Southern Han facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Han / Yue 漢 / 越
917–971
Southern Han (dark blue)
Capital	Xingwang Fu (Guangzhou)
Common languages	Middle Chinese
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• 917–941	Emperor Gaozu
• 941–943	Emperor Shangdi
• 943–958	Emperor Zhongzong
Historical era	Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
• Established	917
• Renamed from "Yue" to "Han"	918
• Ended by the Song dynasty	971
Preceded by Succeeded by Tang dynasty Song dynasty Ngô dynasty
Today part of	China Vietnam

The Southern Han (Chinese: 南漢; Mandarin Pinyin: Nán Hàn; Jyutping: Naam⁴ Hon³) was a kingdom in southern China. It existed from 917 to 971 AD. It was one of the many smaller states during a time called the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. This was a period when China was divided into many different kingdoms.

The Southern Han kingdom was first called "Yue." It was later renamed "Han." It was located along China's southern coast. Today, this area includes Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. Its capital city was Xingwang Fu, which is now Guangzhou. The Southern Han tried to take over a nearby area controlled by the Vietnamese, but they were not successful.

How the Southern Han Kingdom Began

The story of Southern Han starts with a man named Liu Yin. In 905, the Tang dynasty government made him a regional governor. The Tang dynasty was a powerful empire that ruled China before this period.

Two years later, the Tang dynasty fell apart. Many leaders in southern China started their own kingdoms. However, Liu Yin did not immediately declare himself a king. He simply took the title of Prince of Nanping in 909.

Liu Yan Founds the Kingdom

After Liu Yin died in 917, his brother, Liu Yan, took over. Liu Yan decided to create a new kingdom. He first named it "Yue."

In 918, Liu Yan changed the kingdom's name to "Han." He did this because his family name, Liu, was the same as the ruling family of the famous Han dynasty. He claimed to be a descendant of that ancient and powerful dynasty. Because of this, his kingdom is known as the Southern Han dynasty.

Where the Southern Han Kingdom Was

The capital city of Southern Han was in Guangzhou. The kingdom's lands stretched along the coast. This included areas that are now Guangdong, Guangxi, and the island of Hainan.

The Southern Han shared borders with other kingdoms. These included Min, Chu, and the Southern Tang. It also bordered the non-Chinese kingdom of Dali. After the Southern Tang conquered Min and Chu, they became the main neighbor to the north of Southern Han.

Wars with the Vietnamese

Đông Hồ woodblock art showing Ngô Quyền leading his army against Southern Han forces on the Bạch Đằng River in 938 AD.

Towards the end of the 800s, the Tang dynasty became weak. Local Vietnamese leaders began to take control of their own lands in northern Vietnam. This area was called Jinghai.

The Southern Han kingdom tried twice to conquer these Vietnamese territories. They launched campaigns in 931 and again in 938. The second battle, known as the Battle of Bạch Đằng, was a major defeat for the Southern Han. Both attempts to expand into Vietnam failed.

The End of the Southern Han Kingdom

The period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms ended in 960. This is when the Song dynasty was founded. The Song dynasty replaced the Later Zhou dynasty.

The new Song rulers wanted to reunite all of China. They began to expand their power in the south. Throughout the 960s and 970s, the Song dynasty grew stronger. Finally, in 971, the Song dynasty forced the Southern Han kingdom to surrender. This brought an end to the Southern Han dynasty.

Rulers of Southern Han

The Southern Han kingdom had four main rulers during its existence. Here is a list of them:

Rulers Family Tree