Biography
Early life
Sun Hao was born in 242 CE, the sixth year of Chiwu, in Jianye, Danyang Commandery (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu).
He was the eldest son of Sun He, Sun Quan’s third son.
His birth mother was Lady He, a concubine of Sun He.
When Sun Hao was born, he received his grandfather’s love, and Sun Quan gave him the childhood name Pengzu (彭祖, “Peng Zu”).
Father’s fall
In the same year, Sun He was made Crown Prince.
However, in 250 CE, the thirteenth year of Chiwu, Sun He became involved in the “Dispute of the Two Palaces” and was deposed by Sun Quan and exiled to Guzhang (present-day Anji County, Zhejiang).
In 252 CE, the second year of Taiyuan, Sun Quan again enfeoffed Sun He as Prince of Nanyang.
Sun He moved with his family to Changsha (present-day Changsha County, Hunan).
Soon after, Sun Quan died, and his ten-year-old youngest son Sun Liang succeeded to the throne.
Father’s death
After Sun Liang succeeded to the throne, Zhang Fei’s uncle Zhuge Ke held power.
In 253 CE, the second year of Jianxing, the imperial clansman Sun Jun killed Zhuge Ke.
He used the excuse that there were rumours among the people that Zhuge Ke wanted to welcome Sun He to the throne and stripped Sun He of his princely title and exiled him to Xindu (present-day Chun’an County, Zhejiang).
He then ordered Sun He to commit suicide.
Zhang Fei, Sun He’s principal consort, also committed suicide.
At this time, Sun Hao was only twelve years old and had three half-brothers.
Lady He said: “If everyone dies, who will raise the orphans?”
She therefore raised Sun Hao and his three half-brothers.
Marquis of Wucheng
In 258 CE, the third year of Taiping, Sun Liang was deposed by Sun Lin, who had succeeded Sun Jun’s power.
Sun Xiu, Sun Quan’s sixth son, was made emperor.
After Sun Xiu succeeded to the throne, he enfeoffed Sun Hao as Marquis of Wucheng and ordered Sun Hao to go to his fief Wucheng (present-day Huzhou, Zhejiang).
His half-brothers Sun De and Sun Qian were also enfeoffed as Marquis of Qiantang and Marquis of Yong’an respectively.
Meeting Wan Yu
While serving as Marquis of Wucheng, Sun Hao became acquainted with Wan Yu, Magistrate of Wucheng, and they became friends.
Succession to the throne
In 264 CE, the seventh year of Yong’an, in the seventh month, Sun Xiu died after entrusting his son to Chancellor Puyang Xing.
After Sun Xiu died, Puyang Xing did not follow his wish to make Crown Prince Sun Wan emperor.
At that time, Eastern Wu’s ally Shu Han had already fallen, and rebellions had broken out in Jiaozhi.
The ministers considered installing an older ruler.
Wan Yu, who had been promoted to Commandant of the Left, recommended Sun Hao to Puyang Xing and another powerful minister Zhang Bu, saying that Sun Hao was intelligent and decisive, had the style of Sun Ce, Prince Huan of Changsha, and acted according to law.
Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu were persuaded by Wan Yu and together persuaded Empress Dowager Zhu to welcome Sun Hao as emperor.
This year, Sun Hao was twenty-three years old.
Early reign
After Sun Hao succeeded to the throne, he took a series of measures to consolidate his position.
On one hand, he granted many rewards, promoting Puyang Xing, who had helped install him, to Palace Attendant and concurrently Inspector of Qing Province.
He promoted Zhang Bu, General of the Left, to General of Agile Cavalry and added Palace Attendant.
He also promoted Shi Ji and Ding Feng, veteran generals of Wu, to Left and Right Grand Marshals to win over the ministers.
On the other hand, he distributed grain to relieve the poor, released many palace maids so they could marry, and released some beasts kept in the palace.
Through a series of policies that benefited the people, he won popular support.
At that time, people all called him a wise ruler.
Change in behaviour
However, after a period of time, Sun Hao, who had achieved success in governing and was satisfied, revealed his reckless, violent, proud, superstitious, and fond of wine and women side.
