Yang Wu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wu 吳
907–937
Capital	Guangling
Common languages	Middle Chinese
Government	Monarchy
Prince/King/Emperor
• 907–908	Yang Wo
• 908–921	Yang Longyan
• 921–937	Yang Pu
Historical era	Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period
• Foundation of the State of Wu under Tang rule	902
• Fall of the Tang dynasty	June 1 907
• Yang Longyan proclaimed himself King and inaugurated a new era name	919
• Yang Pu acceded the throne as Emperor	November 29, 927
• Ended by the Southern Tang	937
Currency	Chinese coin Chinese cash
Preceded by Succeeded by Tang dynasty Southern Tang
Today part of	China

The Wu state (吳), also known as Yang Wu, was an important kingdom in China during a time called the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. This period lasted from 907 to 937. Wu was one of the "Ten Kingdoms" that appeared after the powerful Tang dynasty fell apart.

The capital city of Wu was Jiangdu, which is now known as Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province. Some historians believe Wu began in 902 when its founder, Yang Xingmi, was given the title of Prince of Wu by the Tang dynasty.

After 907, when the Tang dynasty officially ended, all three rulers of Wu were sons of Yang Xingmi. The first ruler, Yang Wo, was killed by his own ministers. His two younger brothers who followed him were mostly controlled by a powerful official named Xu Wen. Later, Xu Wen's adopted son, Xu Zhigao, took over this control. In 937, Xu Zhigao took power for himself and started a new kingdom called the Southern Tang dynasty.

Yang Pu, the last ruler of Wu, was the only one to call himself an emperor. The other rulers before him were known as kings or princes.

How the Wu Kingdom Started

The person who started the Wu kingdom was Yang Xingmi. He began his career as a regular soldier. He later took control of his home area, Luzhou (now Hefei), through a military takeover. The Tang dynasty was weak at this time, so they had to accept his new position.

In 887, Yang Xingmi defeated another rebel leader and captured the important city of Yangzhou. He then worked to make his power stronger by taking over nearby areas. By 892, he had recaptured Yangzhou. Because of this, the Tang court made him the military governor of the Huainan region.

Even though Yang Xingmi still said he was loyal to the Tang dynasty, other powerful leaders were creating their own small states. Yang Xingmi had to fight against Zhu Wen in the north and Qian Liu in the south. He successfully defended his land. In 902, the Tang emperor officially named Yang Xingmi the Prince of Wu.

Becoming an Independent Kingdom

Yang Xingmi passed away in 905. His oldest son, Yang Wo, took his place as ruler. In 907, Zhu Wen forced the last Tang emperor to give up his throne. Zhu Wen then declared himself the first emperor of a new dynasty called the Later Liang.

Yang Wo refused to accept Zhu Wen as the new emperor. He continued to use the last official time period name of the Tang dynasty. From this moment on, Wu was its own independent state, no longer part of the Tang dynasty.

Power Shift to Xu Wen

When his father died, Yang Wo was young and inexperienced. He had to rely on a powerful official named Xu Wen to help him become ruler. However, Yang Wo soon started to dislike Xu Wen's strong influence. Before he could do anything about it, Yang Wo was killed by Xu Wen and another official in 908.

Xu Wen then put Yang Wo's younger brother, Yang Longyan, on the throne. Yang Longyan was like a "puppet" ruler, meaning Xu Wen held the real power. Xu Wen moved his main base to Jinling (now Nanjing). His adopted son, Xu Zhigao, later took over managing the capital city.

In 919, Yang Longyan officially declared himself the King of Wu. He also started a new era name, showing that Wu was now a fully independent kingdom. Yang Longyan died in 922 and was followed by his brother, Yang Pu. Just like before, Xu Wen still held the true power. He encouraged Yang Pu to declare himself emperor, but Xu Wen died in 927 before this happened. On November 29, 927, Yang Pu became the Emperor of Wu. Xu Zhigao was given important roles in the government.

Where Wu Was Located

The capital city of Wu was Guangling, which is known today as Yangzhou. The Wu kingdom controlled a large area. This included central and southern parts of what are now Anhui and Jiangsu provinces. It also covered most of Jiangxi and the eastern part of Hubei province.

The End of the Wu Kingdom

Xu Zhigao was adopted by Xu Wen and proved to be a very capable leader. After his stepfather Xu Wen died in 927, Xu Zhigao continued to rule the Wu state from Jinling.

Finally, in 937, Xu Zhigao officially took power for himself. He declared himself the King of Qi. Emperor Yang Pu stepped down from the throne after some resistance was stopped. Two years later, Xu Zhigao changed his family name back to Li, claiming he was related to a Tang prince. He then announced that he was bringing back the Tang dynasty. His new state is known in history as the Southern Tang dynasty.

Rulers of Wu

• 904–905: Yáng Xíngmì 楊行密 (Chinese: 太祖孝武皇帝; pinyin: Tài Zǔ Xiàowǔ Huángdì)
• 905–908: Yáng Wò 楊渥 (Chinese: 烈宗景皇帝; pinyin: Liè Zōng Jǐng Huángdì)
• 908–921: Yáng Lóngyǎn 楊隆演 (Chinese: 高祖宣皇帝; pinyin: Gāo Zǔ Xuān Huángdì)
• 921–937: Yáng Pǔ 楊溥 (Chinese: 睿皇帝; pinyin: Ruì Huángdì)

Wu and Southern Tang Rulers Family Tree

See also

• Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period