Southern Tang

The Southern Tang was one of the Ten Kingdoms that ruled in southern China between 907 and 960 CE. This period, known as the Ten Kingdoms, was characterized by political instability and confusion, mirroring the Five Dynasties period in the north. Despite the unrest, the economic and cultural levels of society were not significantly disrupted.1

The Southern Tang kingdom itself existed from 937 to 975/976 CE. While some of these kingdoms were relatively stable, none were powerful enough to unify the south. The cultural legacy of the preceding Tang dynasty flourished in these southern regions, with advancements in poetry and pottery, and one king of the Southern Tang was a noted poet. Economically, the period saw intensive farming, technological progress in iron production, and stimulated trade. The Song dynasty eventually absorbed these southern kingdoms back into a unified China.1