Liu Shan

Liu Shan (劉禪 Pinyin Líu Shàn, Wade-Giles Liu Ch'an) (207 - 271) was the second and final emperor of the Kingdom of Shu during the period of the Three Kingdoms in ancient China. He became the Emperor of Shu in AD 223 and reigned until 263. He was the son of Liu Bei. When Liu Shan was a child, he was often called 'A Dou'.

During the Battle of Changban, the infant Liu Shan was rescued by Zhao Yun when the Shu Army left him behind. When Zhao Yun returned Liu Shan to Liu Bei, Liu Bei threw Liu Shan to the ground, demonstrating that Zhao Yun's life was more important to him than Liu Shan's.

After the Kingdom of Wei conquered Shu, Liu Shan was captured and brought to Luoyang (the capital of Wei), and was then given the titular position Duke of Comfort (安樂公).

One day, the emperor of Wei invited Liu Shan and his followers to a party. During the party, entertainers performed a traditional Shu dance. All of the former Shu officials present were saddened, but Liu commented:

I enjoy the life here that I do not think about Shu anymore! (樂不思蜀)

This phrase became an idiom in Chinese, meaning "too joyful to think about home", and is actually better known than Liu Shan himself.

Some historicans accuse Liu Shan of lacking sincerity in ruling Shu, who allegedly left the Empire in the hands of his ministers (most notably Huang Hao). Others praise him as a wise man who saved himself from being unnecessarily killed after the surrender of Shu. Many of these supporters argue that Liu Shan had tried his best, but the Kingdom of Wei was too powerful by the time he took power.

Template:Livedja:劉禅 zh:刘禅

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