The five dynasties and ten kingdoms period begins with Later Liang Dynasty in 907 and ends with Northern Han Dynasty 979, a period with wars and conflicts.
♦ The Five Dynasties
► Later Liang Dynasty (June 1, 907–923)
The Later Liang (June 1, 907–923) was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour (and then murdered him). The Later Liang dynasty would last until 923 when it was destroyed by the Later Tang Dynasty。
► Later Tang Dynasty (923–936)
The Later Tang Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted from 923 to 936 as one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo. At its height, it controlled most of northern China。
► Later Jin Dynasty (936–947)
The Later Jìn (936-947) was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Shi Jingtang, posthumously known as Gaozu of Later Jin.
► Later Han Dynasty (947–951 or 979, depending on whether Northern Han is considered part of the dynasty)
The Later Han Dynasty was founded in 947. It was the fourth of the Five Dynasties and the third consecutive Shatuo Turk dynasty. It was among the shortest-lived of all Chinese regimes, lasting for little under four years before it was overcome by a rebellion that resulted in the founding of the Later Zhou dynasty.
► Later Zhou Dynasty (951–960)
The Later Zhou Dynasty was the last a succession of five dynasties that controlled most of northern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, which lasted from 907 to 960 and bridged the gap between the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty.
The Ten Kingdoms: Wu (907-937), Wuyue (907-978), Min (909-945), Chu (907-951), Southern Han (917-971), Former Shu (907-925), Later Shu (934-965), Jingnan (924-963), Southern Tang (937-975), Northern Han (951-979).
♦ Government and Administration
The foundation of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was due to the political independence of the local military commissisoners that challenged the power of the central government.
Although the general structure of government and administration was inherited from the Tang Dynasty, an important task of the rulers of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was to reduce the power of the military commissioners and the military in general - although virtually every imperial founder had been a military commissioner himself. The imperial armies to protect the capital were not only garrisoned around the capital but should have a representative unit in each of the local seats of the military commissionaries.
The commissionaries were further not allowed to govern from one seat and to control one unit for more that a certain time but were rotated to another military district. The districts were divided in order to reduce the military power base. Another measurer to reduce the power of the military commissioners was that their office was joined with some civil tasks. Their concentration on military tasks was therefore reduced, and these were taken over by officials in the central government.
Ask a Question
