Southern Tang (also refered to as Nantang) was one of the Ten Kingdoms in south-central China created following the Tang Dynasty from 937-976. Southern Tang replaced the Wu Kingdom when Li Seheng (a.k.a Xu Zhihao) deposed the emperor Yang Pu .

The capital was located in Jinling (modern Nanjing or Jiangsu). The territory comprised parts of modern [Fujian]], Jiangsu and Anhui provinces and the whol of Jiangxi province.

Southern Tang was conquered in 976 by the Northern Song Dynasty.

History

Li Sheng was an orphan who was adopted by the Wu prince Yang Xingmi. He was then adopted by Xu Wen, the Prime Minister of Wu an was renamed Xu Zhigao. Upon Xu Wen's death, he took over power in Wu, and was made a prince of Qi. In 937 he proclaimed himself emperor. In 940, he changed his name back to Li Sheng and renamed the state to Tang (history would refer to it as Southern Tang).

The state was relatively large and prosperous compared to the other Ten States of that period. Li Sheng rule was comparatively stable and prosperous.

Li Jing took over when his father Li Sheng died in 942.

Li Jing conquered Min in 945 and Chu in 951. However, Li Sheng suffered a set back from Later Zhou Dynasty between 956 and 958, and ceded away all of its land north of the Yangtze River. Li Sheng became a vassel of the Later Zhou Dynasty.

Li Houzhu (a.k.a Li Yu) took over Southern Tang from his father upon his death in 960. Li Houzhu was more interested in poetry than ruling. After surrendering to the Northern Song Dynasty, Li Houzhu was taken to the Song capital.

Rulers

• Li Sheng 937-942
• Li Jing 943-960
• Li Houzhu 961-976

See also

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period

References and links

• http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Tang/rulers-nantang.html
• http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/atam/115248.htm