Five Dynasties
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Five Dynasties & Ten States
After Zhu Quanzhong usurped the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and founded the Later Liang Dynasty (907 - 923), there were sequentially four dynasties after that. All these five dynasties were called Five Dynasties in Chinese history. Meanwhile, there were also ten kingdoms originating from the former Jiedushi (regional military attachment) of Tang. Hereunder is the timeline of the Five Dynasties and Ten States: Period Dynasty Capital City Reign Period Destroyed by Five Dynasties Later Liang Luoyang, Kaifeng 907 - 923 Later Tang Later Tang Luoyang 923 - 936 Later Jin Later Jin Luoyang, Kaifeng 936 - 946 Liao Later Han Kaifeng 947 - 951 Later Zhou Later Zhou Kaifeng 951 - 960 Song Ten States Southern Wu Yangzhou 902 - 937 Southern Tang Southern Tang Nanjing 937 - 975 Song Wu Yue Hangzhou 907 - 978 Song Southern Chu Changsha 927 - 951 Southern Tang Northern Han Taiyuan 951 - 979 Song Southern Han Guangzhou 917 - 971 Song Former Shu Chengdu 907 - 925 Later Tang Later Shu Chengdu 934 - 965 Song Southern Ping Jingzhou 924 - 963 Song Min Fuzhou 909 - 945 Southern Tang Five Dynasties The period of the five dynasties lasted for only 53 years, from 907 to 960. In 907, Zhu Quanzhong established the Later Liang in Kaifeng (provincial capital of Henan Province).In his reign, old conventions of the Tang Dynasty were discarded while new reforms were reinforced. However, Zhu did not pursue the cause of unification and later became corrupt. In 923, Later Liang was defeated by Li Cunxu. The Later Tang lasted for 14 years. During this dynasty, the second emperor of Later Liang, Emperor Mingzong, was an enlightened emperor. He carried out many favorable policies under which people lived an affluent life. Likewise, rulers of the Later Tang did not unify the whole country either. Finally, the regime was destroyed by Emperor Mingzong's brother-in-law Shi Jingtang, with the help of the Qidan group from the northern areas. After the downfall of the Later Tang, Shi Jingtang was enthroned as emperor of the Later Jin by the king of the Qidan group. In this way, the regime of the Later Jin was attached to the Qidan group. Till the reign of Shi Zhonggui, who was the foster son of Shi Jingtang, wanted to break away from the control of Qidan. Unfortunately, the Later Jin was captured by Qidan who afterwards set up the Liao Dynasty in capital Kaifeng. Although the Qidan group established a new dynasty, their regime did not last long in the central plain areas because of the objection from the local people. Before long, Liu Zhiyuan, a man from Taiyuan, led his army into the central plain and soon founded a new dynasty - Later Han. In 950, suspecting that a military general named Guo Wei plotting to rebel, Liu Chengyou (the second emperor of the Later Han) wanted to kill him. But Liu Chengyou did not fulfill his goal; instead, Guo Wei along with his military force killed Liu Chengyou and founded Later Zhou in 951. Comparatively, the Later Zhou was the most prosperous one among the five dynasties. Under the wise ruling of Guo Wei and his foster son Chai Rong, the national strength was greatly enhanced. In that period, the rulers gradually unified almost the whole country. But the third emperor was a child who was enthroned at the age of seven. In 960 when the regime unstable, a military general in the court, named Zhao Kuangyin, took the chance of resisting the Liao aggressors and launched a mutiny in Chenqiao County. Soon the child emperor had to yield the throne to Zhao, after which a new dynasty - Song Dynasty (960 - 1279) was founded.
Five dynasties and Ten kingdoms 907 - 960
Following the pattern of earlier dynasties the high point of the Tang dynasty was followed by a period of turmoil. The fifty years between the Tang and the establishment of the Song is given the name ‘Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms’ which aptly describes the internal strife. Some important developments were still made despite the apparent political chaos. These include the first use of gunpowder and the continuing tradition of binding the feet of young girls. The forced bending of the feet produced tiny 'lily' feet that prevented women from walking easily and was seen as a badge of prosperity - a household that did not need women to do manual labor must be well off. The printing of books, which had begun in the Tang dynasty gathered pace. This development enabled the Five Classics of Chinese literature to be printed for the first time in 953, which had a great influence on scholarship throughout the following centuries. Teacup media relating to this topic by Lazlo Montgomery (audio only). Lazlo podcast The Southern and Northern Kingdoms ➚ The names of ‘Five Dynasties’ are: Later Liang (907-923); Later Tang (923-935); Later Jin (936-947); Later Han (947-951) and Later Zhou (951-960) none of them lasting more than 17 years. The Emperors were essentially military leaders who usurped power for themselves and their families for a brief spell, so the term 'dynasty' is a little of an exaggeration. The Chinese love of historical continuity has elevated the northern warlords to the status of 'emperors' even though the smaller but more stable southern kingdoms were the more logical imperial dynasties. The transitions were confused and marked by turmoil rather than smooth succession; as this was often from father to adopted son not to actual son. In the Later Jin the capital moved to Kaifeng, Henan. Tribes from the north and north-west most notably the Qidan ➚ (Khitan) ruled parts of China for some years. There were numerous military coups; the imperial court lacked popular support and sound government. Song dynasty Song dynasty History The Song dynasty is a period of Chinese refinement and peace rather than military prowess. Great strides were taken in the creative arts and literature. Prosperity from the growing trade by sea rather than overland fueled the building of huge cities. The eventual conquest by the Mongol hordes brought the dynasty to a tragic close. While north China (centered on the Yellow River) had five dynasties, southern China had ten kingdoms, and remained relatively stable and free from conflict. The Shu kingdom with Sichuan as its core area maintained the vestiges of Tang civilization. It ruled an area similar to its predecessor Shu kingdom of the Three Kingdoms era long before. The ten small independent kingdoms were delineated by the Qingling mountains of southern China and proved defensible units of government. The internal conflicts and continuing threats from beyond the northern border of China made it clear to everyone that a large integrated state was the only way peace and prosperity could be maintained for all. Zhao Kuangyin ➚ a General of the Later Zhou dynasty re-united the independent parts into the nation of ‘China’ again to found the Song dynasty. Many of the kingdoms peacefully acquiesced to his control rather than resorting to armed conflict.