In addition, he demoted Empress Dowager Zhu to Empress Jing, posthumously titled his father Sun He as Emperor Wen, honoured his birth mother Lady He as Empress Dowager, made his wife Lady Teng empress, and enfeoffed Sun Xiu’s Crown Prince and three other sons as princes to strengthen the legitimacy of his succession.
Killing Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu
Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu, who had originally installed him, were shocked and disappointed by Sun Hao’s change.
As a result, they were secretly reported to Sun Hao by Wan Yu.
Sun Hao had them executed and exterminated their three clans.
At this time, only four months had passed since the two had installed Sun Hao.
Killing Empress Dowager Zhu
In 265 CE, the first year of Ganlu, in the seventh month, Sun Hao forced the former Empress Dowager Zhu to commit suicide.
He also placed Sun Xiu’s four sons under house arrest and killed the two older ones.
Moving the capital to Wuchang
In the ninth month, Sun Hao listened to a diviner’s words (“Jing Province has the qi of a king, which will break Yang Province”).
He also needed to defend against the military encirclement of the Sima family.
He decided to move the capital to Wuchang (present-day Ezhou, Hubei).
In the twelfth month of this year, Sima Yan, who had succeeded Sima Zhao’s power, forced Cao Wei to abdicate and formally established the Jin dynasty.
Killing Wang Fan
In 266 CE, the first year of Baoding, Ding Zhong, an envoy to Jin, returned to Wuchang.
Sun Hao summoned the ministers to a banquet.
Because Wang Fan, Regular Attendant, was drunk and behaved improperly, Sun Hao was greatly angry.
Although Teng Mu, Liu Ping, and other important ministers interceded for Wang Fan, Sun Hao still ordered Wang Fan to be beheaded.
Sun Hao’s action shocked and saddened the ministers.
He Xi, Lu Kang, and others later submitted memorials remonstrating and cited this incident as an example to criticize Sun Hao.
Campaigns against Jin
In 268 CE, the third year of Baoding, Sun Hao began to attack Jin.
This year, he personally led a large army and stationed at Dongguan (present-day Hanshan County, Anhui).
He ordered Shi Ji, Left Grand Marshal, to attack Jiangxia (present-day Yunmeng County, Hubei).
Wan Yu, Right Chancellor, attacked Xiangyang (present-day Xiangyang, Hubei).
Ding Feng, Right Grand Marshal, and Zhuge Jing, Right General, attacked Hefei (present-day Hefei, Anhui).
Liu Jun, Inspector of Jiao Province, Xiu Ze, Vanguard Commander, Gu Rong, General, and others led attacks against the Jiaozhi rebels who had surrendered to Jin.
However, none of them succeeded.
The northern expedition army was blocked by Sima Wang’s army.
The two main forces, Shi Ji and Ding Feng, were defeated by Jin generals Hu Lie and Sima Jun respectively.
The southern expedition army against Jiaozhi was greatly defeated by Jin general Yang Ji.
Liu Jun and Xiu Ze were killed in battle.
Gu Rong led the remnant army and retreated to Hepu (present-day Hepu County, Guangxi).
Suppressing rebellions
In 266 CE, in the tenth month, Yong’an mountain bandits led by Shi Dan gathered several thousand people, kidnapped Sun Hao’s half-brother Sun Qian, Marquis of Yong’an, and advanced toward Jianye, the old capital of Wu.
Along the way, people continuously joined them.
When they reached outside Jianye, there were already tens of thousands of people.
However, they were defeated by Wu generals Ding Gu and Zhuge Jing.
Sun Qian was rescued.
When Sun Hao heard the news of Shi Dan’s rebellion, he not only was not worried but felt that this confirmed what the diviner had said earlier about “Jing Province has the qi of a king, which will break Yang Province.”
He affirmed his decision to move the capital and ordered several hundred people to go to Jianye and shout: “The Son of Heaven sent Jing Province troops to break the Yang Province bandits” to suppress the previous bad omen.
Ding Gu asked Sun Hao how to deal with Sun Qian.
Sun Hao ordered Sun Qian and his mother to be poisoned together.
Later, he also killed Sun Jun, another half-brother, who was Sun He’s son by his principal consort.
In the twelfth month, Sun Hao moved the capital back to Jianye.
