Liu Shan is the son of Liu Bei, the second emperor of Shu Han, and an important figure in the later Shu narrative of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. As an infant, he is caught in the chaos of the Battle of Changban and is famously rescued by Zhao Yun, who fights his way through Cao Cao’s forces.
After Liu Bei establishes Shu Han, Liu Shan becomes crown prince. When Liu Bei dies, Liu Shan succeeds him as emperor, with Zhuge Liang serving as the dominant regent and administrator of the state.
After Zhuge Liang’s death, Shu Han survives for several more decades. Jiang Wei repeatedly launches northern campaigns in an effort to continue the strategic struggle against Cao Wei, but the state gradually becomes weaker.
When Wei launches its final invasion of Shu, Deng Ai makes a daring advance toward Chengdu. Liu Shan eventually surrenders, bringing Shu Han to an end. He is not remembered primarily as a martial figure, but his connections to Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, Zhuge Liang, and the later Shu leadership make him an important node in the wider Three Kingdoms network.
