The History of China

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#131 - 5D10K 8: The Southeast Oct 22, 2017

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We sweep over 4 of the southern kingdoms along the southeastern coast.

WuYüe: which remains rich and prosperous owing to its favorable trade and geographic positions at the mouth of the Yangtze.

Wu: which starts off strong only to be subsumed from within, giving way to Southern Tang.

Min: whose coastal location is fatally undermined by it own geographic atomization, unto civil war, breakup, and destruction.

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Strange Tales 2: The Living Dead Oct 17, 2017

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✩★★★★

Worst. Hotel room. EVER!

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#130 - 5D10K 7: South Before North Oct 08, 2017

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With the rise of the last of the 5 Dynasties, Later Zhou, the North China Plains is able to go onto the offensive for the first time in decades; not against the endless expanses of the northern steppes, but a new strategy to reinvigorate the north by seizing the fertile and as of yet untouched reaches of the southern kingdoms, who are ripe for the plucking. Through it all, a brilliant military commander by the name of Zhao Kuangyin will prove his valor and skill, and is ultimately rewarded with a fateful governorship to the city of Song.

Time Period Covered:

954-959 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Later Zhou:

Chai/Guo Rong (Emperor Shizong) [r. 954-959]

Chancellor Wang Pu [d. 957]

General Zhao Kuangyin

Southern Tang:

Li Jing (Emperor Yuanzong) [r. 943-961]

Northern Han:

Liu Chong (Emperor Shizu) [r. 951-954/5]

Liu Jun (Emperor Ruizong) [r. 955-968]

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#129 - 5D10K6: Emperor Jerky Sep 29, 2017

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Emperor Deguang of Liao has conquered the North China Plain with ease and packed the Later Jin emperor off to eternal exile. But he doesn’t plan to stick around… instead, he’ll pack up everything – and everyone – he deems valuable to take back home. But when illness strikes him dead, new challengers will arise to do battle over the fate of northern China.

Time Period Covered:

947-954CE

Major Historical Figures:

Liao:

Yelü Deguang (Emperor Taizong) [r. 927-947]

Yelü Ruan (Wuyu, Emperor Shizong) [r. 947-951]

Yelü Jing (Emperor Muzong) [r. 951-969]

General Xiao Han [d. 949]

General Zhang Yanze [d. 947]

Later Han:

Liu Zhiyuan (Emperor Gaozu) [r. 947-948]

Liu Chengyou (Emperor Yin) [r. 948-951]

Northern Han:

Liu Chong (Emperor Shizu) [r. 951-954]

Later Zhou:

Guo Wei (Emperor Taizu) [r. 951-954]

Chai/Guo Rong (Emperor Shizong) [r. 954-959]

Sources Utilized:

Sima Guang, et al. 1084. Zizhi Tongjian (Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance).

Standen, Naomi. 2009. “The Five Dynasties” in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 5, pt. 1: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors 907-1279 (Denis Twitchett and Paul Jakov Smith, ed.)

Standen, Naomi. 2005. “What Nomads Want: Raids, Invasions and the Liao Conquest of 947” in Mongols, Turks, and Others: Eurasian Nomads and the Sedentary World (Reuven Amitai and Michal Biran, ed.)

Toqto’a (Tuotuo), et al. 1344. Liao Shi (History of the Liao).

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#128 - 5D10K 5: The Exiled Emperor Sep 11, 2017

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Later Jin seems to have its bed made within its steadfast alliance with Liao - in spite of the humiliating stipulations such a relationship imposes onto a proud Son of Heaven. Yet when Later Jin's first emperor dies, his replacement will do his level-best to unmake all the gains his nation has made... at his own peril.

Time Period Covered:

937-947 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Later Jin:

Shi Jingtang (Emperor Gaozu of Later Jin) [r. 936-942 CE]

Shi Chonggui (Emperor Chu of Later Jin) [r. 942-947 CE]

Governor-General An Chongrong [d. 942]

Chancellor Feng Dao [882-954 CE]

General Jing Yanguang [892-947 CE]

Liao:

Yelü Deguang (Emperor Taizong of Liao) [r. 927-947 CE]

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#127: 5D10K 4: Towering Inferno Aug 24, 2017

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In the state of Later Tang, things go from bad to worse as a revolving door of emperors combines with a suddenly-mercenary imperial guard corps... all to bring the state itself to an untimely, but fiery, demise.

Time Period Covered:

926-937 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang (Li Siyuan)[r. 926-933]

Prince Li Congrong [d. 933]

Emperor Li Conghou of Later Tang [r. 933-934]

Chancellor Zhu Hongjiao [d. 934]

Chancellor Feng Yun [d. 934]

Emperor Li Congke of Later Tang [r. 934-936]

Shi Jingtang, Emperor of Later Jin [r. 936-942]

Meng Zhixiang, Emperor of Later Shu [r. 933-934]

Emperor Taizong of Liao (Yelü Guangde) [r. 927-947]

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#126 - 5D10K 3: Lineage of the Liao Aug 04, 2017

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We track the Khitan people of Mongolia/Manchuria from their origins in the mythological mists of pre-history, all the way through their reformation under Abaoji Kaghan into a Chinese-style state, known as the Liao Dynasty.

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#125 - 5D10K 2: The War for Supremacy Jun 23, 2017

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The Later Liang Dynasty is forced back onto the defense following the murder if its first two emperors by its third, coupled with the rise of the latest Prince of Jin, Li Cunxu, who is waging a war to restore the Tang regime. But he’ll be forced to decide whether a restoration premised on putting himself on the throne rather than the old imperial clan can really be called a “restoration” at all.

Time Period Covered:

915-926 CE

Major Historical Figures:

Later Liang Dynasty:

Zhu Wen (Emperor Taizu) [d. 915]

Zhu Youzhen (Emperor Mo) [r. 916-923]

Later Tang Dynasty:

Li Cunxu, Prince of Jin (Emperor Zhuangzong) [r. 923-926]

Li Siyuan (Emperor Minzong) [r. 926-933]

Crown Prince Li Zhizhi [d. 926]

Former Shu Dynasty:

Wang Yen (Emperor Houzhu) [r. 918-925]

Liao Dynasty:

Yelü Abaoji Kaghan (Emperor Taizu of Liao) [r. 907-926]

Works Cited:

Standen, Naomi. "The Five Dynasties" in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 5, Part 1: The Sung Dynasty and its Precursors, 907-1279.

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#124 - 5D10K 1: Live By the Sword... Jun 09, 2017

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Zhu Wen has proclaimed the dissolution of the Tang and the formation of Later Liang, with him as its Emperor Taizu... but there are more than a few people ready, willing, and able to object rather strongly to that claim...

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#123 - Tang 34: In the Rearview May 14, 2017

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We take a sweeping look back at all 289 years of the Tang one more time before pressing into the 5 Dynasties and beyond, and also take a look at some of the aspects of 9th centuryChinese society that are more frequently overlooked... like women's fashion, regional cuisine, playing cards, and toilet paper.

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