Eastern Wu

Wu
222–280[1]
The territories of Wu (in light greenish grey), as of 262 A.D.
The territories of Wu (in light greenish grey), as of 262 A.D.
CapitalWuchang
(222–229, 265–266)
Jianye
(229–265, 266–280)
Common languagesChinese
Religion
Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion
GovernmentMonarchy
King (222–229)
Emperor (229–280)
 
• Nov 222 – May 252
Sun Quan
• May 252 – Nov 258
Sun Liang
• Nov 258 – Sep 264
Sun Xiu
• Sep 264 – May 280
Sun Hao
Historical eraThree Kingdoms
• Independence from Cao Wei
222
• Sun Quan declaring himself Emperor
229
31 May 280[1]
Population
• 238[2]
2,567,000 (disputed)
• 280[2]
2,535,000 (disputed)
CurrencyChinese coin, Chinese cash
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Cao Wei
Western Jin
Today part ofChina China
Vietnam Vietnam
Tanner (2009) estimates the Wu population to be about one-sixth of the Han population.[3] This would be much more than the numbers given in 238 and 280, and could be because of census methods used in ancient China.[4]
Eastern Wu
Traditional Chinese東吳
Simplified Chinese东吴
Hanyu PinyinDōng Wú
Sun Wu
Traditional Chinese孫吳
Simplified Chinese孙吴
Hanyu PinyinSūn Wú

Wu (Chinese: 吳; pinyin: ; Middle Chinese *ŋuo < Eastern Han Chinese: *ŋuɑ[5]), known in historiography as Eastern Wu or Sun Wu, was a dynastic state of China and one of the three major states that competed for supremacy over China in the Three Kingdoms period. It previously existed from 220 to 222 as a vassal kingdom nominally under Cao Wei, its rival state, but declared complete independence from Cao Wei in November 222. It was elevated to an empire in May 229 after its founding ruler, Sun Quan (Emperor Da), declared himself emperor.

The name "Wu" was derived from the place it was based in—the Jiangnan (Yangtze River Delta) region, which was also historically known as "Wu". It was referred to as "Dong Wu" ("Eastern Wu") or "Sun Wu" by historians to distinguish it from other Chinese historical states with similar names which were also located in that region, such as the Wu state in the Spring and Autumn period and the Wuyue kingdom in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It was called "Eastern Wu" because it occupied most of eastern China in the Three Kingdoms period, and "Sun Wu" because the family name of its rulers was "Sun".

During its existence, Wu's capital was at Jianye (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), but at times it was also at Wuchang (武昌; present-day Ezhou, Hubei).[6]

  1. ^ Dardess, John W (2010). "The Three Kingdoms, 221–264". Governing China, 150–1850. Indianapolis: Hackett Pub. Co. p. 7. ISBN 978-1603844475. Weakened by internal strife, horrific palace murders, and major defections to the enemy, the last Wu emperor surrendered on 31 May 280, and his realm was annexed to the Jin.
  2. ^ a b Zou Jiwan (Chinese: 鄒紀萬), Zhongguo Tongshi – Weijin Nanbeichao Shi 中國通史·魏晉南北朝史, (1992).
  3. ^ Tanner, Harold M. (2009). "Chapter 5: The Age of Warriors and Buddhists". China: A History. Hackett Publishing. p. 142. When it was established, Wu had only one-sixth of the population of the Eastern Han Empire (Cao Wei held over two-thirds of the Han population).
  4. ^ Bertrand Russell (1922). Problem of China. London: George Allen & Unwin.
  5. ^ Schuessler, Axel. (2009) Minimal Old Chinese and Later Han Chinese. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i. p. 52
  6. ^ de Crespigny 2004, 3.

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