Zhaojun Cultural Festival
Zhaojun was one of the four beauties of ancient China. Like her peers', her fame was also tied to the political development of her time. Today, the name of Zhaojun not only symbolizes physical beauty, but also a spirit of goodwill bridging different cultures, even at the expense of one's own interests. During the reign of the Han emperor Xuan (91-49BC), the Huns, or Xiong-Nu, the Han's troublesome northern neighbor, split into five kingdoms, each led by a chieftain known as Shan-Yu. Wars started among the five Shan-Yus in a bid for control. Shan-Yu Khukhenye, who was defeated by his brother Shan-Yu Zhizhi-Guduhu, decided to befriend his former foe in the south, Emperor Xuan, by suggesting that he pay the emperor a personal visit. Khukhenye was the first Shan-Yu that ever came to pay tribute to a Han emperor. Rejoicing and feeling a bit flattered, Emperor Xuan went out of his way to meet Khukhenye at the suburb of the capital Chang'an and held a grand banquet in his honor. After a month's stay in Chang'an, Khukhenye thought of going back home and asked Emperor Xuan for help. The emperor sent an army ten thousand strong to escort him back and gave him a hundred thousand bushels of food to bring back to his starving people. The thankful Khukhenye was determined to maintain the friendly relationship with the Han Dynasty. After Emperor Xuan's death, his son succeeded to the throne and became Emperor Yuan. Meanwhile, Shan-Yu Zhizhi-Guduhu had been overrunning the states to the west of Han and went so far as to slay the envoy of the Han emperor. This act of brutality incurred the emperor's retaliation and cost Shan-Yu Zhizhi-Guduhu his life. With the death of Shan-Yu Zhizhi-Guduhu, Khukhenye's position was further strengthened. In the year 33AD, he paid a second visit to the Han capital, where he asked to marry one of Emperor Yuan's daughters to cement the relations of Han and his Xiong-Nu state. The emperor granted his request, but instead of his daughter, the bride would be a maid of honor. Getting married would be a god-sent opportunity for a maid of honor to be freed from her perpetual solitude in the backyard of the palace. However, all but one declined to venture into a marriage that would mean a life in a foreign land. That was Wang Qiang, better known in history as Wang Zhaojun. She was extremely beautiful and intelligent. At the wedding in Chang'an, the emperor was awed by Zhaojun’s beauty. Back in his chamber, Emperor Yuan was very regretful that he allowed Wang Zhaojun to marry the Xiong-Nu chieftain. He would have had her as his concubine if he had known she was so glamorous. He wondered why he had not seen her portrait and sent for it for a review. Incidentally, emperors chose their concubines by looking at portraits instead of the girls themselves. When he found that the portrait did not match Wang Zhaojun, he launched an investigation. It turned out that the artist Mao Yanshou would paint a prettier portrait for those who bribed him or vice versa. As Wang Zhaojun refused to bribe the artist, he did injustice to her beauty so that the emperor would never know of her presence in the palace. In rage, Emperor Yuan had Mao Yanshou executed. Regretful as he was, Emperor Yuan blessed the inter-racial marriage. He admired Zhaojun's courage and was thankful for her willingness to serve the interests of. Escorted by officials sent by the emperor, Wang Zhaojun embarked on a long journey to the north on horseback. They braved bitter cold and heavy snow storms and finally reached Xiong-Nu. There Khukhenye conferred the title of Peaceful Hu-E-Shi, in the hope that she would bring them security and peace. That she did by persuading Khukhenye to abandon violence. As a result, peace reigned on the border with her mother country for over half a century. After Khukhenye's death, Zhaojun married his eldest son and his concubine in accordance with the custom of the Xiong-Nu nationality – a custom abhorred by the Chinese moral norms in which she was brought up. Therefore, it must have taken a lot of courage and political insight for her to do so. It has been popularly believed that she did so for the sake of Xiong-Nu's stability, thereby supporting peace between Xiong Nu and her mother country. For her self-sacrifice a second time, she earned the respect of her compatriots not only of her generation, but of generations to come.
Knowledge Graph
Examples
1 The book tells a love story of Li Yu, king of the Southern Tang during the period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms ( 907-960 AD), and his queen Zhou Yiyi
2 Tianzhong Wanshou Pagoda, literally meaning prosperity and longevity in Chinese, was founded in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907-960).
3 A part of the city wall relics of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907-960) were unearthed.