Historical Record
Lady Wang, the birth mother of Sun He, drew much attention in Sun Quan's later years because of the favor she enjoyed. Her son Sun He, styled Zixiao, was Sun Quan's second son. Because Lady Wang was deeply favored by Sun Quan, Sun He, at only fourteen, received special treatment: Sun Quan established a palace guard for him and assigned the Director of the Secretariat Kan Ze to instruct him in the art of letters. Sun He was intelligent from childhood, fond of learning and humble toward men of talent, and thus won wide praise. In the fifth year of Chiwu (242 CE), at only nineteen, Sun He was installed as crown prince. After Sun He was made crown prince, Kan Ze was appointed Grand Tutor, Xue Zong Junior Tutor, while men such as Cai Ying, Zhang Chun, Feng Fu, and Yan Wei constantly attended him to assist the crown prince. According to the Book of Wu, Sun He from childhood displayed lofty wisdom and ability, and Sun Quan therefore especially favored him and often kept him at his side. In matters of dress and ceremony and in the bestowal of carved playthings and precious treasures, none of the other princes could compare with him. Sun He not only loved literature but also excelled at riding and archery; he studied diligently, was shrewd and keen, respected his teachers, and cherished men of talent. Whenever Cai Ying and the others came to court to offer congratulations, Sun He would always receive them humbly and converse with them pleasantly. He discussed the meaning of the classics, distinguished right from wrong, and consulted the court ministers, examining their talents and conduct to learn the better from the worse—everything done in good order. Later, when Zhuge Yi feigned rebellion to lure the Wei general Zhuge Dan, Sun Quan secretly moved troops to await the moment. Sun He, worried about Sun Quan campaigning abroad and mindful of the dangers of war, was often anxious and would not even eat together with others. He repeatedly remonstrated, urging Sun Quan to act with prudence and be sure of total victory, and only after Sun Quan returned in triumph did he dare to set his mind at ease.
In the Novel
The Romance of the Three Kingdoms gives no specific literary portrayal or episode for Lady Wang. In the existing novel material, Lady Wang does not appear, and so it is impossible, as with the historical record, to depict her life or character in detail. Her existence is reflected only indirectly through her son Sun He's status as crown prince, but the novel grants her no independent storyline or character image. This stands in contrast to the historical accounts, in which her favor influenced Sun He's position; the novel's depiction of this dimension is absent.
Key Relationships
* Princess Quan (enemy_of): Although the material provided does not directly mention any hostile relationship between Lady Wang and Princess Quan, according to the historical record there was a fierce power struggle between Princess Quan (that is, Sun Luban) and Lady Wang's son Sun He, and Princess Quan ultimately succeeded in deposing Sun He from his position as crown prince. It may therefore be inferred that Lady Wang, as Sun He's birth mother, stood in an indirect hostile relationship with Princess Quan, as part of the power struggle that unfolded around the position of crown prince.
* Sun He (mother_of): Lady Wang was Sun He's birth mother, and the favor she enjoyed directly influenced Sun He's early status and treatment. Sun Quan's favor toward Lady Wang enabled Sun He, while still young, to receive a special education and palace guard, laying the foundation for his later installation as crown prince. The mother-son relationship is the most central tie in Lady Wang's historical record.
* Sun Quan (beloved_by): Lady Wang was deeply favored by Sun Quan, which was the key factor in the political advantage she and her son Sun He gained. Sun Quan's favor for her made Sun He stand out among the many princes and ultimately be installed as crown prince.
Iconic Scenes
* Sun He installed as crown prince: In the fifth year of Chiwu, Sun He was installed as crown prince, an event that marked the peak of Lady Wang's status and influence as his birth mother. This was not only an important turning point in Sun He's own career but also reflected Lady Wang's place in Sun Quan's heart at the time. That Sun Quan established a palace guard for the fourteen-year-old Sun He and assigned Kan Ze to instruct him were all direct expressions of Lady Wang's favored status, and they paved the way for Sun He's path to the position of crown prince.
* Sun He's remonstrance to Sun Quan: When Zhuge Yi lured the Wei general Zhuge Dan, Sun Quan personally led troops abroad. Worried for his father's safety, Sun He repeatedly remonstrated, urging Sun Quan to act with prudence and be sure of total victory. Although this scene directly depicts Sun He's conduct, it indirectly reflects Lady Wang's nurturing and influence as a mother and the responsibility Sun He bore as crown prince. This event also displays Sun He's benevolence, filial piety, and wisdom, further consolidating his position as crown prince and indirectly manifesting the glory of Lady Wang as a mother.
* The absent image in the novel: In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Lady Wang has no specific iconic scene and is not even mentioned. This absence is itself "iconic," showing that in shaping its characters the novel sometimes chooses to overlook certain female figures who were significant influences in the historical record.
Relationships
1 relationships
Family1
Chapters1 回 ▸
- 史ch.59
Relationship timeline1 条 ▸
史 ch.59
- Sun He§16
parent_of
母王有宠见爱
Inner monologues · AI-generated1 段 ▸
- Whenever I think of those days, I know that I was no more than a mother: it was because I was favored by the ruler that