Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period

Five Dynasties And Ten Kingdoms Period

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (simplified Chinese: 五代十国; traditional Chinese: 五代十國; pinyin: Wǔdài Shíguó) was between 907–960/979 AD and an era of political upheaval in China, between the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the founding of the Song Dynasty. During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another in the north, and more than 12 independent states were established, mainly in the south. However, only ten are traditionally listed, hence the era's name, "Ten Kingdoms." Some historians, such as Bo Yang, count 11, including Yan and Qi, but not Northern Han, viewing it as simply a continuation of Later Han. This era also led to the founding of the Liao Dynasty.

The Five Dynasties:

  • Later Liang Dynasty (June 1, 907–923)
  • Later Tang Dynasty (923–936)
  • Later Jin Dynasty (936–947)
  • Later Han Dynasty (947–951 or 979, depending on whether Northern Han is considered part of the dynasty)
  • Later Zhou Dynasty (951–960)

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).

Other regimes: Yan, Qi, Zhao, Yiwu Jiedushi, Dingnan Jiedushi, Wuping Jiedushi, Qingyuan Jiedushi, Yin, Ganzhou, Shazhou, Liangzhou.

History of China
3 Sovereigns and 5 Emperors
Xia Dynasty 2100–1600 BCE
Shang Dynasty 1600–1046 BCE
Zhou Dynasty 1045–256 BCE
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn period
Warring States period
Qin Dynasty 221 BCE–206 BCE
Han Dynasty 206 BCE–220 CE
Western Han
Xin Dynasty
Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220–280
Wei, Shu and Wu
Jin Dynasty 265–420
Western Jin 16 Kingdoms
304–439
Eastern Jin
Southern and Northern Dynasties
420–589
Sui Dynasty 581–618
Tang Dynasty 618–907
(Second Zhou 690–705)
5 Dynasties and
10 Kingdoms

907–960
Liao Dynasty
907–1125
Song Dynasty
960–1279
Northern Song W. Xia
Southern Song Jin
Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368
Ming Dynasty 1368–1644
Qing Dynasty 1644–1911
Republic of China 1912–1949
People's Republic
of China

1949–present
Republic of
China (Taiwan)

1949–present
Related articles

Chinese historiography
Timeline of Chinese history
Dynasties in Chinese history
Linguistic history
Art history
Economic history
Education history
Science and technology history
Legal history
Media history
Military history
Naval history

Read more about Five Dynasties And Ten Kingdoms Period:  Background, Southern China: The Ten Kingdoms

Famous quotes containing the words dynasties, ten, kingdoms and/or period:

    When the finishing stroke was put to his work, it suddenly expanded before the eyes of the astonished artist into the fairest of all the creations of Brahma. He had made a new system in making a staff, a world with full and fair proportions; in which, though the old cities and dynasties had passed away, fairer and more glorious ones had taken their places.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    We envy not the warmer clime, that lies
    In ten degrees of more indulgent skies,
    Nor at the coarseness of our heaven repine,
    Though o’er our heads the frozen Pleiads shine:
    ‘Tis Liberty that crowns Britannia’s Isle,
    And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile.
    Joseph Addison (1672–1719)

    How will it be with kingdoms and with kings—
    With those who shaped him to the thing he is—
    When this dumb Terror shall rise to judge the world,
    After the silence of the centuries?
    Edwin Markham (1852–1940)

    The easiest period in a crisis situation is actually the battle itself. The most difficult is the period of indecision—whether to fight or run away. And the most dangerous period is the aftermath. It is then, with all his resources spent and his guard down, that an individual must watch out for dulled reactions and faulty judgment.
    Richard M. Nixon (1913–1995)