CHIN 50W Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Land Management, Sima Guang, Wang Anshi
Document Summary
After the end of the tang, the country was once again divided between little temporary dynasties. In the north, several regimes were turkic, and none ever consolidated their power long. These dynasties were known as the five dynasties. Chang"an and luoyang had been the capitals of many dynasties. During the five kingdoms period, they were devastated by civil war. Kaifeng, located at the northern mouth of the grand canal, became the premier city of. The khitans were a major power of manchuria. 937 one claimant to the throne asked them for aid to conquer kaifeng. As payment he agreed to recognize them as overlords. Granted them substantial territory in central china, including modern day beijing. Zhao kuangyin, seized power from a boy emperor. He founded the song in 960 and reigned as taizu. By the time he died, he had conquered and unified most of the territory held by the tang.
