Later Tang

Not to be confused with Tang dynasty (618–907).

Tang, known in historiography as the Later Tang (Chinese: 後唐; pinyin: Hòu Táng), was a short-lived imperial dynasty of China and the second of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period in Chinese history.^[1]

Tang 唐
923–937
Later Tang 後唐
Capital	Daming (923) Luoyang (923–936)
Common languages	Chinese
Government	Monarchy
Emperor
• 923–926	Li Cunxu (Zhuangzong)
• 926–933	Li Siyuan (Mingzong)
• 933–934	Li Conghou
• 934–936	Li Congke
Historical era	Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
• Established in Daming	May 923
• Overthrown by Khitan and Shi Jingtang	January 11, 937
Currency	Chinese coin, Chinese cash
Preceded by Succeeded by Jìn1 Later Liang Qi Former Shu Later Jìn2 Jingnan Later Shu
Today part of	China
1.The preceding entity of the Later Tang was the State of Jin, which was established by Li Keyong in 895 under the Tang dynasty and existed as an independent state in 907–923. 2.With the support of the Liao dynasty.

With the exception of its final ruler, the Later Tang was ruled by ethnically Shatuo Turk (沙陀) emperors.The name Tang was used to legitimize itself as the restorer of the Tang dynasty.^[2] The official start of the Later Tang dynasty is in the year 923.

Founding of the Dynasty

The Later Tang dynasty emerged when Li Cunxu (李存勖), son of Shatuo Turk chieftain Li Keyong (李克用), conquered the Later Liang (后梁). After inheriting the Jin (晋) state, Li Cunxu waged a prolonged war against the Later Liang, culminating in the fall the Liang capital, Daliang (Kaifeng) in 923. His victory marked the first of the Five Dynasties' successive dynastic transitions.

The Later Tang dynasty was officially proclaimed in 923, though its origins lay in the precursor Jin dynasty (907-923), known in historiography as the Former Jin. Its founder Li Cunxu already possessed the Li surname - shared with the Tang emperors - which helped legitimize his claim as the Tang dynasty's rightful successor.

The Li Clan of Shatuo received the surname "Li" from Emperor Xianzong of Tang as a reward for their loyalty and military service.

By deliberately adopting the Tang dynastic name and emphasizing this genealogical connection, the Shatuo Turk ruler strengthened his regime's political legitimacy through symbolic continuity with the fallen Tang empire.

Destruction of the dynasty

Despite its initial military strength, the Later Tang dynasty eventually collapsed due to internal rebellions, administrative mismanagement, and external pressure from the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty. Li Cunxu, after founding the dynasty, increasingly focused on theatrical interests rather than governance, weakening central authority. His inability to restrain the power of regional military governors (jiedushi 节度使) led to widespread dissatisfaction.^[3]

Following Li Cunxu's assassination in 926, subsequent rulers, including Mingzong (Li Siyuan), faced challenges such as corruption and factional infighting. The dynasty’s final collapse came in 937 when Shi Jingtang, a rebellious jiedushi, allied with the Khitan to overthrow Li Congke. Shi established the Later Jin Dynasty and ceded the strategic Sixteen Prefectures to the Liao, marking the end of the Later Tang.^[4]

Religion

The Later Tang emperors, particularly Li Cunxu, were known for their patronage of Buddhism, continuing the Tang Dynasty's tradition. Buddhist monasteries remained influential, though the Later Tang did not have the same level of state-sponsored Buddhist projects as the earlier Tang.^[5]

Rubbing from pillar carved with the Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sutra - Later Tang Dynasty - 4th year Tongguang Reign (926)

Rulers

Temple names	Posthumous names	Family names and given name	Durations of reigns	Era names and their according durations
Zhuāngzōng (莊宗)	Emperor Guāngshèng Shénmǐn Xiào (光聖神閔孝皇帝) Too Tedious; thus, unused when referring to this sovereign	Lǐ Cúnxù (李存勗)	923–926	Tóngguāng (同光) 923–926
Míngzōng (明宗)	Hewu (和武)	Lǐ Sìyuán (李嗣源) or Lǐ Dǎn (李亶)	926–933	Tiānchéng (天成) 926–930 Chángxīng (長興) 930–933
none	Mǐn (閔)	Lǐ Cónghòu (李從厚)	933–934	Yìngshùn (應順) 933–934
none	Mòdì (末帝)	Lǐ Cóngkē (李從珂)	934–937	Qīngtaì (清泰) 934–937

Later Tang rulers family tree

Later Tang rulers
Adopted Marriage Li Keyong 李克用 856–908 Li Ni 李霓 Li Cunxu 李存勖 885–926 Zhuangzong 莊宗 923–926 Li Siyuan 李嗣源 867–933 Mingzong 明宗 926–933 Li Congke 李從珂 885–937 Modi 末帝 934–937 Li Congyi 李從益 931–947 Prince of Xu 許王 Li Congrong 李從榮d. 933 Prince of Qin 秦王 Li Conghou 李從厚 914–934 Mindi 愍帝 933–934 Empress Li d. 950 Shi Jingtang 石敬瑭 Gaozu of Later Jin 高祖 892–936–942 Li Chongmei 李重美 d. 937 Prince of Yong 雍王