The Southern and Northern Dynasties (南北朝, Nán-Běi Cháo, 420–589) followed the fall of the Jin Dynasty. A period of civil war and division marked also by artistic and cultural developments, including the maturation of Chinese Buddhism and the proliferation of pagodas. Due to the constant warring in northern China, southern China was heavily colonized by the Han Chinese and developed.
In the North, states which were historically important due to their links with the Sui-Tang dynasties were the Northern Wei (which unified the northern kingdoms), Western Wei (which split from Northern Wei; the western and eastern partitions of the former Northern Wei fought each other as rivals) and Northern Zhou (successor of Western Wei, which assimilated Eastern Wei's successor, Northern Qi). Meanwhile, the South kept deteriorating from the military coups that started new, short-lived dynasties and eventually got conquered by the Sui.
Due to the various kingdoms, a total of 7 "books" covered the most important 7 kingdoms of this period.
- "Book of Song" (宋書/宋书, Sòngshū) covered the history of the Liu-Song dynasty. Note that the text dealing with the later Zhao-Song dynasty was named "History of Song" (宋史, Sòngshǐ).
- "Book of Southern Qi" (南齊書/南齐书, Nánqíshū) covered the history of the Southern Qi.
- "Book of Liang" (梁書/梁书, Liángshū) covered the history of (Southern) Liang.
- "Book of Chen"(陳書/陈书, Chénshū) covered the history of the (Southern) Chen.
- "Book of Wei" (魏書/魏书, Wèishū) covered the histories of Northern and Eastern Wei.
- "Book of Northern Qi" (北齊書/北齐书, Běiqíshū) covered the history of the Northern Qi.
- "Book of Zhou" (周書/"周书", Zhōushū) covered the histories of Western Wei and Northern Zhou.
Liu Song
The first of the Southern dynasties, who ruled the south of China. Was founded by Liu Yu (not his grandson Liu Yu or great grandson Liu Yu; it’s less confusing in Chinese where their names have different characters) after he deposed Sima Dewen, Emperor Gong of Jin. Was famous for have Royally Screwed Up rulers.- Liu Yu, Emperor Wu of Liu Song (劉)宋武帝劉裕 / (刘)宋武帝刘裕 (363 - 422): The first emperor of Liu Song. He was nearly abandoned at birth, but became regent for the very developmentally disabled note Emperor An, before becoming regent for Sima Dewen. He is also well known for being The Kingslayer; he murdered several emperors (Sima Dezong, Sima Dewen, Yao Hong and Murong Chao; in the case of the latter two he also massacred the entire Yao and Murong clans), and he took over both Later Qin and Southern Yan.
- Liu Yifu, Emperor Shao of Liu Song (劉)宋少帝劉義符 / (刘)宋少帝刘义符 (406 - 424): His father had a low opinion of him, due to his hedonism. When he became emperor, he did not follow proper mourning procedures for his father (which was Serious Business in 5th century China), and he was deposed and killed by his ministers along with another brother, Liu Yizhen.
- Liu Yilong, Emperor Wen of Liu Song (劉)宋文帝劉義隆 / (刘)宋文帝刘义隆 (407 - 453): Became emperor aged 17. He turned out to be a good emperor, but he made several military mistakes. He was killed in a plot headed by his sons Liu Shao and Liu Jun, and his daughter Liu Ying’e.
- Liu Shao 劉劭 / 刘劭 (423/5 - 453)note : Killed his father to become emperornote His brother Liu Jun (different character to his ally) raised a rebellion, and he executed many of his cousins. He was caught and beheaded with his sons. His concubines and daughters were forced to commit suicide. He was given the title Yuanxiong (元凶) ‘prime murderer’-referring to the murder of his father, after his death.
- Liu Jun, Emperor Xiaowu of Liu Song 宋孝武帝劉駿 / 宋孝武帝刘骏 (430 - 464): He took the throne by killing his two older brothers. Then he killed many of his other brothers, and was rumoured to be sleeping with his own mother. His favourite consort was his cousin Consort Yin, whose father he had murdered.
- Liu Ziye, Emperor Qianfei of Liu Song (劉)宋前廢帝劉子業 / (刘)宋前废帝刘子业 (449 - 466): An infamous tyrant in Chinese history. He had an awful childhood as a hostage of his uncle Liu Shao. When he became emperor, he executed his great uncle, gouged his eyes out, and kept them on display. He had an incestuous affair with his aunt and was rumoured to be sleeping with his sister. Then he held orgies where his male attendants raped the princesses. One of his aunts by marriage refused and she was whipped and her sons executed. He was eventually assassinated.
