Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou
Encyclopedia
Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty (後周世宗) (died 959), born Chai Rong (柴榮) and later renamed Guo Rong (郭榮), was the second emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty
and ruled from 954 to 959.
’s (posthumously known as Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou
) wife’s elder brother. Guo adopted him as a young boy and renamed him Guo Rong. His adoptive father became the founding emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty
in 951, but died a little more than three years later in 954 from an illness.
in 954 upon his adoptive father’s death. Like his father, he was considered an able ruler. He continued reforms introduced by his father. More importantly, he began putting pressure on the Northern Han
and even the Liao Dynasty
, though nothing substantial came of it. More success was met in the south as some minor successes were made against the Southern Tang
and Later Shu
, paving the way to eventual unification by the Song Dynasty
.
He suffered an early death at the age of 38 when he died from illness while out on the field in 959. He left behind him a six-year-old heir to succeed him. This led to the fall of the dynasty and the rise of the Song Dynasty
, which eventually succeeded in reunifying China
.
Later Zhou Dynasty
The Later Zhou Dynasty was the last a succession of five dynasties that controlled most of northern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, which lasted from 907 to 960 and bridged the gap between the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty.-Founding of the Dynasty:Guo Wei, a Han...
and ruled from 954 to 959.
Family
Chai Rong was born as the son of Guo WeiEmperor Taizu of Later Zhou
Emperor Taizu of the Later Zhou Dynasty 後周太祖 was born as Guo Wei 郭威. He was a well-educated Chinese who served the Later Han Dynasty as Assistant Military Commissioner. He founded the Later Zhou Dynasty in 951.-Service under the Later Han:...
’s (posthumously known as Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou
Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou
Emperor Taizu of the Later Zhou Dynasty 後周太祖 was born as Guo Wei 郭威. He was a well-educated Chinese who served the Later Han Dynasty as Assistant Military Commissioner. He founded the Later Zhou Dynasty in 951.-Service under the Later Han:...
) wife’s elder brother. Guo adopted him as a young boy and renamed him Guo Rong. His adoptive father became the founding emperor of the Later Zhou Dynasty
Later Zhou Dynasty
The Later Zhou Dynasty was the last a succession of five dynasties that controlled most of northern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, which lasted from 907 to 960 and bridged the gap between the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty.-Founding of the Dynasty:Guo Wei, a Han...
in 951, but died a little more than three years later in 954 from an illness.
Emperor of Later Zhou
Guo Rong (posthumously known as Shizong of Later Zhou Dynasty) became emperorEmperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
in 954 upon his adoptive father’s death. Like his father, he was considered an able ruler. He continued reforms introduced by his father. More importantly, he began putting pressure on the Northern Han
Northern Han
The Northern Han kingdom is a state of the Ten Kingdoms in the Period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. It was founded by Liu Min , formerly known as Liu Chong , and lasted from 951 – 979.-Founding of the Northern Han:...
and even the Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
, though nothing substantial came of it. More success was met in the south as some minor successes were made against the Southern Tang
Southern Tang
Southern Tang was one of the Ten Kingdoms in south-central China created following the Tang Dynasty from 937-975. Southern Tang replaced the Wu Kingdom when Li Bian deposed the emperor Yang Pu....
and Later Shu
Later Shu
Later Shu was one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China from 907 to 960. It was located in present-day Sichuan with its capital in Chengdu.-Founding:...
, paving the way to eventual unification by the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
.
He suffered an early death at the age of 38 when he died from illness while out on the field in 959. He left behind him a six-year-old heir to succeed him. This led to the fall of the dynasty and the rise of the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
, which eventually succeeded in reunifying China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.