Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Sun Liang (孙亮, Tôn Lượng) (243–260 AD), courtesy name Ziming (子明, Tử Minh), second emperor of Eastern Wu, was a young son of Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền) and Empress Pan. Named heir in 250 after the Two Palaces purge of Sun He (孙和, Tôn Hòa) and Sun Ba (孙霸, Tôn Bá), he ascended in 252 at about nine years old. Regents Zhuge Ke (诸葛恪, Gia Cát Khác), then Sun Jun (孙峻, Tôn Tuấn), then Sun Chen (孙綝, Tôn Lâm) dominated the state. Famous for the plum-honey deduction—proving mouse droppings were planted because their interiors were dry—he showed sharp forensic wit even as a boy.
As a teenager he tried to reclaim power from Sun Chen with palace guards and allies including Quan Ji’s circle and sister Sun Luban (孙鲁班, Tôn Lỗ Ban). The plot leaked; Sun Chen deposed him in 258 as Prince of Kuaiji and enthroned Sun Xiu (孙休, Tôn Hưu). In 260 Sun Liang died while being moved toward exile at Houguan—widely suspected poisoned—at eighteen.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
The novel’s late Wu chapters show Sun Liang as the child emperor under Sun Jun and then Sun Chen. He grows hostile to the regent’s tyranny, plots a night strike, fails when the secret leaks, and is deposed. Romance stresses his intelligence and the tragedy of a sovereign too young to break military dictatorship without trusted steel.
Sun Liang (孙亮) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Heir then emperor
Named successor after Two Palaces purge; enthroned after Sun Quan’s death.
Regents Zhuge Ke & Sun Jun
Zhuge Ke falls; Sun Jun monopolizes power; boy emperor remains a figurehead.
Plum honey deduction
Proves planted mouse droppings in honey; trains personal guards against overmighty regents.
Coup fails; death
Plot against Sun Chen leaks; deposed as Prince of Kuaiji; dies en route to exile, suspected poison.
See Sun Liang on Wikipedia and SGZ Wu annals of Emperor Fei.
Key Relationships
Family
- Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền): Father who designated him heir in 250.
- Empress Pan: Mother, murdered in palace intrigue in 252.
- Empress Quan: Consort who shared deposition and exile.
- Sun Xiu (孙休, Tôn Hưu): Elder half-brother installed after the 258 coup.
- Sun Luban (孙鲁班, Tôn Lỗ Ban): Half-sister allied against Sun Chen in the failed plot.
Friends
- Quan Ji (全纪, Toàn Kỷ) and palace guard officers who joined the anti–Sun Chen plan.
Enemies
- Sun Chen (孙綝, Tôn Lâm): Regent who crushed the coup and deposed him.
- Sun Jun (孙峻, Tôn Tuấn): Earlier autocratic regent after Zhuge Ke.
Other
- Zhuge Ke (诸葛恪, Gia Cát Khác): First regent of the boy emperor’s reign.
In Novel
Chapter 106
- Sun Liang (孙亮, Tôn Lượng): Succeeds Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền) as child emperor of Wu. Because he is too young to rule, Sun Jun (孙峻, Tôn Tuấn) dominates the government in his name after earlier regency turmoil.
Chapter 107
- Sun Liang (孙亮, Tôn Lượng): Remains under successive regents; after Sun Jun’s death, Sun Chen (孙綝, Tôn Lâm) takes power. The young emperor grows hostile to military dictatorship and begins planning to recover the seals of authority.
Chapter 108
- Sun Liang (孙亮, Tôn Lượng): Organizes a conspiracy with palace allies against Sun Chen. The plot is discovered; supporters fall; Sun Liang is deposed and reduced in rank, ending his reign—Romance’s climax of the boy-emperor tragedy.
In History
Summary
- Sun Liang (孙亮, Tôn Lượng), courtesy Ziming (子明), second emperor of Eastern Wu (252–258); deposed by Sun Chen; died 260 under suspicion of poison.
Year: 252 AD
- Enthroned after Sun Quan’s death; regency of Zhuge Ke begins.
Year: 258 AD
- Failed coup against Sun Chen; demoted to Prince of Kuaiji; Sun Xiu enthroned.
Year: 260 AD
- Dies during forced relocation; contemporary suspicion of poisoning.
Historical Record
- Sanguozhi Wu annals / biography of Sun Liang (Emperor Fei). Plum-honey anecdote preserved in historical anecdote tradition. Historical.