Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms — Decades of War and Division
What Are the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms?
Facts About the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.
The Brief History of the Rise and Fall of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.


Night Revels of Han Xizai, by Gu Hongzhong (910 — 980) of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.
The Copied Version in the Song Dynasty (960 — 1279) is Preserved in the Palace Museum.
What Are the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms?
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (907 — 979) was a chaotic and divisive era in the ancient history of China when dozens of separatist regimes had risen, reigned, and perished in the territory of the former unified Tang Dynasty (618 — 907).
Five Dynasties were five empires that successively reigned the Middle Kingdom area in the north: Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou.
Ten Kingdoms were ten separatist regimes that had ruled mainly in the south.

Porcelain Lotus Bowl of the Five Dynasties — Suzhou Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Facts About the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
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Within these 72 years, there had been five dynasties in northern China and over ten kingdoms in the south.
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Most of the regimes followed the system of the Tang Dynasty, including administrative, tax, and land policies, but they all made changes to some extent.
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This was one of the darkest eras in the history of China. Whoever was formidable and powerful could occupy some cities and claim themselves the kings.

Painted Stone Relief of Warriors of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms — National Museum of China
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Because of endless wars, science and literature were poorly developed during this era.
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There were many kings with ridiculous behaviors in this era:
A king of one of these regimes was quite brave and talented; after he gained lots of territory through his military achievements, he started to act like a professional actor. Soon, he was assassinated and burnt down with his beloved musical instruments.
A king required all his governors to become eunuchs; he believed that one without family could be devoted to their job.
A king respected another king as his father and ceded large land in exchange for not being invaded.

Gong Chen Pagota, Built in the Year 915 — Lin'an City, Zhejiang Province
Brief History of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
Enmity Between Later Liang and Later Tang
After warlord Zhu Wen destroyed the capital city and assassinated the entire royal family of the Tang Dynasty, he established his empire in the middle kingdom.
This was the Later Liang Dynasty (907 — 923), which was soon perished by their long-term enemy Li Cunxu.
Li Cunxu, a great general, then vastly extended his territory and named his new empire the Later Tang Dynasty (923 — 936).
He ambitiously planned to recover the prosperous and unified Tang Dynasty. As an incapable politician who spent much time in professional acting, however, he was assassinated soon.

Copper Flying Deity Figurine of Later Tang Dynasty — Capital Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Replacements of Regimes in Chaotic Eras
The usurper of the throne kept going. People who obtained a certain amount of power and the army could snatch the throne and establish a new empire.
In the middle kingdom area of China, Later Jin (936 — 947), Later Han (947 — 950), and Later Zhou (951 — 960) were successively established and perished.
Until Zhao Kuangyin took the throne from his young king and established the Empire Song in the year 960.
From 960 to 979, Zhao Kuangyin and his brother led Song’s army, defeated those kingdoms in the south, and ended this era of enormous separation and disorder.
As both an excellent general and an extraordinary monarch, Emperor Zhao Kuangyin built a long, wealthy empire, the Song Dynasty (960 — 1279).

Gold Dragon of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms — Zhejiang Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Political Structure and Social Systems
Population:
Around 25 million — 32 million.
Official Selection System:
Imperial Examination.
Military Service:
Recruitment of Professional Soldiers.

Unearthed Stone Statues of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Playing Musical Instruments and Dancing — Shanghai Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Next: Song Dynasty (960 — 1279) — Wealthy Empire with Tragic Encounters
Related Articles:
Brief Introduction to Chinese History
Neolithic Era — Primitive Society and Mythical History
Xia Dynasty (Around 2070 B. C. — 1600B. C.) — the First Hereditary Kingdom in China
Shang Dynasty (1600 B. C. — 1046 B. C.) — Empire of Bronze Age and Scripts on Oracle Bones
Zhou Dynasty (1046 B. C. — 256 B. C.) — Decency, Hierarchy, and the Feudalism System
Spring and Autumn Period (770 B. C. — 403 B. C.) — Great Philosophers and Contention of Warlords
Warring States Period (403 B. C. — 221 B. C.) — Wars Among the Seven Kingdoms
Qin Dynasty (221 B. C. — 207 B. C.) — Epoch of Great Unification
Han Dynasty (202 B. C. — 220 A. D.) — Golden Era of Legendary Civilians
Three Kingdoms, Jin, North & South Dynasties (220 — 589) — Wars and Conspiracy in Turbulent Times
Sui Dynasty (581 — 618) — Transient Age and the Inaugurator of Prosperity
Tang Dynasty (618 — 907) — Flourishing Golden Age
Yuan Dynasty (1271 — 1368) — Half Anarchism
Ming Dynasty (1368 — 1644) — Epoch of All Round Prosperity
Qing Dynasty (1636 — 1912) — Extreme Centralization and Closure
Famous Historical Figures in Ancient China