A state in southwestern China founded by Liu Bei, claiming legitimate succession to the Han dynasty. Though the smallest and weakest of the three, it waged relentless Northern Expeditions under Zhuge Liang's leadership.
According to local folklore, the mountainous paths of Shu were so incredibly treacherous that even the legendary poet Li Bai later wrote 'the road to Shu is harder than climbing to heaven', a true testament to the natural fortress that protected the kingdom.