Jump to content

Later Tang

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tang
923–937
  Later Tang 後唐
CapitalDaming
(923)
Luoyang
(923–936)
Common languagesChinese
GovernmentMonarchy
Emperor 
• 923–926
Li Cunxu (Zhuangzong)
• 926–933
Li Siyuan (Mingzong)
• 933–934
Li Conghou
• 934–936
Li Congke
Historical eraFive Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
• Established in Daming
May 923
• Overthrown by Khitan and Shi Jingtang
January 11, 937
CurrencyChinese coin, Chinese cash
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Jìn1
Later Liang
Qi
Former Shu
Later Jìn2
Jingnan
Later Shu
Today part ofChina
1.The preceding entity of the Later Tang was the State of Jin, which was established by Li Keyong in 895 under the Tang dynasty and existed as an independent state in 907–923.
2.With the support of the Liao dynasty.

Tang, known in historiography as the Later Tang (Chinese: 後唐; pinyin: Hòu Táng), was a short-lived imperial dynasty of China and the second of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in Chinese history.[1]

With the exception of its final ruler, the Later Tang was ruled by ethnically Shatuo Turk (沙陀) emperors.The name Tang was used to legitimize itself as the restorer of the Tang dynasty.[2] The official start of the Later Tang dynasty is in the year 923.

Founding of the Dynasty

[edit]

The Later Tang dynasty emerged when Li Cunxu (李存勖), son of Shatuo Turk chieftain Li Keyong (李克用), conquered the Later Liang (后梁). After inheriting the Jin (晋) state, Li Cunxu waged a prolonged war against the Later Liang, culminating in the fall the Liang capital, Daliang (Kaifeng) in 923. His victory marked the first of the Five Dynasties' successive dynastic transitions.

The Later Tang dynasty was officially proclaimed in 923, though its origins lay in the precursor Jin dynasty (907-923), known in historiography as the Former Jin. Its founder Li Cunxu already possessed the Li surname - shared with the Tang emperors - which helped legitimize his claim as the Tang dynasty's rightful successor.

The Li Clan of Shatuo received the surname "Li" from Emperor Xianzong of Tang as a reward for their loyalty and military service.

By deliberately adopting the Tang dynastic name and emphasizing this genealogical connection, the Shatuo Turk ruler strengthened his regime's political legitimacy through symbolic continuity with the fallen Tang empire.

Destruction of the dynasty

[edit]

Despite its initial military strength, the Later Tang dynasty eventually collapsed due to internal rebellions, administrative mismanagement, and external pressure from the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty. Li Cunxu, after founding the dynasty, increasingly focused on theatrical interests rather than governance, weakening central authority. His inability to restrain the power of regional military governors (jiedushi 节度使) led to widespread dissatisfaction.[3]

Following Li Cunxu's assassination in 926, subsequent rulers, including Mingzong (Li Siyuan), faced challenges such as corruption and factional infighting. The dynasty’s final collapse came in 937 when Shi Jingtang, a rebellious jiedushi, allied with the Khitan to overthrow Li Congke. Shi established the Later Jin Dynasty and ceded the strategic Sixteen Prefectures to the Liao, marking the end of the Later Tang.[4]

Religion

[edit]

The Later Tang emperors, particularly Li Cunxu, were known for their patronage of Buddhism, continuing the Tang Dynasty's tradition. Buddhist monasteries remained influential, though the Later Tang did not have the same level of state-sponsored Buddhist projects as the earlier Tang.[5]

Rubbing from pillar carved with the Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sutra - Later Tang Dynasty - 4th year Tongguang Reign (926)

Rulers

[edit]
Temple names Posthumous names Family names and given name Durations of reigns Era names and their according durations
Zhuāngzōng (莊宗) Emperor Guāngshèng Shénmǐn Xiào (光聖神閔孝皇帝) Too Tedious; thus, unused when referring to this sovereign Lǐ Cúnxù (李存勗) 923–926 Tóngguāng (同光) 923–926
Míngzōng (明宗) Hewu (和武) Lǐ Sìyuán (李嗣源) or Lǐ Dǎn (李亶) 926–933 Tiānchéng (天成) 926–930
Chángxīng (長興) 930–933
none Mǐn (閔) Lǐ Cónghòu (李從厚) 933–934 Yìngshùn (應順) 933–934
none Mòdì (末帝) Lǐ Cóngkē (李從珂) 934–937 Qīngtaì (清泰) 934–937

Later Tang rulers family tree

[edit]
Later Tang rulers
Adopted
Marriage
Li Keyong
李克用 856–908
Li Ni 李霓
Li Cunxu
李存勖 885–926

Zhuangzong 莊宗
923–926
Li Siyuan
李嗣源 867–933

Mingzong 明宗
926–933
Li Congke
李從珂 885–937

Modi 末帝
934–937
Li Congyi
李從益 931–947
Prince of Xu 許王
Li Congrong
李從榮d. 933
Prince of Qin 秦王
Li Conghou
李從厚 914–934

Mindi 愍帝
933–934
Empress Li
d. 950
Shi Jingtang 石敬瑭
Gaozu of
Later Jin
高祖

892–936–942
Li Chongmei
李重美 d. 937
Prince of Yong 雍王


References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Zurndorfer, Harriet T. (2010). "Efflorence? Another Look at the Role of War in Song Dynasty China". War in words transformations of war from antiquity to Clausewitz. Berlin: De Gruyter. p. 92. ISBN 9783110245424.
  2. ^ Mote 1999, pp. 12–13.
  3. ^ "The Fractured Legacy of Late Tang: War, Chaos, and the Rise of the Five Dynasties – Ancient War History". Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  4. ^ Li, Li; He, Shengyu; Ji, Ruixin (2024-10-01). "Weakening of the state by occupying more lands: evidence from the Five Dynasties". The Journal of Chinese Sociology. 11 (1): 23. doi:10.1186/s40711-024-00223-x. ISSN 2198-2635.
  5. ^ Sokolova, Anna (2021-04-05). "Building and Rebuilding Buddhist Monasteries in Tang China: The Reconstruction of the Kaiyuan Monastery in Sizhou". Religions. 12 (4): 253. doi:10.3390/rel12040253. ISSN 2077-1444.

Sources

[edit]
  • Mote, F. W. (1999). Imperial China: 900-1800. Harvard University Press.