Legacy
Under the rule of Wu, the Yangtze River Delta region, regarded in early history as a barbaric "jungle" developed into one of the commercial, cultural, and political centers of China. Within five centuries, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, the development of southern China centered around Jiangnan had surpassed that of the north. The achievements of Wu marked the beginning of the cultural and political division between northern and southern China that would repeatedly appear in Chinese history well into modernity.
The island of Taiwan may have been first reached by the Chinese during the Three Kingdoms period. Contact with the native population and the dispatch of officials to an island named "Yizhou" (夷州) by the Wu navy might have been to Taiwan, but the location of Yizhou is open to dispute; some historians believe it was Taiwan, while others believe it was the Ryukyu Islands. Wu merchants also may have reached Southern Vietnam and Cambodia. Failed protection of Gongsun Yuan also was in existence when the latter rebelled against Wei. This was because of the waterway's difficulties. Such things costed Wu, and the achievements supposedly gained within Taiwan did not cover this problem and Sun Quan lost his vassal.
Later on in the Wu existence, the once great military was turned to an unimpressive military. It was most likely an easy task to take Hefei from Wei, but Wu could not do so. Since the 230's, this task was made harder due to the "New City". One of the greatest failures to accomplish something later on in Wu's reign was during 255 and during the last few years of the 250's. When Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin rebelled against Wei, Wu promised to help the two in Shouchun. However, the Wu forces never made it in time before the rebellion was quashed by Sima Shi and the Wei forces. When Zhuge Dan launched a massive full-scale rebellion, the Wu forces suffered a great defeat as they lent a great quantity of manpower to Zhuge Dan's cause. Shouchun was quickly regained by Wei under Sima Zhao's command.
During the Conquest of Shu by Wei in 263, Wu could not fully lend support to their allies due to a revolt in Vietnam.
The decline of Wu was long in existence since the death of Lu Xun in 245 and the death of Sun Quan in 252. Sun Quan's successors could do little for the empire. Zhuge Ke was assassinated by Sun Jun after a failed invasion of Hefei following the Wu victory over an invading Wei force at Dongxing. Ding Feng, also ended up killing Sun Chen under orders from Sun Xiu. Corruption plagued Wu, and led to an easy downfall from the Jin empire.
Read more about this topic: Eastern Wu
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“What is popularly called fame is nothing but an empty name and a legacy from paganism.”
—Desiderius Erasmus (c. 1466–1536)