Legends of the Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties

The Sui and Tang dynasties are widely regarded as the two most powerful dynasties in Chinese history. The Tang Dynasty’s great achievements in governance and military affairs are forever etched into the monument of history. By the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, dozens of military powers had successively risen across China. The Five Dynasties were Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou. Then there were the states that vied for control of the Central Plains and proclaimed themselves kings or emperors, sometimes allying with the Five Dynasties and sometimes breaking away from them, but never under their control. These were known as the Ten Kingdoms: Wu, Southern Tang, Wuyue, Min, Chu, Jingnan, Former Shu, Later Shu, Southern Han, and Northern Han. In a mere 53 years, China was plunged into utter chaos. One powerful faction after another took the stage, fighting until people fled and birds took wing, leaving the land stark and empty. Later, Zhao Kuangyin staged the Chenqiao Mutiny and had the imperial yellow robe placed on his shoulders, then gradually unified the country.