- Liu Yu, Emperor Ming of Liu Song (劉)宋明帝劉彧 / (刘)宋明帝刘彧 (439 - 472): He became emperor when Liu Ziye was assassinated. He started his reign by killing one of his nephews who could challenge his claim to the throne and his niece for allegedly being immoral. note Then he murdered all the still living sons of Liu Jun, who were all 10 or under. He also killed the brothers that Liu Jun hadn’t killed yet. He was also well known for his lust, once ordering his ladies strip for guests, making his ‘immorality’ charges on Liu Chuyu seem rather hypocritical.
- Liu Yu, Emperor Houfei of Liu Song (劉)宋後廢帝劉昱 / (刘)宋后废帝刘昱 (463 - 477): Another infamous tyrant. He started out as just an unruly kid, but by age 13 was a full-on tyrant. He loved to cut people open, and went on murderous rampages where he murdered every man, woman and child he could find. He was killed by a general he had threatened to kill.
- Liu Zhun, Emperor Shun of Liu Song (劉)宋順帝劉準 / (刘)宋顺帝刘准 (467 - 479): Was a puppet of his general Xiao Daocheng. When he was only 12 he was forced to abdicate to him. He was murdered only a month after, and Xiao used this as an excuse to kill the rest of the Lius.
Southern Qi
Was just called ‘Qi’ in its time, and is now called the Southern Qi to distinguish it from the later Northern Qi. Is the shortest lived of the Northern and Southern dynasties. It was also plagued by family infighting.- Xiao Daocheng, Emperor Gao of Southern Qi (南)齊高帝蕭道成 / (南)齐高帝萧道成 (427 - 482): He began a general in Liu Song. In 479 he forced Liu Zhun to abdicate to him and proclaimed Southern Qi. He died three years later, and told his descendants not to fight each other.
- Xiao Ze, Emperor Wu of Southern Qi 南齊武帝 / 南齐武帝 (440 - 493): Yes, Xiao Daocheng was really 13 years old when he fathered Xiao Ze. He is seen as a good but frivolous emperor. His crown prince died months before Xiao Ze, so the throne went to his grandson.
- Xiao Zhaoye 蕭昭業 / 萧昭业 (473 - 494): Is well known as a frivolous emperor. He spent all his time at parties and lavish feasts. Not helping matters was that his wife He Jingying had an open affair with a minister which Zhaoye didn’t care about, and was possibly involved with that minister as well. He was killed by his adopted uncle Xiao Luan.
- Xiao Zhaowen 蕭昭文 / 萧昭文 (480 - 494): When he became emperor, Xiao Luan didn’t even pretend to give him any power. He even needed Xiao Luan’s permission to eat. He was deposed and murdered. At this point, Xiao Luan purged all the sons over the age of around 17 or 18 of Emperor Gao and Wu.
- Xiao Luan, Emperor Ming of Southern Qi (南)齊明帝蕭鸞 / (南)齐明帝萧鸾 (452 - 498): He was a very frugal emperor, but is more well known for purging his family. Apart from the purge in Xiao Zhaowen’s reign, he had two other purges in 495 and 498, in the latter most of the relatives he murdered being children. He died months after his final purge.
- Xiao Baojuan 蕭寶卷 / 萧宝卷 (483 - 501): Another well-known tyrant, he was obsessed with making sure people didn’t see his face. Anyone who saw his face was executed. He spent all his time with his concubine Pan Yu'er/Yunu. He and Consort Pan were both killed by his relative Xiao Yan.
- Xiao Baorong, Emperor He of Southern Qi (南)齊和帝蕭寶融 / (南)齐和帝萧宝融 (488-502): He had very little power. Eventually he and his brothers were executed by Xiao Yan, who declared the Liang dynasty.
