The Five Dynasties era in Chinese history (907-960) was a time a constant warfare, both internally and against foreign invaders and raiders. The major cities in north China were attacked and devastated several times in these decades. Eunuchs were slaughtered by the thousands, and those aristocratic and elite families without military support or ties who had been lucky enough to survive the destruction of the late Tang were almost completely wiped out. The label “Five Dynasties” is actually misleading, as in central and southern China there were at least fourteen dynasties established, each with its own emperor claiming universal rule over China. Traditionally, though, the southern dynasties have been called the “Ten Kingdoms.” The Five Dynasties refers to those that were established in the north, each also boasting its own emperor and claiming universal rule. All of these dynasties, north and south, were established by generals leading their armies in wars of conquest or in military coups. Supporting these large mixed armies of Chinese and nomadic soldiers was very expensive, and, in addition to the threat of destruction of their lands, the peasants faced enormous taxes to pay for the armies. One innovative general during this era enhanced his financial status through the destruction or confiscation of thousands of Buddhist temples and monasteries.
The main reason for the short life of the many dynasties in this era was their inability to create a core of loyal officers and troops. Each general-ruler fought his neighbors, trying to take or defend territory. Successful subordinates in high commands rarely felt a strong sense of loyalty to their ruler, often initiating coups before the new dynasty could be firmly established. The last of the Five Dynasties, the Later Zhou, was seemingly on the verge of breaking this cycle, systematically reuniting Chinese territory while creating an elite, loyal palace guard army, when the ruler was killed in battle.
Figure 9.2 Song China and Its Northern Enemies
Ironically, the commander of the Later Zhou’s palace guard army, Zhao Kuangyin, succeeded in founding a new dynasty, the Song, that went on to unify most of China and survive in some manner for more than three centuries. Zhao, crowned as Song Taizu, used this palace guard as the cornerstone of a refashioned military system that was in most respects very unlike that of the Tang dynasty.