Building Zhaoming Palace
In 267 CE, the second year of Baoding, in the sixth month, summer, Sun Hao ordered the construction of a larger palace—Zhaoming Palace.
For the construction of Zhaoming Palace, all officials below the rank of two thousand shi were sent to the mountains to supervise the cutting of timber.
The construction of Zhaoming Palace took half a year.
The project cost a huge amount and delayed the farming season.
At that time, Lu Kai, Hua He, and others submitted memorials remonstrating, but Sun Hao refused to listen.
Later reign and cruelty
From approximately 272 CE onward, Sun Hao’s tolerance for remonstrating loyal ministers greatly decreased.
He did not hesitate to kill to stop annoying remonstrance.
Lou Xuan, Minister of Agriculture, was exiled to Guangzhou for repeatedly remonstrating directly and died by poison.
He Shao, Director of the Central Secretariat, was tortured to death because Sun Hao suspected he was feigning illness when he could not speak due to a stroke.
Wei Zhao, Palace Attendant, was executed for repeatedly insisting on his own views and not following imperial orders.
Hua He, Director of the Eastern Library, was dismissed and sent home for repeatedly submitting memorials remonstrating.
Zhang Jun, Administrator of Yuzhang, was executed by dismemberment and his three clans exterminated for sweeping the tomb of Sun Fen’s mother.
Che Jun, Administrator of Kuaiji, was executed for opening granaries to relieve famine, as Sun Hao suspected he was buying people’s hearts.
Zhang Yong, Administrator of Xiangdong, was killed for insufficient tax collection.
Xiong Mu, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, was beaten to death with a sword hilt for slightly remonstrating.
Even He Ding, Chen Sheng, and Zhang Chu, whom he had once favoured, were executed.
Among them, Zhang Chu was executed by dismemberment, and Chen Sheng was killed by having his head sawn off.
The Xiling victory
In 272 CE, the first year of Fenghuang, in the eighth month, autumn, Lu Kang successfully suppressed Bu Chan, Commander of Xiling, who had rebelled and surrendered to Jin because he feared Sun Hao would harm him.
He not only successfully recovered the strategically important Xiling (present-day Yichang, Hubei) and exterminated Bu Chan and his three clans but also repelled the fifty-thousand-strong army led by the famous general Yang Hu and annihilated the thirty-thousand-strong relief army of Jin general Yang Zhao.
After the Xiling victory, Sun Hao became even more proud and self-satisfied because he had successfully recovered lost territory and greatly defeated Jin within two years.
He became even more convinced that he had Heaven’s assistance.
He summoned the diviner Shang Guang to perform divination to see if he could obtain the realm.
The divination result showed that he would “enter Luoyang with a green canopy” in the Gengzi year.
Sun Hao was very happy.
From then on, he focused on planning the great enterprise of unification and frequently sent armies to attack Jin’s borders, but all were fruitless.
Lu Kang’s remonstrance
Lu Kang submitted memorials opposing Sun Hao’s militarism, hoping that Sun Hao would see the fact that Jin was strong and Wu was weak.
He suggested “temporarily stopping small plans for advancement to accumulate the strength of the people and observe opportunities.”
He also submitted memorials pointing out the important strategic position of Xiling and Jianping and requesting to strengthen the troops in both places.
Wu Yan, Administrator of Jianping, also determined from a large amount of wood chips floating down from the upper reaches of the Yangtze that Jin would launch a large-scale attack on Wu by water route from Bashu.
He submitted memorials to Sun Hao requesting to strengthen defences.
However, Sun Hao not only did not value these opinions but also, after Lu Kang died of illness in 274 CE, the third year of Fenghuang, divided his troops into five parts and gave them to Lu Kang’s five sons to command separately.
The fall of Eastern Wu
In 279 CE, the third year of Tianji, Guo Ma killed Yu Shou, Commander of Guangzhou, and started a rebellion in Guangzhou.
Sun Hao sent Teng Xiu, Tao Jun, and Tao Huang to lead troops to suppress Guo Ma’s rebel army.
