Later Zhou Dynasty
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| Five Dynasties & Ten Kingdoms |
|---|
| Five Dynasties |
| Later Liang Dynasty |
| Later Tang Dynasty |
| Later Jin Dynasty |
| Later Han Dynasty |
| Later Zhou Dynasty |
| Ten Kingdoms |
| Wu |
| Wuyue |
| Min |
| Nanping |
| Chu |
| Southern Tang |
| Southern Han |
| Northern Han |
| Former Shu |
| Later Shu |
| Others |
| Yan |
| Qi |
| Chengde Jiedushi |
| Yiwu Jiedushi |
| Dingnan Jiedushi |
| Qingyuan Jiedushi |
| Wuping Jiedushi |
| Yin |
The Later Zhou Dynasty (後周) 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.
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[edit] Founding of the Dynasty
Guo Wei, a Han Chinese, served as the Assistant Military Commissioner at the court of the Later Han Dynasty, a regime ruled by Shatuo Turks. A teenager came to the throne of the Later Han in 948 after the death of the founding emperor, Gaozu. Guo Wei led a successful coup against the teenage emperor and declared himself emperor of the new Later Zhou Dynasty on New Year’s Day in 951.
[edit] Rule of Guo Wei
Guo Wei, posthumously known as Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou, was the first Han Chinese ruler of northern China since 923. He is regarded as an able leader who attempted reforms designed to alleviate burdens faced by the peasantry. His rule was vigorous and well-organized. However, it was also a short reign. His death from illness in 954 ended his three year reign.
[edit] Rule of Guo Rong
Guo Rong, posthumously known as Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou, was the adoptive son of Guo Wei Born Chai Rong, he was the son of his wife’s elder brother. He ascended the throne on the death of his adoptive father in 954. His reign was also effective and was able to make some inroads in the south with victories against the Southern Tang in 956. However, efforts in the north to dislodge the Northern Han, while initially promising, were ineffective. He died an untimely death in 959 from an illness while on campaign.
[edit] Fall of the Later Zhou
Guo Rong was succeeded by his seven-year-old son upon his death. Soon thereafter Zhao Kuangyin usurped the throne and declared himself emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, a dynasty that would eventually reunite China, bringing all of the southern states into its control as well as the Northern Han by 979.
[edit] Rulers
| Temple Names ( Miao Hao 廟號 miao4 hao4) | Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號 ) | Personal Names | Period of Reigns | Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tai Zu|太祖 tai4 zu3 | Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | 郭威 guo1 wei1 | 951-954 | Guangshun (廣順 guang3 shun4) 951-954 Xiande (顯德 xian3 de2) 954 |
| Shi Zong (世宗 shi4 zong1) | Too tedious thus not used when referring to this sovereign | 柴榮 chai2 rong2 | 954-959 | Xiande (顯德 xian3 de2) 954-959 |
| Did not exist | 恭帝 gong1 di4 | 柴宗訓 chai2 zong1 xun4 | 959-960 | Xiande (顯德 xian3 de2) 959-960 |
[edit] References
Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China (900-1800). Harvard University Press, 13,14.
