Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (traditional Chinese: 五代十國; simplified Chinese: 五代十国; pinyin: Wǔdài Shíguó, 907-960) was an era of political upheaval in China, beginning in the Tang Dynasty and ending in the Song Dynasty. During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another in the north, and more than 12 independent states were established, mainly in the south. However, only ten are traditionally listed, hence the era's name, "Ten Kingdoms." Some historians, such as Bo Yang, count 11, including Yan and Qi, but not Northern Han, viewing it as simply a continuation of Later Han. Transitions between kingdoms Although more stable than northern China as a whole, southern China was also torn apart by warfare. Wu quarrelled with its neighbours, a trend that continued as Wu was replaced with Southern Tang. In the 940s Min and Chu underwent internal crises which Southern Tang handily took advantage of, destroying Min in 945 and Chu in 951. Remnants of Min and Chu, however, survived in the form of Qingyuan Jiedushi and Wuping Jiedushi for many years after. With this, Southern Tang became the undisputedly most powerful regime in southern China. However, it was unable to defeat incursions by the Later Zhou Dynasty between 956 and 958, and ceded all of its land north of the Yangtze River. The Northern Song Dynasty, established in 960, was determined to reunify China. Jingnan and Wuping were swept away in 963, Later Shu in 965, Southern Han in 971, and Southern Tang in 975. Finally, Wuyue and Qingyuan gave up their land to Northern Song in 978, bringing all of southern China under the control of the central government. ---------------------------------------- --------- XI,Tang Dynasty唐朝(618-907) XII,Five Dynasties五代 1,Later Liang后梁(907-923) 2,Later Tang后唐(923-936) 3,Later Jin后晋(936-946) 4,Later Han后汉(947-950) 5,Later Zhou后周(951-960)

唐朝（618年~907年），是中国历史上最重要的朝代之一，也是公认的中国最强盛的时代之一。 李渊于618年建立了唐朝，以长安（今陕西西安）为都，后来又设洛阳为东都。其鼎盛时期的公元7世纪时，中亚的沙漠地带也受其支配。在690年，武则天改国号"唐"为"周"，迁都洛阳，史称武周，也称"南周"直到705年唐中宗恢复大唐国号。唐朝在天宝十四年（755年）安史之乱后日渐衰落，至907年梁王(朱温)篡位灭亡，共延续了289年，传了19位皇帝。唐在文化、政治、经济、外交等方面都有辉煌的成就，是当时世界上最强大的国家之一。 文化方面，当时的东亚邻国包括新罗、渤海国和日本的政治体制、文化等方面亦受其很大影响。 军事方面，在继北魏破柔然之战之后，唐朝又一次取得了中原王朝对大漠部落的军事上的巨大胜利。 经济方面，到了唐玄宗时期，唐朝经济已经远超过了同一时期的拜占庭以及阿拉伯。 唐朝连同宋朝被历史学家黄仁宇认为是相继于秦汉之后的中国第二帝国时期，日本历史学者则普遍认为唐朝是中国"中世"时期的结束。唐朝国力在中国历史上数一数二，因此华人也被称为"唐人"，现今西方华人聚居处也被称为"唐人街"。 The Tang Dynasty (Chinese: 唐朝; pinyin: Táng Cháo; Middle Chinese: dhɑng[1]) (18 June 618--4 June 907) was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li (李) family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire. The dynasty was interrupted briefly by the Second Zhou Dynasty (16 October 690--3 March 705) when Empress Wu Zetian seized the throne, becoming the first and only Chinese empress regent, ruling in her own right. The Tang Dynasty, with its capital at Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), the most populous city in the world at the time, is regarded by historians as a high point in Chinese civilization — equal to or surpassing that of the earlier Han Dynasty — as well as a golden age of cosmopolitan culture. Its territory, acquired through the military campaigns of its early rulers, was greater than that of the Han period, and rivaled that of the later Yuan Dynasty and Qing Dynasty. The enormous Grand Canal of China, built during the previous Sui Dynasty, facilitated the rise of new urban settlements along its route, as well as increased trade between mainland Chinese markets. The canal is to this day the longest in the world. In two censuses of the 7th and 8th centuries, the Tang records stated that the population (by number of registered households) was about 50 million people.a However, even when the central government was breaking down and unable to exact an accurate census of the population in the 9th century, it is estimated that the population in that century had grown to the size of about 80 million people. In Chinese history, the Tang Dynasty was largely a period of progress and stability, except during the An Shi Rebellion and the decline of central authority in the latter half of the dynasty. Like the previous Sui Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty maintained a civil service system by drafting officials through standardized examinations and recommendations to office. This civil order was undermined by the rise of regional military governors known as jiedushi during the 9th century. Chinese culture flourished and further matured during the Tang era; it is considered the greatest age for Chinese poetry. Two of China's most famous historical poets, Du Fu and Li Bai, belonged to this age, as well as the poets Meng Haoran and Bai Juyi. Many famous visual artists lived during this era, such as the renowned painters Han Gan, Wu Daozi, and Zhan Ziqian. The religious and philosophical ideology of Buddhism became a major aspect of Chinese culture, with native Chinese sects becoming the most prominent. However, Buddhism would eventually be persecuted by the state and would decline in influence. Although the dynasty and central government were in decline by the 9th century, art and culture continued to flourish. The weakened central government largely withdrew from managing the economy, but the country's mercantile affairs stayed intact and commercial trade continued to thrive regardless.