In the eleventh month, winter, Sima Yan, Emperor Wu of Jin, following the plan drawn up by Yang Hu before his death, ordered Sima Zhou, General Who Stabilizes the Army; Wang Hun, General Who Pacifies the East; Wang Rong, General Who Establishes Might; Hu Fen, General Who Pacifies the South; Du Yu, General Who Stabilizes the South; Wang Jun, General of the Soaring Dragon; and Tang Bin, Supervisor of Badong, to divide into six routes and launch a large-scale attack on Wu.
Surrender
In 280 CE, the fourth year of Tianji, in the first month, Du Yu and Wang Hun’s armies advanced toward Jiangling (present-day Jingzhou, Hubei) and Hengjiang (present-day Hexian County, Anhui) respectively and successively captured Wu’s fortresses.
Wang Hun’s army first captured Xunyang (present-day Huangmei County, Hubei), Laixiang, and other cities and stationed troops at Hengjiang, only a hundred li from Jianye.
In the second month, under the attacks of Wang Jun and Tang Bin’s army and Du Yu, Hu Fen, and Wang Rong’s armies, the important military towns of Jing Province—Danyang (present-day Zigui County, Hubei), Xiling, Jingmen (present-day southeast of Yichang, Hubei), Yidao (present-day Yidu, Hubei), Lexiang (present-day east of Songzi County, Hubei), Jiangling, Jiang’an (present-day Gong’an County, Hubei), Xiakou, and Wuchang—fell one after another.
Wu had fourteen commanders and supervisors killed in battle or surrendered, and more than one hundred and twenty generals at the rank of Yamen General and Administrator.
The commanderies south of Jing all surrendered at the sight of the wind.
The final battle
In the third month, the elite Wu army led by Zhang Ti, Chancellor, was defeated by Wang Hun’s army at Banqiao (present-day Hexian County, Anhui).
Zhang Ti, Sun Zhen, and Shen Ying were all killed in battle.
Sun Hao knew that destruction was imminent.
In a letter to his uncle He Zhi, he blamed himself: “Heaven is not destroying Wu; I am the one who brought it about. When I close my eyes and am buried in yellow earth, what face will I have to see the four emperors?”
Soon after, He Zhi also surrendered to Wang Hun’s army.
At this time, Wang Jun led the navy downstream from Wuchang and directly attacked Jianye.
Sun Hao sent Zhang Xiang to lead more than ten thousand naval troops to resist, but as soon as Wang Jun’s army arrived, Zhang Xiang immediately surrendered.
Sun Hao again sent Tao Jun to lead twenty thousand troops to meet the enemy, but all the soldiers fled overnight.
The killing of Cen Hun
Hundreds of people around Sun Hao requested that he kill Cen Hun, his favourite minister.
He had no choice but to agree.
Surrender
Later, Sun Hao followed the strategy of Xue Ying, Minister of the Household, and Hu Chong, Director of the Central Secretariat, and separately sent envoys to Wang Jun, Sima Zhou, and Wang Hun to request surrender, trying to divide the Jin army, but this did not work.
On the day Renyin of the third month (1 May 280 CE), Wang Jun led a large army into Shitoucheng.
Sun Hao led Crown Prince Sun Jin, Prince of Lu Sun Qian, and twenty-one others to surrender.
His entire family was sent to Luoyang.
Eastern Wu was destroyed.
Life in Luoyang
Sima Yan, Emperor Wu of Jin, issued an edict enfeoffing Sun Hao as Duke of Guiming.
After Sun Hao arrived in Luoyang, he received relatively generous treatment from Sima Yan.
Later, when Sima Yan held a great banquet for the ministers, he summoned Sun Hao to appear.
Sun Hao came forward and kowtowed to ask for forgiveness.
Sima Yan pointed to the last seat on the mat and said to Sun Hao: “I have set this seat waiting for you for a long time.”
Sun Hao replied: “I, your subject, in the south, also set this seat waiting for Your Majesty.”
Jia Chong deliberately made things difficult for him and said: “I heard that you, sir, in the south, often gouged out people’s eyes and peeled off people’s faces. What kind of punishment is this?”
Sun Hao replied: “For ministers who kill their ruler and those who are treacherous and disloyal, this punishment is applied.”
Jia Chong had ordered his subordinates to kill Cao Mao, Emperor of Wei.