Liang
Founded by Xiao Yan. The dynasty was shaken by the ‘Hou Jing rebellion’ in 549, which led to many of Xiao Yan’s descendants being massacred. Afterwards, the emperor Xiao Fangzhi was controlled by his general Chen Baxian, who declared the Chen dynasty in 557.- Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of Liang 梁武帝蕭衍 / 梁武帝萧衍 (464 - 549): He usurped the throne in 502 and declared the Southern Qi. Was at first a competent emperor, however he was also a devout Buddhist. His later years were marked by corruption. His downfall came when he agreed to house Hou Jing after his unsuccessful rebellion in Eastern Wei. Hou Jing rebelled against Liang and succeeded for now. He was starved to death at the age of 85. note
- Xiao Gang, Emperor Jianwen of Liang 梁簡文帝蕭綱 / 梁简文帝萧纲 (503 - 551): Before becoming emperor he was an avid poet. He became crown prince after the death of his brother Xiao Tong. During his time as an emperor, he was Hou Jing’s puppet. He was forced to abdicate and murdered a few months after most of his sons.
- Xiao Yi, Emperor Yuan of Liang 梁元帝蕭繹 / 梁元帝萧绎 (508 - 555): Most famous for burning a library. He spent his reign fighting the Western Wei. He failed and was executed along with most of his sons. Also famous for his Awful Wedded Life with his first wife Xu Zhaopei.
- Xiao Fangzhi, Emperor Jing of Liang 梁敬帝蕭方智 / 梁敬帝萧方智 (543 - 558): Xiao Yi’s only surviving son. He was declared an emperor by Chen Baxian and was his puppet. He was forced to abdicate in 557 and murdered a year later at the age of 15.
Chen Dynasty
Founded by Chen Baxian after the fall of Liang, however the Liang would have several other claimants supported by Northern Zhou and Northern Qi. The last ruler, Chen Shubao, was exceedingly decadent and was conquered by Sui. His favourite concubine Zhang Lihua was blamed for the demise of Chen.- Chen Baxian, Emperor Wu of Chen 陳武帝陳霸先 / 陈武帝陈霸先 (503 - 559): Usurped and killed Xiao Fangzhi. Because his only living son Chen Chang was held hostage by the Northern Zhou (which seemed to be something people liked doing in 550’s era China) the throne went to his nephew Chen Qian, who had Chen Chang assassinatednote .
- Chen Qian, Emperor Wen of Chen 陳文帝陳蒨 / 陈文帝陈蒨 (522 - 566): Chen Qian was a good ruler, and defeated Liang claimants to the throne, and was also bisexual with Han Zigao. Chen Qian was 33 and Han Zigao was 16 when they started their relationship. He increased Chen’s national strength during his reign.
- Chen Bozong, Emperor Fei of Chen 陳廢帝陳伯宗 / 陈废帝陈伯宗 (552/4note - 570: The son of Chen Qian. He was usurped by Chen Xu, who also killed Han Zigao who had plotted against him. Chen Xu also killed his brother Chen Bomao. He died seemingly naturally when he was only 16-18.
- Chen Xu, Emperor Xuan of Chen 陳宣帝陳頊 / 陈宣帝陈顼 (530 - 582): He usurped his nephew Chen Bozong. Was married to the granddaughter of Emperor Wu of Liang. He was a capable ruler who militarily expanded at the cost of Northern Qi, which was ruled by the incompetent Gao Wei, but he lost his gains after Northern Qi fell.
- Chen Shubao 陳叔寶 / 陈叔宝 (553 - 604): From when he was a baby to when he was eight or nine, he was a hostage of the Northern Zhou. When his father died, his brother Chen Shuling tried to kill him, but failed and was executed. He was very incompetent, and spent all his time with his favourite concubines, most notably Zhang Lihua. Chen was conquered by Sui in 589 and Zhang Lihua was executed. Chen Shubao, unlike most emperors of former dynasties, was allowed to live and died naturally in 604.
Northern Wei
Unified the north from the chaos of the Sixteen Kingdoms. However, revolts by tribal leaders led to the division of Wei into the Western and Eastern Wei, controlled by Yuwen Tai and Gao Huan respectively.- Tuoba Gui, Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei (北)魏道武帝拓拔珪 (371note - 409): He started the conquests of Wei and is considered its first emperor. He greatly expanded Northern Wei territory, but became cruel and paranoid due to taking mercury pills. He was murdered by his son Tuoba Shao.
- Tuoba Mumo/Si, Emperor Mingyuan of Northern Wei (北)魏明元帝拓拔嗣(392 - 423): He defeated Tuoba Shao, his younger brother, and became Emperor. He is generally considered to be a wise and capable emperor, however usually is overshadowed by his more military-minded father and son. He died relatively young of mercury poisoning intended to make him immortal (a curse which like the Eastern Han, would plague the Northern Wei with child and teenage emperors) at only 31.
