Liu Chong
| Liu Min / Liu Chong | |
|---|---|
| Emperor Shizu of (Northern) Han (more...) | |
| | |
| Claimed predecessor | Liu Chengyou, nephew and last emperor of Later Han |
| Successor | Liu Chengjun (Emperor Ruizong), son |
| Issue | |
| |
| Full name | |
| Family name: Liú (劉) Given name: Chóng (崇), changed to Mín (旻) in 951[1] | |
| Era dates | |
| Qiányòu (乾祐), continued from Later Han's Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Yin Year 4: 9 February 951 – 29 January 952 Year 5: 30 January 952 – 17 January 953 Year 6: 18 January 953 – 5 February 954 Year 7: 6 February 954 – 26 January 955 | |
| Regnal name | |
| Emperor Shénwǔ (神武皇帝) (951[2]) | |
| Temple name | |
| Shìzǔ (世祖; "Generational Forefather") | |
| Mother | Lady An (安氏) |
| Born | 895 or January 896[3] Tang Empire |
| Died | 954 [2] (aged 58–59[4]) Taiyuan, Northern Han (today's Taiyuan, Shanxi) |
Liu Min (劉旻) (c. 895[3] – 954[2]), named Liu Chong (劉崇) before 951,[1] also known by his temple name Shizu (世祖), was the founding emperor of imperial China's Northern Han state during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He was an ethnic Shatuo and the younger brother of Later Han Dynasty's founder Liu Zhiyuan.
Liu Chong created Northern Han in the Shatuo base in modern Shanxi after his eldest son was killed in 951 by general Guo Wei, who overthrew Later Han to found the Later Zhou Dynasty. In 954, Liu Chong was defeated by Guo's successor Chai Rong in the Battle of Gaoping and died soon afterwards.
Early life
The young Liu Chong drank and gambled and was once sentenced to join the military with his face tattooed.[4]
During Later Jin
When Liu Zhiyuan became the military governor of Hedong (河東; roughly modern Shanxi), he named Liu Chong his chief director (都指揮使).[4]
Formation of the Northern Han
Liu Min was the brother of Liu Zhiyuan, the founder of the Later Han Dynasty, which was the last of three successive Shatuo Turk dynasty. The Later Han Dynasty fell in 950 with the rise of the Later Zhou Dynasty. Liu Min declared himself the legitimate successor of the Later Han Dynasty, and formed the Northern Han (sometimes called Eastern Han) kingdom in Shanxi, the traditional power base of the Shatuo Turks.
Relations with neighbors
The kingdom was wedged between its two larger, more powerful neighbors, the Later Zhou Dynasty to the south, and the Khitan Liao Dynasty to the north. Liu Min restored traditional ties with the Khitans, who served as protectors to the Northern Han Kingdom, allowing it to last later than any of the other kingdoms traditionally listed as one of the Ten Kingdoms
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Zizhi Tongjian, ch. 290. Many Chinese emperors changed their given names to rarely encountered characters to alleviate the burden of the populace who must observe naming taboo.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Zizhi Tongjian, ch. 290.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 From his date and Chinese age at death we can deduct that he was born some time between 30 January 895 and 18 January 896.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Wudai Shiji, ch. 70.
Sources
- Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China (900-1800). Harvard University Press. pp. 11–15. ISBN 0-674-01212-7.
- (Chinese) Xue Juzheng et al., ed. (974). Wudai Shi (五代史) [History of the Five Dynasties].
- (Chinese) Ouyang Xiu (1073). Wudai Shiji (五代史記) [Historical Records of the Five Dynasties].
- (Chinese) Sima Guang (1086). Zizhi Tongjian (資治通鑑) [Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government].
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None (founder of kingdom) |
Emperor of Northern Han 951–954 |
Succeeded by Liu Chengjun (劉承鈞) |
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