After hearing Sun Hao’s words, he was very ashamed, while Sun Hao’s expression did not change.
Death
In the twelfth month of 284 CE, the fifth year of Taikang, Sun Hao died in Luoyang at the age of forty-two.
He was buried at Mangshan in Henan County.
Personality
Sun Hao was one of the most famous tyrants in Chinese history.
He was suspicious and cruel by nature and established many cruel punishments.
He killed or exiled many important imperial clansmen, such as killing his second cousin Sun Feng, exiling his cousins Sun Ji and Sun Yi, executing his fifth uncle Sun Fen and his five sons, and killing his half-brothers Sun Qian and Sun Jun.
He also often applied heavy punishments to ministers.
Among the chancellors alone, except for Zhang Ti, who died in battle at the time of the fall of the state, Puyang Xing was exiled and executed, and his three clans were exterminated.
Wan Yu was ordered to commit suicide, and his entire family was exiled.
Several years after Lu Kai died, his entire family was exiled.
In addition, Sun Hao was very superstitious and often decided major events such as moving the capital, using troops, and deposing the empress based on reasons such as fate, observing qi, divination, and prophecies.
He therefore always firmly believed that he would unify the realm.
Military achievements
Suppressing rebellions
Sun Hao suppressed the rebellions of Shi Dan and Guo Ma.
Campaigns against Jin
Sun Hao launched several campaigns against Jin, but most failed.
The Xiling victory
In 272 CE, Lu Kang successfully suppressed Bu Chan’s rebellion and repelled Yang Hu’s army, achieving a major victory.
However, this victory made Sun Hao even more arrogant and led to further military failures.
Relationships
With Sun Quan
Sun Hao was Sun Quan’s grandson and received his grandfather’s love when he was born.
Sun Quan gave him the childhood name Pengzu.
With Sun He
Sun Hao was Sun He’s eldest son.
After Sun Hao succeeded to the throne, he posthumously titled Sun He as Emperor Wen.
With Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu
Sun Hao had Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu executed only four months after they installed him as emperor because they were disappointed with his change in behaviour.
With Wan Yu
Sun Hao had a close relationship with Wan Yu, who recommended him as emperor.
However, Wan Yu later committed suicide after Sun Hao tried to poison him.
With Lu Kang
Sun Hao had a complex relationship with Lu Kang.
He valued Lu Kang’s military abilities but did not listen to his remonstrance.
After Lu Kang died, he divided his troops among his five sons.
Anecdotes
The early benevolent policies
When Sun Hao first succeeded to the throne, he distributed grain to relieve the poor, released palace maids, and released beasts, winning popular support.
People called him a wise ruler.
However, this did not last long.
Killing Wang Fan
When Wang Fan was drunk at a banquet, Sun Hao had him executed despite intercession from important ministers.
This shocked the court and showed Sun Hao’s cruelty.
The move to Wuchang
Sun Hao moved the capital to Wuchang based on a diviner’s words, but the people were unhappy and sang: “Rather drink Jianye water than eat Wuchang fish; rather return to Jianye to die than stop at Wuchang to live.”
He moved back to Jianye the next year.
Building Zhaoming Palace
Sun Hao built Zhaoming Palace at great cost, delaying the farming season.
Despite remonstrance from Lu Kai and others, he refused to listen.
The cruel punishments
Sun Hao established many cruel punishments, including peeling off people’s faces, gouging out people’s eyes, sawing off heads, and dismemberment.
He applied these punishments frequently, causing great fear among the ministers.
The divination
When a diviner told Sun Hao that he would “enter Luoyang with a green canopy” in the Gengzi year, Sun Hao was very happy and focused on planning unification.
However, this prophecy was fulfilled when he surrendered to Jin.
The surrender
When Sun Hao surrendered, he followed Liu Shan’s example and came out with his hands bound, carrying a jade, and pulling a sheep.
He led twenty-one people, including his Crown Prince, to surrender.
The conversation with Sima Yan
When Sima Yan said he had set a seat waiting for Sun Hao, Sun Hao replied that he had also set a seat waiting for Sima Yan.
This showed his wit even in defeat.
The conversation with Jia Chong
When Jia Chong asked about the cruel punishments, Sun Hao replied that they were for ministers who killed their ruler and those who were treacherous and disloyal.
