Sun Liang (simplified: 孙亮, traditional: 孫亮, pinyin: Sūn Liàng), courtesy name Ziming (子明 Zǐmíng), was the second emperor of Eastern Wu, reigning from 252 to 258. He was the youngest son of Sun Quan and was designated heir after the Two Palaces conflict. He came to the throne at age nine; Zhuge Ke and then Sun Jun served as regents. After Sun Jun’s death, Sun Lin took power. Sun Liang tried to remove Sun Lin but failed and was deposed in 258, replaced by his brother Sun Xiu. He was enfeoffed as Prince of Kuaiji and died in 260 (reported as suicide or murder).
Biography
Accession and regency
When Sun Quan died in 252, Sun Liang succeeded him. Zhuge Ke became regent and won the Battle of Dongxing. After Zhuge Ke’s disastrous northern campaign and assassination in 253, Sun Jun took control. Sun Liang remained emperor in name while Sun Jun dominated the court. Lü Dai and other generals continued to serve under the young emperor’s reign.
Deposition
After Sun Jun died, his cousin Sun Lin (孫綝) inherited power. Sun Liang resented Sun Lin’s control and plotted with his empress and others to remove him. The plot was discovered; Sun Lin deposed Sun Liang and forced the court to install Sun Xiu as emperor. Sun Liang was demoted to Prince of Kuaiji and sent away; he died in 260, with sources differing on whether he took his own life or was killed.
Legacy
Sun Liang is remembered as a child emperor who never held real power and was removed when he tried to act against his regent. His reign marks the period when Wu was ruled by regents (Zhuge Ke, Sun Jun, Sun Lin) before Sun Xiu and Sun Hao.