備 | 221–223 |
| Liu Bei is also referred to as the "Late Emperor" (先帝) in some historical texts. |
| (N/A) | Emperor Xiaohuai 孝懷皇帝 | Liu Shan 劉禪 | 223–263 |
| 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 is also referred to as the "Later Lord" (後主) in some historical texts. |