Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Sun Hong was a high-ranking official under the state of Eastern Wu. Serving under Emperor Sun Quan, he held the position of Middle Secretariat (Zhongshu Ling). Upon the death of Sun Quan in 252 AD, Sun Hong attempted to influence the imperial succession and consolidate power for himself. However, he was discovered by the regent Zhuge Ke, who had Sun Hong executed shortly after the Emperor’s passing to prevent internal political instability.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In Luo Guanzhong’s novel, Sun Hong is depicted as a scheming court official who seeks to exploit the power vacuum following Sun Quan’s death, eventually meeting his end at the hands of Zhuge Ke.
Sun Hong — Historical & Literary Timeline
Death of Sun Quan and Execution
Following the death of Sun Quan, Sun Hong conspires to manipulate the regency. Zhuge Ke acts swiftly to maintain order, identifying Sun Hong as a threat and ordering his immediate execution.
Key Relationships
Family
- No information
Friends
- Sun Ba (孙霸, Tôn Bá): Prince of Lu. Sun Hong served as a chief political conspirator in Sun Ba’s faction during the Two Palaces Contention (242–250 AD), fabricating forged edicts to execute loyalist ministers like Zhu Ju.
- Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền): Founding Emperor Da of Eastern Wu who appointed Sun Hong as Director of the Imperial Secretariat (Zhongshu Ling), relying on his legal drafting.
- Yang Zhu (杨竺, Dương Trúc): Senior court conspirator under Sun Ba who coordinated factional attacks alongside Sun Hong.
Enemies
- Zhuge Ke (诸葛恪, Gia Cát Khác): Grand Regent of Eastern Wu. Upon Sun Quan’s death in 252 AD, Sun Hong plotted to forge an imperial deathbed decree to assassinate Zhuge Ke and seize sole regency; Zhuge Ke received secret intelligence from Teng Yin, lured Sun Hong to an imperial council meeting in the palace, and summarily executed him on the spot.
- Zhu Ju (朱据, Chu Cứ): General of Agile Cavalry and imperial brother-in-law. When Zhu Ju was demoted during the 250 AD succession crisis, Sun Hong forged an imperial decree ordering Zhu Ju to commit suicide along the road.
- Teng Yin (滕胤, Đằng Dận): Minister of Works who alerted Zhuge Ke to Sun Hong’s assassination plot, directly causing Sun Hong’s swift execution (252 AD).
Others
- No information
In Novel
Chapter 113
- Sun Hong (孙弘, Tôn Hoằng): Sun Hong is a Wu court official involved in the political struggle surrounding the succession after Sun Quan’s death. He supports the imperial faction and participates in the court maneuvering that follows the death of the reigning ruler.
In History
Wu Court
- Sun Hong (孙弘, Tôn Hoằng) was an official of Eastern Wu who became active during the later reign of Sun Quan (孙权, Tôn Quyền).
Political Role
- He participated in the factional politics surrounding the succession crisis between Sun He (孙和, Tôn Hòa) and Sun Ba (孙霸, Tôn Bá).
Historical Record
- Sun Hong’s political activities reflected the growing influence of court factions as Sun Quan’s reign entered its later phase.
Significance
- His career is associated with the increasingly unstable political environment that preceded the transfer of power to the next generation of the Sun family.