Gongsun Shu facts for kids

Gongsun Shu (Chinese: 公孫述, died in 36 AD) was an important leader in ancient China. He started his own kingdom called Chengjia. This kingdom controlled the Sichuan Basin region of China from 25 AD to 36 AD.

Gongsun Shu was a successful government official. He served during the Western Han and later the Xin dynasty. When the Xin dynasty ended in 23 AD, many rebellions began. These rebellions aimed to bring back the Han dynasty.

Gongsun Shu used his skills to take control of the Yi Province. In 24 AD, he declared himself the King of Shu. The next year, he became an emperor and founded the Cheng dynasty.

During his rule, the Sichuan area became peaceful and wealthy. The city of Chengdu grew into an important capital city. However, Gongsun Shu mostly focused on defending his own region. He did not try to expand his power much. Meanwhile, Liu Xiu was building up the Eastern Han empire in other parts of China.

In 36 AD, Gongsun Shu was badly hurt in a battle against the Eastern Han army. He died that night. His kingdom, Chengjia, surrendered the very next day.

Early Life and Career

Gongsun Shu was born into a family of government officials. His family lived in Youfufeng (today's Xingping). We don't know his exact birth year. His special name was Ziyang (Chinese: 子陽).

His father, Gongsun Ren, worked for the emperor. He was later made the Governor of Henan Commandery (modern Luoyang). Because his father held such a high position, Gongsun Shu was able to start his own career in government.

Gongsun Shu became the leader, or magistrate, of Qingshui County. His father was worried he was too young and sent someone to help him. But the helper returned quickly. He said Gongsun Shu did not need any help.

His boss, the Governor of Tianshui, saw how capable he was. He put Gongsun Shu in charge of four more counties. Gongsun Shu was good at keeping order. He became well-known throughout the area for his skills.

Around 15 AD, Wang Mang took over the Han throne. He started the Xin dynasty. Wang Mang made Gongsun Shu the Governor of Daojiang. This area was near Chengdu. Gongsun Shu stayed in this important job until 23 AD. That's when the Xin dynasty was overthrown.

Becoming Emperor of Chengjia

The Xin dynasty faced many rebellions. During this time, Gongsun Shu declared himself the King of Shu. In 25 AD, he took an even bigger step. He announced he was the Emperor of Chengjia. He also started a new era name called Longxing, which means "Dragon Rising."

As the ruler of Chengjia, Gongsun Shu built an imperial palace. He also created a government system to manage his new empire. He controlled all of the former Yi Province. This region was very rich. It allowed Gongsun Shu to build a large and strong army.

In 26 AD, Gongsun Shu sent his general, Hou Dan, to conquer Hanzhong. This area was north of Sichuan, in southern Shaanxi. It was located along the Han River.

In 33 AD, Gongsun Shu sent two generals, Tian Rong (田戎) and Yan Cen (延岑). They traveled down the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. Their goal was to conquer the Nan Commandery in modern Hubei. However, they did not manage to advance very far.

The End of Chengjia

In 35 AD, Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han dynasty sent an army. Their mission was to conquer Chengjia. When the Han forces entered Sichuan, Emperor Guangwu offered Gongsun Shu a chance to surrender. But Gongsun Shu refused.

The fight was long and difficult. It lasted for more than a year. In December 36 AD, the Han forces reached Chengdu. They were led by generals Wu Han and Zang Gong. They had very few supplies left. They were almost ready to give up and leave.

But on December 24, Gongsun Shu personally led an attack on the Han forces. He was wounded in this battle. He died during the night. The next day, the defenders of Chengdu, led by general Yan Cen, surrendered. This marked the end of the Chengjia kingdom.

After entering Chengdu, General Wu Han ordered a sad act. He had Gongsun Shu's wife, children, and other relatives killed. Yan Cen and his family were also killed.

See also

• Baidicheng