Later Han (Five Dynasties) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Han 漢
947–951
Later Han
Capital	Bian (Kaifeng)
Common languages	Chinese
Religion	Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• 947–948	Emperor Gaozu
• 948–951	Emperor Yin
Historical era	Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
• Established in Taiyuan	March 10, 947
• Coup d'etat, surrender of Bian; Emperor Yin killed (de facto end)	January 1; January 2, 951
• Guo Wei proclaimed Emperor (de jure end)	February 13 951
Currency	Chinese cash, Chinese coin, copper coins etc.
Preceded by Succeeded by Later Jìn Later Zhou Northern Han
Today part of	China

History of China
ANCIENT
Neolithic c. 8500 – c. 2070 BCE
Xia dynasty c. 2070 – c. 1600 BCE
Shang dynasty c. 1600 – c. 1046 BCE
Zhou dynasty c. 1046 – 256 BCE
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn
Warring States
IMPERIAL
Qin dynasty 221–206 BCE
Han dynasty 206 BCE – 220 CE
Western Han
Xin dynasty
Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220–280
Wei, Shu and Wu
Jin dynasty 265–420
Western Jin
Eastern Jin	Sixteen Kingdoms
Southern and Northern Dynasties 420–589
Sui dynasty 581–618
Tang dynasty 618–907
(Wu Zhou interregnum 690–705)
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907–960	Liao dynasty 907–1125
Song dynasty 960–1279
Northern Song		W. Xia
Southern Song	Jin
Yuan dynasty 1271–1368
Ming dynasty 1368–1644
Qing dynasty 1644–1911
MODERN
Republic of China 1912–1949
People's Republic of China 1949–present	Republic of China on Taiwan 1949–present
Related articles Chinese historiography Timeline of Chinese history Dynasties in Chinese history Linguistic history Art history Economic history Education history Science and technology history Legal history Media history Military history Naval history

The Later Han (also known as Han) was a very short-lived empire in China. It lasted only about four years, from 947 to 951 AD. It was the fourth of the "Five Dynasties" during a time in Chinese history called the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. This period was a bit chaotic, with many different rulers and kingdoms. The Later Han was founded by a leader named Liu Zhiyuan.

How the Later Han Dynasty Began

Liu Zhiyuan was a powerful military leader. He controlled an area around Taiyuan, which is in modern-day Shanxi province. He served a dynasty called the Later Jin. However, the Later Jin was weak and controlled by the Khitan Liao dynasty from the north.

When the Later Jin tried to fight back, the Liao dynasty sent an army south. This army destroyed the Later Jin. The Liao emperor, Emperor Taizong of Liao, reached the Yellow River. He then decided to return to his home base near modern-day Beijing.

But on his way back, Chinese forces kept attacking his army. The Liao emperor died in May 947. This created a big power vacuum, meaning there was no strong ruler in charge. Liu Zhiyuan saw this chance and stepped in. He founded the Later Han dynasty.

Historians have different ideas about the background of the Later Han emperors. Some say they were from the Shatuo people. Others say the emperors claimed to be from the Han Chinese people.

Where the Later Han Ruled

Liu Zhiyuan made his capital at Bian, which is now Kaifeng. The Later Han controlled mostly the same land as the previous Later Jin dynasty. Its southern border was near the East China Sea. It stretched between the Yellow River and the Yangtze River.

The border then went south towards the Yangtze and turned northwest. It followed the northern edge of Sichuan and reached as far west as Shaanxi. In the north, it included much of Shaanxi and Hebei. However, it did not include the Sixteen Prefectures. These lands were lost to the Liao Dynasty by the Later Jin.

A Very Short Reign

The Later Han was one of the shortest dynasties in China's long history. Liu Zhiyuan died just one year after starting the dynasty. His teenage son took over as emperor.

But the dynasty was overthrown only two years later. A Han Chinese general named Guo Wei led a military takeover. He then declared himself emperor of a new dynasty, the Later Zhou.

The Northern Han Kingdom

After the Later Han fell, some of its remaining forces went back to the Shatuo homeland in Shanxi. There, they created a new kingdom called the Northern Han. It is sometimes called the Eastern Han.

The Northern Han was protected by the powerful Liao dynasty. This protection helped it stay independent from the Later Zhou. Later, the Song Dynasty rose to power in 960 AD. The Song Dynasty became a very strong force in northern China.

The Song Dynasty successfully took control of the southern states by 978. But the Northern Han managed to hold out because the Liao Dynasty kept helping them. The Northern Han's continued existence was a big problem for the relationship between the Liao and Song dynasties. Finally, in 979, the Song Dynasty took over the Northern Han. This mostly completed the reunification of China. Only the Sixteen Prefectures remained under the control of the Liao dynasty.

Later Han Rulers

Later Han and Northern Han Emperors Family Tree

See also

• Monarchy of China