Later Zhou dynasty
The Later Zhou ( Chinese 後周 / 后周 , Pinyin Hou Zhou , 951 - 960 ) was the last dynasty during the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms in Chinese history . In the spring of 951 (January Chinese calendar), Guo Wei ( 郭威 ) usurped the imperial throne of the Later Han Dynasty and established that of the Later Zhou. In 960 Zhao Kuangyin ( 趙匡胤 / 赵匡胤 , Zhào Kuāngyìn ) launched a coup , had himself proclaimed emperor and ended the time of the later Zhou. In total, the Later Zhou Dynasty made three emperors and lasted 10 years. The capital of the Later Zhou was Kaifeng .
The territory of the Later Zhou included the present-day Henan , Shandong Provinces , the southern part of Shanxi , the central and southern parts of Hebei , the central part of Shaanxi , the northern part of Hubei, and areas of Anhui and Jiangsu north of the Yangtsekiang .
Beginning
The first Later Emperor Zhou Guo Wei was a senior general in the Later Han Dynasty and close confidante of the first Later Emperor Liu Zhiyuan ( 劉 知 遠 ). When Liu died, he ordered his most capable ministers and generals to help his son and successor, Liu Chengyou ( 劉承祐 / 刘承祐 ). On Liu's orders, Guo Wei suppressed several rebellions in the empire. At the same time, Guo was a very charismatic and caring leader for his subordinates, which is why he was very popular with his soldiers. During this time, the emperor felt that his freedom of action was severely restricted by the ministers and generals whom his father had put at his side. So he began to get rid of them one by one. At that time, Guo Wei was on a campaign, felt directly threatened by these actions, and returned to the capital with his army. Liu viewed the train as a rebellion and had all of Guo's family members killed who were in the capital at the time. Guo occupied the capital within days, had his soldiers pillage the city and killed the emperor.
In order not to directly receive the reputation of a usurper, he first had a relative of the imperial family proclaimed emperor, and he went north on a campaign against the Liao dynasty . In reality, he was secretly sending soldiers to kill the new emperor-elect. Then he had his soldiers press him to accept the title of emperor. After a month of theatrical back-and-forth he pretended to be compelled to ascend the imperial throne.
Reform and domestic policy
After ascending to the throne, Guo Wei began a series of reforms. He reduced compulsory labor and taxes, some of which he abolished entirely. At the same time he disciplined the army and reformed the administration to combat corruption and mismanagement.
After Guo Wei's death, his adoptive son and designated successor Chai Rong ( 柴榮 / 柴荣 ) became emperor. Guo Wei had no biological son and Chai Rong was a relational nephew of his. Chai Rong continued his adoptive father's policy. The governments of the two Zhou emperors led to a tremendous development of the economy in their ruled areas, and at the same time the army became powerful.
The two Zhou emperors are among the very rare, thrifty emperors in Chinese history. The grave of Guo Wei, for example, only has a stone tablet, and he didn't even hire a grave guard.
War of unification
When Chai Rong ascended the throne, the Northern Han and Liao Dynasties believed they could take advantage of this period of inner turmoil in Zhou and decided to unite to attack Zhou. Chai Rong led his army personally and met the enemy in the Battle of Gaoping (高平 之 战). It didn't look good for Zhou at first. The right wing was already beginning to wobble. Chai Rong personally headed his army and was able to save the situation. At the end of the day, he emerged victorious. He drove the fleeing enemies in front of him and pursued them as far as Taiyuan .
After that, he started expanding south. From 955 to 958 he attacked the Southern Tang Empire three times. He forced the Tang ruler to renounce his imperial title and recognize Zhou as his sovereign. Tang also had to hand over all areas north of the Yangtze River to Zhou.
After keeping his back clear, Chai Rong moved north again in 959 to attack Liao. Within two months his army almost reached what is now Beijing. Then he suddenly became seriously ill and died shortly afterwards.
During the eight years of the reign of the first two Zhou emperors, they were able to unite the area on the course of the Yellow River and north of the Yangtze River . To the north it regained many areas that the Later Jin Dynasty had given to Liao. The economy and production in his national territory recovered. All of this was the basis for the Song Dynasty to reunite China after a long division.
Downfall
When Chai Rong died, his son and successor Chai Zongxun ( 柴 宗 訓 / 柴 宗 训 ) was just seven. Guard General Zhao Kuangyin spread rumors that Liao had attacked the border and was given orders for the army to pull against the enemy. In Chenqiao ( 陳 橋 / 陈 桥 ), however, Zhao staged a coup , was proclaimed emperor and founded the Song dynasty.
Emperor of the Later-Zhou
| Temple name (庙号) |
Posthumous Name ( Shi Hao 諡 號 ) |
Birth Name | Government years | Government periods ( Nian Hao 年號 ) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taizu ( 太祖 ) | Traditional characters: 聖神 恭肅 文 武孝皇 帝 | Guo Wei | 951 - 954 |
廣順 951 - 954 顯 德 954 |
| Shi Zong ( 世宗 ) | 睿 武孝文 皇帝 | Chai Rong | 954 - 959 | 顯 德 954 - 959 |
| Emperor Gong ( 恭 皇帝 ) | Chai Zongxun | 959 - 960 | 顯 德 959 - 960 |
literature
- Frederick W. Mote: Imperial China 900–1800. Harvard University Press, Cambridge (Mass.) 1999, ISBN 0-674-44515-5 .
Web links
- 5 DYNASTIES & 10 STATES . Retrieved October 8, 2006.