Five Dynasties and Ten KingdomsAD 907–979

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: Timeline of Events (AD 907–979)

Five short dynasties in the north, ten kingdoms in the south

Events in this period

• Fall of Tang; Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms907–960

  In 907 Zhu Wen founded the Later Liang and Tang fell. Five successive dynasties then ruled the north and ten separate regimes arose in the south, the “Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms”.

• Yelü Abaoji Founds the Khitan State (Liao)Early 10th century

  In the early 10th century the Khitan leader Yelü Abaoji united the tribes, declared himself emperor in 916 and founded a state with its capital at Shangjing Linhuangfu. It was later renamed Liao.

• Shi Jingtang Cedes the Sixteen Prefectures936 (Later Jin)

  In 936 Shi Jingtang, a Later Tang governor, ceded the Sixteen Prefectures and called himself the Khitan emperor’s “son” for troops to destroy Later Tang, founding Later Jin.

• Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou's ReformsLater Zhou

  Chai Rong, Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou, reformed officialdom, evened out land taxes, reorganized the imperial army and curbed Buddhism, laying the ground for Song unification. He died at 39.