Three Kingdoms · 220 – 280

The Three Kingdoms Empresses (Shu Han)

Artist: Xiang Li
Year: 2022
Medium: watercolor on silk
Dimension: 24×36 in.

Proclaimed in Chengdu by Liu Bei, who claimed kinship with the Han dynasty, Shu ruled the mountainous southwest (modern‑day Sichuan and Chongqing). Its strength lay in natural defenses and the statecraft of Zhu Ge Liang, whose northern campaigns and domestic reforms became legendary. Despite passionate loyalty from its populace, Shu’s limited manpower and resources left it vulnerable; it fell to a Wei invasion led by Deng Ai and Zhong Hui.

Empress Wu (Lady Gan)

Lady Gan, born into a common family in Pei, Jiangsu, gained attention for her beauty and captivated Liu Bei when he visited Xu Province. Despite not being Liu Bei’s formal wife, Lady Gan played a crucial role in managing his household and handling family affairs, demonstrating resilience in the face of capture by Liu Bei’s enemies. During the Battle of Changban, she and her son Liu Shan were saved by Zhao Yun after Liu Bei was forced to abandon them. Posthumously honored as “Lady Huangsi” by Liu Bei and later as “Empress Zhaolie” by their son Liu Shan, Lady Gan’s remains were reburied in Shu territory. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, she is portrayed as a wise and supportive figure, offering advice and assistance during critical moments in Liu Bei’s life.

Empress Da Zhang (first wife)

Empress Zhang, formally known as Empress Jing’ai, was the wife of Liu Shan, the emperor of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period. A daughter of the Shu general Zhang Fei, she became the crown princess in 221 and ascended to empress in 223 when Liu Bei passed away. Empress Zhang died in 237 and was buried in Nanling. In the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, she marries Liu Shan after he becomes emperor, with Zhuge Liang recommending her for her prudence. She was succeeded by her younger sister.

Empress Xiao Zhang (second wife)

Empress Zhang, daughter of the renowned Shu general Zhang Fei and younger sister of Empress Jing’ai, served as the last empress of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. In 237, she entered the imperial harem as an honorable lady and later, in February 238, became empress, succeeding her late sister. Empress Zhang played a role in diplomatic relations, as in 249, she sought to ease tensions with Xiahou Ba, a notable figure from the rival state of Cao Wei, by emphasizing kinship. However, in 264, after the conquest of Shu Han by Cao Wei, Empress Zhang accompanied Liu Shan and her family to the Wei capital Luoyang. In popular culture, she is featured as a playable character in the Dynasty Warriors video game series, often referred to by the fictional name “Xingcai.”