- Tuoba Buri/Tao, Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei (北)魏太武帝拓拔燾 / (北)魏太武帝拓拔焘 (408 - 452): He unified the north, one of his most famous campaigns becoming the setting for The Ballad of Mulan. He was similar in character to his grandfather Tuoba Gui, and like Tuoba Gui became cruel and arbitrary towards the end of his reign. He started a campaign to eradicate Buddhism within his empire, even going as far to attempt to kill all Buddhist monks within it. He was murdered by his eunuch Zong Ai.
- Tuoba Wulei/Jun, Emperor Wencheng of Northern Wei (北)魏文成帝拓拔濬 / (北)魏文成帝拓拔浚 (440 - 465): Tuoba Tao’s grandson. His father Tuoba Huang was twelve when he fathered Tuoba Jun. He became emperor at the age of twelve after his grandfather died and his uncle Tuoba Yu was defeated. He is seen as an emperor who let his people rest after the conquests of Tuoba Tao.
- Tuoba Didouyin/Hong, Emperor Xianwen of Northern Wei (北)魏献文帝拓拔弘 (454 - 476): Like his father, Tuoba Jun fathered a child in his early teens. He became emperor at the age of eleven. When he was seventeen he retired and abdicated to his son Tuoba Hong (different character). He was possibly killed by his stepmother Empress Dowager Feng.
- Tuoba/Yuan Hong, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei (北)魏孝文帝元宏 né 拓拔宏 (467 – 499): Of the nomadic Xianbei origin, he adopted Han culture, changed his own family name to Yuan*and commanded his people to do the same, resulting in Chinese surnames that are still in use to this day. He also had problems with his son Yuan Xun, culminating in him forcing his son to commit suicide.
- Yuan Ke, Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei 北魏宣武帝元恪 (483 - 515): Yuan Hong’s second son. During his reign, Northern Wei was outwardly at its prime, but was plagued by corruption by Yuan Ke’s maternal relatives. He died when his son Emperor Xiaoming was only five years old.
- Yuan Xu, Emperor Xiaoming of Northern Wei (北)魏孝明皇帝元詡 / (北)魏孝明皇帝元诩 (510 - 528): He was controlled by his mother in the early part of his reign. When he was 10, Yuan Cha note took power from his mother. When he was 15, his mother Empress Dowager Hu retook power. She poisoned him in 528 and made his baby daughter ‘emperor’ for a matter of hours before putting another young child in power.
- Yuan Ziyou, Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei (北)魏孝庄帝元子攸 (507 - 531): Was declared emperor by the general Erzhu Rong. He was married to Erzhu Rong’s daughter, making him Erzhu Rong’s son-in-law. Yuan Ziyou killed Erzhu Rong, however he was also murdered by Erzhu’s relatives Erzhu Zhao and Erzhu Shilong aged 24.
- Yuan Gong, Emperor Jiemin of Northern Wei (北)魏節閔帝元恭 / (北)魏节闵帝元恭 (498 - 532): Another puppet of the Erzhus, who were defeated by Gao Huan, who put Emperor Xiaowu on the throne. Emperor Jiemin was murdered soon after.
- Yuan Xiu, Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei (北)魏孝武帝元脩 (510 - 535): Gao Huan’s puppet. Despite marrying Gao Huan’s daughter, he tried to get himself out of Gao Huan’s control. He allied himself with Yuwen Tai against him. This split up Wei.
Western Wei
- Yuan Baoju, Emperor Wen of Western Wei (507 - 551): A puppet of Yuwen Tai. He is most famous for his marital life. His first wife Empress Yifu was well loved by him, but he was forced to depose her after he had an Arranged Marriage to a princess of Rouran. When Rouran invaded, he was forced to have his wife commit suicide. He died in 551.
- Yuan Qin, Emperor Fei of Western Wei (??? - 554): Another puppet of Yuwen Tai. He tried to have Yuwen Tai killed, but Yuwen Tai struck first and had him executed. Today he’s best known for only having one wifenote and no concubines.
- Yuan Kuo, Emperor Gong of Western Wei (537 - 557): First Yuwen Tai’s puppet, then Yuwen Hu’s puppet. He was forced to abdicate to Yuwen Tai’s 15 year old son Yuwen Jue in 557, and wass murdered soon after.
Eastern Wei
- Yuan Shanjian, Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei (524 - 552): Gao Huan’s puppet, who married his second daughter. He was forced to abdicate to Gao Yang in 550, and murdered with his three sons two years later. Gao Yang later massacred the rest of the Yuans.
