Mingzong of Later Tang
Encyclopedia
Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang (後唐明宗), personal name Li Siyuan , original name/nickname Miaojilie (邈佶烈), name later changed to Li Dan (李亶) (changed 927), was emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty
from 926 to 933.
, a Shatuo Turk who served under the Tang Dynasty
and established the State of Jin upon the demise of the Tang Dynasty
. With the help of Khitan
leader Abaoji
, his son, Li Cunxu
was able to establish the Later Tang Dynasty
in 923. Li Cunxu
had destroyed the Later Liang Dynasty
in 923 and established his capital in Luoyang
, to signify a restoration of the Tang Dynasty, called the Later Tang Dynasty
. His rule only lasted three years as he was killed during an officer’s rebellion in 926. As Li Keyong
’s adopted son, Li Siyuan ascended the throne.
, relations with the powerful Khitan to the north had deteriorated. In accordance with custom, an ambassador was sent to the Khitan Supreme Capital to inform Abaoji of the death of the emperor. However, Abaoji used the occasion to try to gain territory from the Later Tang Dynasty
, especially the strategic Sixteen Prefectures
, and even briefly imprisoned the envoy.
Though Abaoji soon died, the enmity that had been developing between the two did not fade. However, the major challenges to his rule came from the south and from within, particularly the Former Shu
territory that Li Cunxu had annexed. The death knell of the dynasty would come from within with Khitan help. In 936, Shi Jingtang
, the son-in-law of Li Siyuan himself, launched a rebellion against his rule. With Khitan help, he successfully overthrew the last Later Tang Emperor and established his own dynasty, the Later Jin
.
Mingzong's counselor and minister was An Chonghui
.
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Later Tang Dynasty
The Later Tang Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted from 923 to 937 one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo Turks...
from 926 to 933.
Family
Li Siyuan was the adopted son of Li KeyongLi Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
, a Shatuo Turk who served under the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
and established the State of Jin upon the demise of the Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
. With the help of Khitan
Khitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
leader Abaoji
Emperor Taizu of Liao
The Emperor Taizu of Liao was the first emperor of the Liao Dynasty . His given name was Abaoji . Some sources also suggest that the surname Yelü was adopted during his lifetime, though there is no unanimity on this point....
, his son, Li Cunxu
Li Cunxu
Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang , personal name Li Cunxu , nickname Yazi , was the Prince of Jin and later became Emperor of Later Tang...
was able to establish the Later Tang Dynasty
Later Tang Dynasty
The Later Tang Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted from 923 to 937 one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo Turks...
in 923. Li Cunxu
Li Cunxu
Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang , personal name Li Cunxu , nickname Yazi , was the Prince of Jin and later became Emperor of Later Tang...
had destroyed the Later Liang Dynasty
Later Liang Dynasty
The Later Liang was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour...
in 923 and established his capital in Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, to signify a restoration of the Tang Dynasty, called the Later Tang Dynasty
Later Tang Dynasty
The Later Tang Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted from 923 to 937 one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo Turks...
. His rule only lasted three years as he was killed during an officer’s rebellion in 926. As Li Keyong
Li Keyong
Li Keyong was a Shatuo military governor during the late Tang Dynasty and was key to developing a base of power for the Shatuo in what is today Shanxi Province in China...
’s adopted son, Li Siyuan ascended the throne.
Reign
By the time Li Siyuan had assumed the throne of the Later Tang DynastyLater Tang Dynasty
The Later Tang Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted from 923 to 937 one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo Turks...
, relations with the powerful Khitan to the north had deteriorated. In accordance with custom, an ambassador was sent to the Khitan Supreme Capital to inform Abaoji of the death of the emperor. However, Abaoji used the occasion to try to gain territory from the Later Tang Dynasty
Later Tang Dynasty
The Later Tang Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty that lasted from 923 to 937 one of the five dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was also the first in a series of three dynasties ruled by the Shatuo Turks...
, especially the strategic Sixteen Prefectures
Sixteen Prefectures
The Sixteen Prefectures are a region in northern China stretching from present-day Beijing westward to Datong. In most areas, it is approximately seventy to one hundred miles in width...
, and even briefly imprisoned the envoy.
Though Abaoji soon died, the enmity that had been developing between the two did not fade. However, the major challenges to his rule came from the south and from within, particularly the Former Shu
Former Shu
Great Shu called in retrospect Former Shu was one of the Ten Kingdoms formed during the chaotic period between the rules of the Tang dynasty and the Song dynasty...
territory that Li Cunxu had annexed. The death knell of the dynasty would come from within with Khitan help. In 936, Shi Jingtang
Gaozu of Later Jin
Shi Jingtang was the founder of the Later Jin Dynasty , the third of the Five Dynasties that controlled much of northern China from 907 to 960. The Later Jin Dynasty was the second of three successive Shatuo Turk dynasties that made up the middle three of the Five Dynasties.-Background and early...
