Sun Quan (182–252), formally Emperor Da of Wu, is the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.

He rules from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu.

In his youth, Sun Quan spends time in his home county of Fuchun, and after the death of his father Sun Jian in the early 190s, at various cities on the lower Yangtze River.

His older brother Sun Ce carves out a warlord state in the region, based on his own followers and a number of local clan allegiances.

When Sun Ce is assassinated by the retainers of Xu Gong in 200, the eighteen-year-old Sun Quan inherits the lands southeast of the Yangtze River from his brother.

His administration proves to be relatively stable in those early years.

Sun Jian and Sun Ce's most senior officers, such as Zhou Yu, Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, and Cheng Pu, remain loyal; in fact, it is mentioned in Romance of the Three Kingdoms that Sun Ce had at his deathbed reminded Sun Quan that "in internal matters, consult Zhang Zhao, in external matters, consult Zhou Yu."

Thus, throughout the 200s, Sun Quan, under the tutelage of his able advisors, continues to build up his strength along the Yangtze River.

In early 207, his forces finally win complete victory over Huang Zu, a military leader under Liu Biao, who dominates the middle Yangtze.

In winter of this year, the northern warlord Cao Cao leads an army of some 830,000 to conquer the south to complete the reunification of China.

Two distinct factions emerge at his court on how to handle the situation.

One, led by Zhang Zhao, urges surrender while the other, led by Zhou Yu and Lu Su, opposes capitulation.

In the end, Sun Quan decides to oppose Cao Cao in the middle Yangtze with his superior riverine forces.

Allied with Liu Bei and employing the combined strategies of Zhou Yu and Huang Gai, they defeat Cao Cao decisively at the Battle of Red Cliffs.

In 220, Cao Pi, son of Cao Cao, seizes the throne and proclaims himself to be the Emperor of China, ending and succeeding the nominal rule of the Han Dynasty.

At first Sun Quan nominally serves as a Wei vassal with the Wei-created title of King of Wu, but after Cao Pi demands that he send his son Sun Deng as a hostage to the Wei capital Luoyang and he refuses, in 222, he declares himself independent by changing his era name.

It is not until the year 229 that he formally declares himself emperor.

Because of his talent in gathering important, honorable men to his cause, Sun Quan is able to delegate authority to capable figures.

This primary strength serves him well in gaining the support of the common people and in surrounding himself with capable generals.

After the death of his original crown prince, Sun Deng, two opposing factions supporting different potential successors slowly emerge.

When Sun He succeeds Sun Deng as the new crown prince, he is supported by Lu Xun and Zhuge Ke, while his rival Sun Ba is supported by Quan Cong and Bu Zhi and their clans.

Over a prolonged internal power struggle, numerous officials are executed, and Sun Quan harshly settles the conflict between the two factions by exiling Sun He and forcing Sun Ba to commit suicide.

Sun Quan dies in 252 at the age of 70.

He enjoys the longest reign among all the founders of the Three Kingdoms, and is succeeded by his son Sun Liang.