The turbulent times of the five dynasties and ten kingdoms of the late Tang Dynasty.
Introduction: Feudal society is a long stage in the long river of Chinese history, starting from the Zhou Dynasty, through the Qin, Han, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties, Sui, Tang and other dynasties. Among them, the Tang Dynasty is regarded as the pinnacle of feudal society, while the late Tang Dynasty Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period witnessed the turmoil and decline of feudal society. This article will examine the historical background, political changes, and social landscape of this period.
1. The decline of the Tang Dynasty.
Since the establishment of the Tang Dynasty in 618 AD, it lasted for nearly 300 years, and the country prospered and the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. However, with the end of the Tang Dynasty, the imperial power weakened, the eunuchs were autocratic, the politics were corrupt, the social atmosphere was declining, and the people's livelihood withered. In addition, the Tang Dynasty suffered repeated defeats in foreign wars, continued to lose territory, and internal and external troubles exacerbated the country's turmoil.
Second, the five dynasties and ten kingdoms are in turmoil.
In 907 AD, the Tang Dynasty fell and entered the period of five dynasties and ten kingdoms. During this period, the heroes rose together, the wars continued, and the people's livelihood suffered. The five dynasties were divided into five dynasties, namely the Later Liang, the Later Tang, the Later Jin, the Later Han, and the Later Han, all of which were changed due to internal strife and external troubles. At the same time, the ten kingdoms were the Southern Han, the former Shu, the Later Shu, the Southern Tang, the Wu Yue, the Fujian, the Nanping, the former Chu, the Later Chu, and the former Wu Yue.
3. Political change and struggle.
During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, political changes came and went. The founders of various dynasties tried to restore the prosperity of the country by reforming the political, economic, cultural and other fields. For example, Li Siyuan of the Later Tang Dynasty implemented the policy of "peace and stability", strengthened the centralization of power, rectified discipline, and restored social order; Guo Wei of the Later Zhou Dynasty implemented the "equalization system" to reform the land system and promote agricultural development. However, due to the background of the times and the influence of war, these reforms failed to save the decline of feudal society.
Fourth, the social landscape and influence.
During the period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms of the late Tang Dynasty, the social landscape underwent great changes. On the one hand, the scholar class was displaced by the war, and the cultural inheritance was affected. On the other hand, religions such as Buddhism and Taoism developed rapidly during this period, providing spiritual sustenance for society. In addition, folk customs have also changed, such as marriage, funerals, festivals, etc., showing the characteristics of the end of feudal society.
5. Summary. The prosperity and decline of feudal society and the turmoil of the five dynasties and ten kingdoms in the late Tang Dynasty were a major turning point in historical development. During this period, the country's politics were turbulent, the social atmosphere was declining, and the people's livelihood was suffering. However, in the midst of the war, heroes and heroes from all over the world tried to reform and revitalize, leaving a rich historical legacy for future generations. It was not until the Song Dynasty that China's feudal society gradually came out of the trough and regained its vitality.