This was a veiled criticism of Jia Chong, who had killed Cao Mao.
Achievements
- Suppressed rebellions
- Achieved victory at Xiling
- Recovered Jiaozhi and other southern territories
- Last emperor of Eastern Wu and the Three Kingdoms period
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Sun Hao’s biography appears in the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, where he is grouped with Sun Liang and Sun Xiu.
The biography records his cruelty and the fall of Eastern Wu.
The last emperor
Sun Hao was the last emperor of Eastern Wu and the last emperor of the Three Kingdoms period.
His surrender in 280 CE marked the end of the Three Kingdoms era.
The cruel tyrant
Sun Hao is remembered as one of the most cruel tyrants in Chinese history.
His cruelty and tyranny contributed greatly to the fall of Eastern Wu.
Historical evaluations
Contemporary
Lu Kai and Lu Kang repeatedly remonstrated and implied that Sun Hao was comparable to King Jie of Xia and King Zhou of Shang.
Xue Ying said that under Sun Hao’s rule, “he was close to petty people, punishments were applied arbitrarily, and ministers and generals had no one to trust. Everyone was worried and afraid, and each was uneasy.”
After Sun Hao was captured by Jin, he also criticized himself: “Cruelty spread, and the loyal and obedient were harmed. I was confused and did not realize it.”
Later historians
Chen Shou wrote: “Sun Hao’s excessive punishments, those who died or were exiled, probably cannot be counted. Therefore, all the subordinates were fearful and worried, hoping day by day, not planning for the evening. His delusion, witches and diviners, and the appearance of auspicious signs were considered most urgent. Previously, Shun and Yu personally farmed. With the virtue of the greatest sages, they still sometimes swore to the various ministers: ‘If I violate your assistance’ or bowed to good words, always as if they were not enough. How much more Sun Hao, who was fierce and stubborn, acted arbitrarily and cruelly, killed those who remonstrated loyally, advanced those who flattered, abused his people, and was extremely extravagant. He should have been cut in half at the waist and beheaded to apologize to the people.”
Legacy
Sun Hao is remembered as the last emperor of Eastern Wu and the last emperor of the Three Kingdoms period.
His cruelty and tyranny are legendary, and he is often compared to King Jie of Xia and King Zhou of Shang.
His story represents both power and failure—an emperor who showed early promise but whose cruelty and tyranny led to the fall of Eastern Wu and the end of the Three Kingdoms period.
Timeline
- 242 CE: Born in Jianye; childhood name Pengzu; grandson of Sun Quan
- 250 CE: Father Sun He deposed as Crown Prince
- 253 CE: Father Sun He killed; raised by Lady He
- 258 CE: Enfeoffed as Marquis of Wucheng by Sun Xiu
- 264 CE: Succeeded to the throne age 23; era name Yuanxing; killed Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu
- 265 CE: Killed Empress Dowager Zhu; moved capital to Wuchang; era name Ganlu
- 266 CE: Killed Wang Fan; moved capital back to Jianye; suppressed Shi Dan’s rebellion; killed Sun Qian and Sun Jun; era name Baoding
- 267 CE: Built Zhaoming Palace
- 268 CE: Launched campaigns against Jin; all failed
- 269 CE: Era name Jianheng; made Sun Jin Crown Prince
- 270 CE: Killed Li Xun and Xu Cun
- 271 CE: Led army to attack Jin; turned back due to snow; recovered Jiaozhi; era name Fenghuang
- 272 CE: Suppressed Bu Chan’s rebellion; achieved victory at Xiling
- 273 CE: Made Lu Kang Grand Marshal
- 274 CE: Lu Kang died; divided his troops among his five sons
- 275 CE: Era name Tiance
- 276 CE: Era name Tianxi; many generals surrendered to Jin
- 277 CE: Era name Tianji
- 279 CE: Guo Ma’s rebellion; Jin launched six-route attack on Wu
- 280 CE: Surrendered to Jin; Eastern Wu fell; enfeoffed as Duke of Guiming; moved to Luoyang
- 284 CE: Died in Luoyang age 42
See also
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 48, Biography of the Three Successors.
- Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, various chapters.