Northern Qi
Founded by Gao Yang. The dynasty is best known for having Royally Screwed Up rulers.- Gao Yang, Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (526/9 - 559): He was initially a competent ruler, but he soon turned into a homicidal alcoholic lunatic. He had a favourite consort who had an affair. He beheaded her and played with her bones at a banquet. He was so crazy that criminals had to be brought out for him to kill when he was drunk. He died of alcohol poisoning at the age of 30note .
- Gao Yin, Emperor Fei of Northern Qi (545 - 561): He had a panic disorder from his father beating him as a child. He became emperor at age 14, and was deposed by his uncle Gao Yan a year later. Gao Yan heard a prophecy that he would be emperor, so had him strangled to death.
- Gao Yan, Emperor Xiaozhao of Northern Qi (535 - 561): Seen as the only normal adult emperor of Northern Qinote , he got the throne by deposing his nephew. He was seen as a competent emperor, and was diligent and worked very hard, but died in a fall from his horse aged 26. He begged his brother Gao Zhan to spare his son.
- Gao Zhan, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi (537 - 569): He started his reign by raping his sister-in-law Li Zu’e and getting her pregnant. When she killed the baby he killed her son and sent her to a nunnery. Two years later he murdered his eight year old nephew by beating him to near death then beheading him. Then he retired and passed the throne to his son Gao Wei, and spent his time on alcohol and feasts.
- Gao Wei (556 - 577): Became emperor aged only nine. He killed his best generals, Gao Changgong (see below) and Hulu Guang. He also killed his more competent brother Gao Yan. He listened to his wet nurse Lu Lingxuan and her corrupt son Mu Tipo. Like his father, he abdicated aged 21 to his son Gao Heng.
- Gao Heng (570 - 577): He became the emperor aged only seven, but 25 days later Northern Qi was conquered by Northern Zhou. He was eventually murdered along with most of his relatives as a child.
- Gao Chang Gong, Prince of Lan Ling (circa 541 - 573): A prince and high-ranking general of the Northern Qi dynasty. Famous for being both one of the best generals in Chinese history and one of the most beautiful men in China during his lifetime, which has the effect of making him the era's Spotlight-Stealing Squad in modern times.
Northern Zhou
Founded by Yuwen Jue. The early emperors were puppets of Yuwen Hu, before Yuwen Yong killed Yuwen Hu. The last emperor Yuwen Chan was Yang Jian’s puppet before he usurped the throne.- Yuwen Jue, Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou (542 - 557): Became emperor aged 15 thanks to Yuwen Hu. He wanted power for himself, and so he tried to murder Yuwen Hu. He was found out, deposed and murdered.
- Yuwen Yu, Emperor Ming of Northern Zhou (536 - 560): Another puppet of Yuwen Hu. Most famous for marrying Dugu Banruo, the sister of the Sui Empress Dugu Qieluo.
- Yuwen Yong, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou (543 - 578): Spent the early part of his reign as Yuwen Hu’s puppet. However he finally killed Yuwen Hu and ruled by himself. He unified the north again for the first time in 40 years when he conquered Northern Qi, but died a year later.
- Yuwen Yun, Emperor Xuan of Northern Zhou (558 - 580): He was a very strange hedonist under the control of Yang Jian. He created three extra empresses in addition to Yang Lihua, Yang Jian’s daughter. Then he saw Yuchi Chifan, forced her to get drunk and raped her when she was drunk. Then he killed her husband and created her empress. He abdicated in 579 to Yuwen Chan.
- Yuwen Chan, Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou (573 - 581): At the age of six he became emperor and was Yang Jian’s puppet. He was forced to abdicate in 581 and murdered with many of his relatives.
Depictions of any of these in fiction:
- Fate/Grand Order - Prince of Lanling/Gao Chang Gong is a summonable Saber-class Servant.
- Honor of Kings - Prince of Lanling/Gao Chang Gong is a ninja-like playable Assassin hero.
- The Legend of Dugu (overlapping with the Sui Dynasty on the next page)
- Mulan: Rise of a Warrior
- Nirvana in Fire
- Prince of Lan Ling is a fictionalised account of Gao Chang Gong's life.
- The Prince of Lan Ling – The General Who Was Too Beautiful (蘭陵王（らんりょうおう）—美しすぎる武将—), a 2018 Takarazuka Revue musical about Gao Chang Gong.
- The Princess Wei Young
- The Song of Glory
