The Fragmented Landscape of Post-Tang China

The collapse of the Tang Dynasty in 907 CE marked the beginning of a tumultuous half-century known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Emerging from this chaos was the Later Liang (907–923), the first of five short-lived dynasties that claimed control over the Central Plains—China’s historical heartland along the Yellow River. Though the Tang had once ruled over 360 prefectures at its zenith, the Later Liang governed a mere 70, its authority contested by rival warlords like Li Keyong, Li Maozhen, and Wang Jian.

This era, often simplified as the “Five Dynasties,” was in reality a patchwork of competing regimes. Beyond the Central Plains, ten regional kingdoms held sway, making “Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms” a more accurate descriptor. The Later Liang, founded by Zhu Wen (posthumously known as Emperor Taizu), lasted only 17 years—a fleeting reign emblematic of the period’s instability.

Zhu Wen and the Bloody Birth of the Later Liang

Zhu Wen, a former rebel turned Tang general, seized power through a forced “abdication” from the last Tang emperor. His rise was steeped in betrayal and violence. A master of political intrigue, Zhu eliminated Tang aristocrats and eunuchs, casting their bodies into the Yellow River to symbolize the end of the old order. Yet his brutality extended beyond politics: his personal life was a saga of debauchery and treachery.

Adopting a common warlord practice, Zhu amassed a network of “sworn sons” (假子) to secure loyalty. This system, akin to mafia-like patronage, backfired spectacularly. Zhu’s scandalous affairs with his adopted sons’ wives—particularly the ambitious Lady Wang, wife of his favored heir Zhu Youwen—sparked a palace crisis. When Zhu Wen fell ill, his biological son Zhu Yougui, enraged by rumors and demotions, murdered him in a coup. The fratricidal chaos that followed—culminating in Zhu Yougui’s overthrow by his brother Zhu Zhen—sealed the dynasty’s doom.

Military Struggles and Strategic Blunders

The Later Liang’s brief existence was dominated by warfare. Zhu Wen clashed incessantly with Li Keyong, the Turkic Shatuo leader of Hedong, and later with Li’s even more formidable son, Li Cunxu. Despite initial strength, the Later Liang’s campaigns were disastrous. An invasion of Huainan, aimed at securing its wealth, instead united southern warlords against them. Similarly, attacks on Wang Rong’s eastern forces pushed him into Li Cunxu’s arms.

Zhu Wen’s infamous lament—”My sons are worse than straw dogs!”—epitomized his frustration. The dynasty’s sole historical role was eradicating Tang-era elites; beyond this, it lacked vision. By 923, Li Cunxu (now Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang) crushed the Later Liang, restoring the Tang name—though only in title.

The Later Tang and the Cycle of Chaos

The Later Tang (923–936) inherited the Later Liang’s instability. Zhuangzong, despite military genius, revived the very Tang excesses Zhu Wen had destroyed: lavish courts, eunuch power, and oppressive taxes under minister Kong Qian. His assassination by adopted son Li Siyuan (Emperor Mingzong) ushered in a rare interlude of competent rule. Mingzong reversed Zhuangzong’s policies, slashing taxes and disbanding hated eunuch overseers. His reign saw prosperity—until his death triggered another succession crisis.

Mingzong’s sons, Li Congrong and Li Conghou, mirrored the Later Liang’s fratricide. When Li Conghou (Emperor Min) sought to weaken his brother-in-law Shi Jingtang and adopted brother Li Congke, the latter rebelled. Bribing imperial troops to defect, Li Congke seized the throne as Emperor Mo—only to face Shi Jingtang’s own revolt. Desperate, Shi made a fateful pact with the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty, ceding the strategic Sixteen Prefectures (including modern Beijing) for military aid. The Khitan’s intervention toppled the Later Tang in 936, birthing the Later Jin.

Legacy: The Shadow of the Khitan and the Road to Song

The Later Jin’s reliance on Khitan support set a dangerous precedent. When Shi Jingtang’s successor defied the Liao, their retaliation annihilated the dynasty in 947. The ensuing Later Han (947–951) and Later Zhou (951–960) continued the cycle, each collapsing amid warlord rivalries. Only under Later Zhou’s Emperor Shizong (Chai Rong) did stability emerge. His reforms and military campaigns against the Liao laid the groundwork for the Song Dynasty’s reunification.

The Later Liang, though brief, epitomized the Five Dynasties’ themes: ruthless ambition, military dominance, and the erosion of centralized power. Its fall underscored the era’s defining lesson—without unity, China remained vulnerable to fragmentation and foreign intervention. The Khitan Liao, now entrenched in the north, loomed large as the Song rose, a reminder of the price of division.

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale of Power

The Later Liang’s story is more than a footnote—it’s a microcosm of China’s 10th-century turmoil. From Zhu Wen’s bloody ascent to Shi Jingtang’s Khitan pact, the dynasty’s failures highlight the perils of weak institutions and unchecked militarism. Yet in its ashes emerged lessons that would shape the Song’s bureaucratic and cultural renaissance. For modern readers, the Later Liang serves as a stark reminder: power seized by the sword is seldom held by wisdom.