Biography & Historical Record
Sun Wan (孙𩅦, 孫𩅦, Tôn Oản; 262–265 AD), courtesy name Baixu (百序, Bách Tự), was the Crown Prince of the Eastern Wu dynasty during the late Three Kingdoms period. He was the eldest son of Emperor Jing of Wu (Sun Xiu) and his consort Empress Zhu (朱皇后).
Emperor Sun Xiu was renowned for his scholarly erudition and invented several extremely rare Chinese characters for his sons’ given names to prevent ordinary subjects from accidentally violating imperial naming taboos. In October 262 AD, Sun Wan was formally proclaimed Crown Prince. Following Sun Xiu’s untimely demise in 264 AD, ministers Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu bypassed the young prince due to external threats from Shu’s collapse, enthroning Sun Hao instead. Shortly after taking power, Sun Hao demoted Empress Dowager Zhu, forced her to commit suicide, exiled Sun Wan and his brothers, and in 265 AD cruelly executed young Sun Wan and his brother Sun Mang.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Tragedy of the Wu Imperial Household: Chapter 120 depicts the succession crisis following Sun Xiu’s death, where the ministers chose the mature Sun Hao over Sun Xiu’s young sons, leading to the ultimate downfall of Eastern Wu.
Sun Wan (孙𩅦) — Historical Timeline
Invested as Crown Prince
Born to Sun Xiu and Empress Zhu; declared Crown Prince of Eastern Wu.
Bypassed Succession
Sun Xiu dies; ministers select Sun Hao as ruler, demoting Sun Wan to Prince of Yuzhang.
Tragic Demise
Sun Hao murders Empress Dowager Zhu and executes Sun Wan and Sun Mang.
In Historical Accounts
- Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志): Volume 48 (Book of Wu, Sun Xiu Biography): “In the fifth year of Yong’an, the first month, the Emperor appointed his son Wan as Crown Prince… In the second year of Ganlu, Sun Hao murdered the eldest two sons of Xiu.”
In History
Summary
- Sun Wan (孙𩅦, Tôn Oản) was the eldest son of Sun Xiu and Empress Zhu, appointed Crown Prince in 262 AD and killed by Sun Hao in 265 AD.
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