, the son-in-law of Li Siyuan himself, launched a rebellion against his rule. With Khitan help, he successfully overthrew the last Later Tang Emperor and established his own dynasty, the Later Jin
Later Jin Dynasty (Five Dynasties)
Note that there are four periods of Chinese history using the name "Jin" The Later Jìn was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Shi Jingtang, posthumously known as Gaozu of Later Jin...
.
Mingzong's counselor and minister was An Chonghui
An Chonghui
An Chonghui was the minister and counselor of the Chinese Emperor Mingzong of the Later Tang Dynasty.He remained loyal to his emperor, but became the victim of political intrigue...
.
Depiction in media
- Director Zhang YimouZhang YimouZhang Yimou is a Chinese film director, producer, writer and actor, and former cinematographer. He is counted amongst the Fifth Generation of Chinese filmmakers, having made his directorial debut in 1987 with Red Sorghum....
's 2006 supermovie Curse of the Golden FlowerCurse of the Golden FlowerCurse of the Golden Flower is a 2006 Chinese epic drama film directed by Zhang Yimou.With a budget of US$45 million, it was at the time of its release the most expensive Chinese film to date, surpassing Chen Kaige's The Promise...
apparently has its action during this period, but the screenplay doesn't follow the historical facts, being more fictional.
Personal information
- Father
- Li Ni (李霓), posthumously honored Emperor Xiaocheng (honored 927)
- Mother
- Lady Liu, posthumously honored the Lady of Song, and then Empress Yi (honored 927)
- Wife
- Empress Cao (created 930), Empress Hewuxian, mother of Princess of Jin
- Major Concubines
- Lady Xia, posthumously honored Lady of Jin, then Empress Zhaoyi, mother of Princes Congrong and Conghou
- Lady Wei, posthumously honored Lady of Lu, then Empress Xuanxian, mother of Prince Congke
- Consort Wang, later honored Consort Dowager, adoptive mother of Prince Congyi
- Other Concubines
- Consort Wang, the Lady of Qi
- Consort Ge, the Lady of Zhou
- Consort Liu, the Lady of Zhao
- Consort Sun, the Lady of Chu
- Consort Zhang, the Lady of Cao
- Consort Guo, the Lady of Wei (魏)
- Consort Yu, the Lady of Zheng
- Consort Wang, the Lady of Wei (衛)
- Consort Cui, the Lady of Cai
- Consort Zhai, the Lady of Teng
- Consort Wu, the Lady of Ju
- Consort Gao, the Lady of Bohai
- Consort Shen, the Lady of Taiyuan
- Consort Zhu, the Lady of Wu Commandery
- Consort Liao, the Lady of Yingchuan
- Consort Liu, the Lady of Pengcheng
- Consort Meng, the Lady of Xianyang
- Consort Zhang, the Lady of Qinghe
- Consort Wang, the Lady of Taiyuan
- Consort Fu, the Lady of Yingchuan
- Consort Zhang
- Consort Jiang, posthumously created the Lady of Jiyang
- Consort Li, the Lady of Longxi
- Consort Cui, the Lady of Qinghe
- Consort Li, the Lady of Chengji
- Consort Tian, the Lady of Xianyang
- Consort Bai, the Lady of Nanyang
- Children
- Li Congshen (李從審), later adopted by Emperor Zhuangzong and name changed to Li Jijing (李繼璟) (changed 926, killed by Li Shaorong 926), name posthumously changed to Li Congjing (李從璟)
- Li Congrong (李從榮), the Prince of Qin (created 930, killed by An Congyi (安從益) 933)
- Li Conghou (李從厚), the Prince of Song (created 930), later Emperor Min of Later Tang
- Li Congyi (李從益), the Prince of Xu (created 933), later the Duke of Xun during Later Jin Dynasty (created 939), later the Prince of Xu during Liao DynastyLiao DynastyThe Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
conquest of central China (created 947), later emperor of unnamed state (created 947), later the Prince of Liang (title claimed 947, executed by Emperor Gaozu of Later Han 947) - Two daughters older than the Princess of Jin
- Princess of Jin, originally Princess of Yongning, later Princess of Wei (created 933), later Grand Princess of Jin (created 935), later Empress Li during Later Jin Dynasty
- Adoptive Child
- Li CongkeLi CongkeLi Congke, Emperor Mo of Later Tang was the last emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty - the second of the Five Dynasties following the fall of the Tang Dynasty. He was adopted by Emperor Mingzong Li Siyuan. He succeeded to his adoptive brother Li Conghou by dethroning him...
(李從珂), né Wang (王), the Prince of Lu (created 933), later emperor
- Li Congke
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