Sun Ying (孙英, Tôn Anh; Marquis of Wu 吴侯; d. 254), was an imperial aristocrat of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms era, grandson of founding Emperor Sun Quan and son of Crown Prince Sun Deng (Sun Deng).
Ennobled as Marquis of Wu, Sun Ying was deeply grieved by the brutal, bloodthirsty tyranny of regent Sun Jun (孙峻), who had murdered Grand Tutor Zhuge Ke and was terrorizing the imperial clan. In autumn 254, Sun Ying organized a daring secret plot to assassinate Sun Jun during an imperial ceremony and restore royal authority to the Sun house. However, the plot was leaked by a traitorous conspirator; surrounded by Sun Jun’s guards, Sun Ying chose to commit suicide with his sword rather than suffer torture, dying a noble martyr for the Eastern Wu dynasty.
Role in History (Sanguozhi)
Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi, vol. 59): “Sun Ying plotted to slay Sun Jun to avenge the state; the secret leaked, and Sun Ying took his own life. The people of Wu mourned him, calling him a true son of Sun Deng.”
Sun Ying — Historical & Literary Timeline
Three Kingdoms (Wu)
Imperial Grandson
Born in Jianye; son of the beloved Crown Prince Sun Deng.
c. 251
Marquis of Wu
Inherits the historic noble marquisate of Wu.
254
The Anti-Sun Jun Coup & Martyrdom
Plots the assassination of dictator Sun Jun; betrayed and commits suicide.
Key Relationships
Family
- Grandfather Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền – Great Emperor of Wu): Founding ruler of Eastern Wu.
- Father Sun Deng (孙登 – Crown Prince Xuan): Virtuous crown prince whose early death was Wu’s greatest tragedy.
Friends
- Loyalist Conspirators Officers of the imperial guards: Joined the plot to overthrow Sun Jun.
Enemies
- Tyrannical Dictator Sun Jun (孙峻, Tôn Tuấn): Cruel regent who usurped power and drove Sun Ying to death.
Other
- Emperor of Wu Sun Liang (孙亮): Child emperor beneath Sun Jun’s regency.
In Sanguozhi
"A grandson of Sun Quan who preferred death with drawn blade to living beneath a tyrant's boot."
Historical Context
Sun Ying's martyrdom exposed the fatal factional decay of late Eastern Wu politics, paving the way for Sun Xiu's eventual purge of the Sun Jun clique.
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