Liu Chong

Liu Min (劉旻) (c. 895[1] – 954[2]), named Liu Chong (劉崇) before 951,[4] also known by his temple name Shizu (世祖), was the founding emperor of imperial China's Northern Han state during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He was an ethnic Shatuo and the younger brother of Later Han's founder Liu Zhiyuan.

For the Han dynasty Prince of Chen, see Liu Chong (Prince Min of Chen).

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Liu.

Liu Min / Liu Chong
Emperor Shizu of (Northern) Han (more...)
1st emperor of Northern Han
Claimed predecessor	Liu Chengyou, nephew and last emperor of Later Han
Successor	Liu Chengjun (Emperor Ruizong), son
Born	895 or January 896[1] Tang Empire
Died	954 [2] (aged 58–59[3]) Taiyuan, Northern Han (today's Taiyuan, Shanxi)
Issue	Liu Yun (劉贇), son Liu Chengjun (劉承鈞), son Liu Gao (劉鎬), son Liu Kai (劉鍇), son Liu Qi (劉錡), son Liu Xi (劉錫), son Liu Xian (劉銑), son daughter, mother of Liu Ji'en and Liu Jiyuan
Full name Family name: Liú (劉) Given name: Chóng (崇), changed to Mín (旻) in 951[4] Era dates Qiányòu (乾祐), continued from Later Han's Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Yin Year 4: 9 February 951 – 29 January 952 Year 5: 30 January 952 – 17 January 953 Year 6: 18 January 953 – 5 February 954 Year 7: 6 February 954 – 26 January 955 Regnal name Emperor Shénwǔ (神武皇帝) (951[2]) Temple name Shìzǔ (世祖; "Generational Forefather")
Mother	Lady An (安氏)

Liu Chong created Northern Han in the Shatuo base in modern Shanxi after his eldest son was killed in 951 by general Guo Wei, who overthrew Later Han to found the Later Zhou. In 954, Liu Chong was defeated by Guo's successor Chai Rong in the Battle of Gaoping and died soon afterwards.

Early life

The young Liu Chong drank and gambled and was once sentenced to join the military with his face tattooed.[3]

During Later Jin

When Liu Zhiyuan became the military governor of Hedong (河東; roughly modern Shanxi), he named Liu Chong his chief director (都指揮使).[3]

Formation of the Northern Han

Liu Min was the brother of Liu Zhiyuan, the founder of the Later Han, which was the last of three successive Shatuo Turk dynasty. The Later Han fell in 950 with the rise of the Later Zhou. Liu Min declared himself the legitimate successor of the Later Han, and formed the Northern Han (sometimes called Eastern Han) kingdom in Shanxi, the traditional power base of the Shatuo Turks.

Relations with neighbors

The kingdom was wedged between its two larger, more powerful neighbors, the Later Zhou to the south, and the Khitan Liao Dynasty to the north. Liu Min restored traditional ties with the Khitans, who served as protectors to the Northern Han Kingdom, allowing it to last later than any of the other kingdoms traditionally listed as one of the Ten Kingdoms

Personal information

• Father
  • Liu Dian (劉琠), posthumously honored Emperor Zhangsheng with the temple name of Xianzu
• Mother
  • Lady An, Lady Dowager of Wu, posthumously honored Empress Zhangyi
• Wife
  • Empress (name unknown)
• Concubine
  • Consort Wang (915-971)
• Children
  • Liu Chengyun or Liu Yun, the Duke of Xiangyin (created 951, killed by Guo Wei 951)
  • Liu Chengjun (Liu Jun) (劉承鈞), later Emperor Ruizong
  • Liu Hao (劉鎬), killed by Liu Jiyuan ~968
  • Liu Kai (劉鍇), killed by Liu Jiyuan ~968
  • Liu Qi (劉錡), killed by Liu Jiyuan ~968
  • Liu Xí (劉錫, note different tone than his brother), killed by Liu Jiyuan ~968
  • Liu Xǐ (劉銑, note different tone than his brother)
  • At least three more sons
  • Princess, mother of Liu Ji'en and Liu Jiyuan

References

1. From his date and Chinese age at death we can deduct that he was born some time between 30 January 895 and 18 January 896.
2. Zizhi Tongjian, ch. 290.
3. Wudai Shiji, ch. 70.
4. Zizhi Tongjian, ch. 290. Many Chinese emperors changed their given names to rarely encountered characters to alleviate the burden of the populace who must observe naming taboo.

Sources

• Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China (900-1800). Harvard University Press. pp. 11–15. ISBN 0-674-01212-7.
• (in Chinese) Xue Juzheng; et al., eds. (974). Wudai Shi (五代史) [History of the Five Dynasties].
• (in Chinese) Ouyang Xiu (1073). Wudai Shiji (五代史記) [Historical Records of the Five Dynasties].
• (in Chinese) Sima Guang (1086). Zizhi Tongjian (資治通鑑) [Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government].

Regnal titles
Preceded by None (traditionally), claimed to be succeeding Liu Chengyou of Later Han	Emperor of Northern Han 951–954	Succeeded by Liu Chengjun (Emperor Ruizong)
	Emperor of China (Central Shanxi) 951–954