Map Introduction

The Rise and Fall of Later Tang (923–936 AD)

The Later Tang was founded by the Shatuo general Li Cunxu, whose father, Li Keyong, had been enfeoffed as the Prince of Jin by the Tang Dynasty. In 923 AD, Li Cunxu declared himself emperor in Wei Province, adopting "Tang" as his dynastic name (historically known as Later Tang). In the same year, he conquered and eliminated the Later Liang, establishing Luoyang as his capital. At its peak, the Later Tang's territory included modern Henan, Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and most of Shaanxi, and it briefly conquered the Former Shu (925 AD). However, due to his extravagance and paranoia towards meritorious officials, Li Cunxu was killed in a mutiny in 926 AD. He was succeeded by his adopted son, Li Siyuan (Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang). Although Emperor Mingzong implemented frugal policies, in his later years his appeasement of regional military governors allowed figures like Shi Jingtang and Li Congke to amass significant power. In 934 AD, Li Congke seized the throne in a coup, intensifying internal strife within Later Tang and setting the stage for its eventual replacement by the Later Jin.

The Establishment and Downfall of Later Jin (936–947 AD)

In 936 AD, Shi Jingtang, in his struggle against the last Later Tang emperor Li Congke, ceded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun to the Khitan Liao Dynasty, acknowledged their suzerainty, and used Khitan military support to establish the Later Jin. The early Later Jin was heavily dependent on the Khitan. After Shi Jingtang's death, his nephew Shi Chonggui (Emperor Chu) attempted to break free from Khitan control, provoking a southern invasion in 947 AD that led to the dynasty's collapse. The submissive policy of the Central Plains regime towards the Khitan during this period resulted in long-term vulnerability in northern border defense.

The Brief Rule of Later Han (947–951 AD)

The Later Han was founded by the Shatuo general Liu Zhiyuan, who reclaimed Luoyang and Kaifeng as the Khitan forces withdrew northward. However, Liu Zhiyuan died after just one year on the throne. His son, Liu Chengyou, succeeded him but grew suspicious of powerful ministers, triggering a rebellion by Guo Wei. In 951 AD, the Later Han was overthrown when Guo Wei usurped the throne and established the Later Zhou, ending a reign that lasted only four years.

Characteristics of Regime Changes * Dominance of Military Power: Most regimes of the Five Dynasties were established by military governors (Jiedushi) through mutinies or coups. For instance, the Later Tang, Later Jin, and Later Han were all dominated by the Shatuo military clique. * Frequency and Short Lifespans: The average duration of these dynasties was only about ten years. The Later Han was the shortest-lived (4 years), while the Later Liang lasted the longest (16 years). * Ethnic Integration: Non-Han ethnic groups like the Shatuo and Khitan were deeply involved in Central Plains politics. The Later Tang, Later Jin, and Later Han were all established by the Shatuo.

Historical Impact

The frequent transitions of power during the Five Dynasties period accelerated the decline of the entrenched aristocratic families, paving the way for the centralized bureaucratic system of the Song Dynasty. The cession of the Sixteen Prefectures, however, created a prolonged northern threat for the Central Plains regimes, becoming a root cause of the protracted confrontation between the Song and Liao dynasties.