Princess Sun Luyu has often been overshadowed by her more famous and ruthless sister, Grand Princess Sun Luban.[1] She lived during the Three Kingdoms era. Princess Sun Luyu was the daughter of Emperor Sun Quan of the Wu Dynasty. Princess Sun Luyu was very influential.[2] However, she supported a prince, whom her sister strongly disliked, for the Crown Prince position.[3] They would become estranged, and the estrangement would lead to her death.[4] Therefore, Princess Sun Luyu has often been seen as a victim of her sister’s political machinations.[5]
The birthdate of Princess Sun Luyu is unknown.[6] She was the second daughter of Emperor Sun Quan of the Wu Dynasty and Imperial Consort Bu.[7] She had an older sister named Sun Luban, who was often nicknamed “Big Tiger.”[8] Princess Sun Luyu’s nickname was “Little Tiger.”[9] In 229 C.E., Princess Sun Luyu married Calvary General Zhu Ju.[10] He was known to have “literary and military talent.”[11] Therefore, Princess Sun Luyu was known as Princess Zhu.[12] Princess Sun Luyu bore a daughter whose personal name is unrecorded.[13] Her daughter would later marry her uncle, Prince Sun Xiu.[14] Prince Sun Xiu would later become Emperor. Her daughter would later become known as Empress Zhu.[15]
Princess Sun Luyu and her sister, Princess Sun Luban, were very influential in court politics.[16] They worked together to manipulate the court behind the scenes.[17] In 241 C.E., Crown Prince Sun Deng died. Emperor Sun Quan wanted to make Sun He the Crown Prince and his mother, Imperial Consort Wang, his Empress.[18] However, Princess Sun Luban slandered Prince Sun He and Imperial Consort Wang and was afraid they would take vengeance on her.[19] Therefore, Princess Sun Luban supported Prince Sun Ba.[20]
Princess Sun Luyu became estranged from Princess Sun Luban because she supported Prince Sun He.[21] Princess Sun Luban made false accusations about Imperial Consort Wang until she lost favour.[22] Imperial Consort Wang committed suicide, and Prince Sun He was banished from court.[23] Because Princess Sun Luyu and her husband, Calvary General Zhu Ju, were strong supporters of Prince Sun He, Calvary General Zhu Ju was flogged and demoted to Xindu Commandery.[24] On the way to Xindu Commandery, one of Prince Sun Ba’s supporters gave Zhu Ju a false imperial order to commit suicide.[25] Therefore, Zhu Ju committed suicide.[26]
Emperor Sun Quan arranged for Princess Sun Luyu to marry General Liu Zuan.[27] General Liu Zuan had been previously married to Princess Sun Luyu’s sister (whose name is unrecorded).[28] He had two sons from his previous marriage. [29]In 252 C.E., Emperor Sun Quan died. Sun Liang ascended the Wu throne as Emperor. His regent was Sun Jun.[30] Sun Jun was said to be greatly disliked.[31]
There were two assassination attempts on Sun Jun’s life.[32] The second attempt happened in 255 C.E.[33] Princess Sun Luban saw an opportunity to get rid of her estranged sister, Princess Sun Luyu.[34] She falsely accused Princess Sun Luyu of the attempted assassination.[35] Sun Jun executed Princess Sun Luyu.[36] Her body was placed in an unmarked grave.[37] In 264 C.E., Emperor Sun Hao wanted to show gratitude for Princess Sun Luyu’s support of his father, Prince Sun He.[38] He hired two shamans to find her unmarked grave.[39] Once her grave was located, they reburied her with the honours that befitted a princess.[40]
Princess Sun Luyu was very influential in the court of the Wu Dynasty.[41] However, she lost her battle in the choice of the Crown Prince.[42] This would cause her to be estranged from her sister, Princess Sun Luban.[43] This would cause Princess Sun Luban would bear a grudge against her and kill her.[44] Princess Sun Luyu would also lose her first husband because of her fight for the Crown Prince.[45] Therefore, many historians have sympathised with her.[46] Princess Sun Luyu has often been seen as a tragic victim of courtly politics.[47]
Sources:
Ching-Chung, P. (2015). “Sun Luban”. Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. – 618 C.E.. (L. X. H. Lee, Ed.; A. D. Stefanowska, Ed.; S. Wiles, Ed.). NY: Routledge. pp. 338-340.
McMahon, K. (2013). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. NY: Rowman and Littlefield.
[1] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[2] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[3] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[4] Ching-Chung, 2015
[5] Ching-Chung, 2015
[6] Ching-Chung, 2015
[7] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[8] McMahon, 2013, p. 117
[9] McMahon, 2013, p. 117
[10] Ching-Chung, 2015
[11] Ching-Chung, 2015, p. 339
[12] Ching-Chung, 2015
[13] Ching-Chung, 2015
[14] Ching-Chung, 2015
[15] Ching-Chung, 2015
[16] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[17] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[18] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[19] McMahon, 2013
[20] Ching-Chung, 2015
[21] Ching-Chung, 2015
[22] McMahon, 2013
[23] McMahon, 2013
[24] Ching-Chung, 2015
[25] Ching-Chung, 2015
[26] Ching-Chung, 2015
[27] Ching-Chung, 2015
[28] Ching-Chung, 2015
[29] Ching-Chung, 2015
[30] Ching-Chung, 2015
[31] Ching-Chung, 2015
[32] Ching-Chung, 2015
[33] Ching-Chung, 2015
[34] Ching-Chung, 2015
[35] Ching-Chung, 2015
[36] Ching-Chung, 2015
[37] Ching-Chung, 2015
[38] Ching-Chung, 2015
[39] Ching-Chung, 2015
[40] Ching-Chung, 2015
[41] Ching-Chung, 2015; McMahon, 2013
[42] Ching-Chung, 2015
[43] Ching-Chung, 2015
[44] Ching-Chung, 2015
[45] Ching-Chung, 2015
[46] Ching-Chung, 2015
[47] Ching-Chung, 2015
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