Map Introduction

I. Foundation of the Yang Wu Regime and the Dominance of the Xu Clan (902–937 AD)

The Southern Tang's predecessor was the Yang Wu regime, established in 902 AD by Yang Xingmi, the Military Governor of Huainan in the late Tang. After his son Yang Wo succeeded him, the powerful minister Xu Wen gradually seized control through a coup, creating a situation of "the Xu clan holding the real power while the Yangs served as puppets." Xu Wen's adopted son, Xu Zhigao (later renamed Li Bian), inherited this authority in 927 AD. He implemented policies of "appeasing the old guard and promoting northern scholars," thereby integrating forces from both Jiangnan and the north.

II. Establishment of Southern Tang and Its Peak Development (937–958 AD)

In 937 AD, Xu Zhigao deposed the Wu emperor Yang Pu and established the state of Qi. Two years later, he restored his original surname Li and changed the state's name to Tang. Li Bian pursued a policy of "securing the borders and bringing peace to the people." He implemented the polder field system in the Tai Lake basin, transforming Jiangnan into a "land of fish and rice." During the reign of his son Li Jing (r. 943–961 AD), the Southern Tang's territory expanded to 35 prefectures, encompassing parts of modern Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu. Its economy and culture reached their zenith.

III. Cultural Achievements and Institutional Innovations

The Southern Tang pioneered several cultural developments: Li Yu elevated the art of the Ci poetry genre to its peak, and Gu Hongzhong's painting Han Xizai’s Night Banquet became a classic. Li Bian pioneered the "covered-name method" (huming) for imperial examinations, half a century earlier than the Northern Song. He also established the system of Academicians of the Qinzheng Hall to recruit talent from humble backgrounds. The "Hall of the Purified Heart" (Chengxintang) in Jinling housed treasures like copies of the Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion and other texts, contributing to a scene of prosperity where "night boats on the Qinhuai River needed no lanterns."

IV. Military Decline and the End of the State (958–975 AD)

In the later part of Li Jing's reign, strategic errors led to the loss of the vital Huainan region, forcing the Southern Tang to submit to the Later Zhou. Although the last monarch, Li Yu, implemented reforms such as a "public healthcare" system, the Southern Tang was ultimately conquered by the Northern Song in 975 AD. During its 38-year existence, the Southern Tang completed the transition from a regional commandery to a kingdom. Its economic model and cultural achievements profoundly influenced the development of Jiangnan during the Song Dynasty.

V. Historical Evaluation and Legacy

As the largest state among the Ten Kingdoms, the "Yang Wu–Southern Tang entity" (907–976 AD) demonstrated unique governance wisdom. This regime maintained its independence while simultaneously shaping the distinctive characteristics of Jiangnan civilization through cultural synthesis, laying the groundwork for the southward shift of China's economic center of gravity during the Song Dynasty.