Chai Rong
RulersThe nephew of Queen Chai of Guo Wei, he was adopted as an adopted son and guarded Chanzhou and Kaifeng. He ascended the throne in 954 and was the most accomplished monarch of the Five Dynasties.
Dynasties of ChinaFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsLater week
TaizuGuo Wei
Guangshun · Xiande · Reign 951—954
He replaced the Han Dynasty with a mutiny and established the Zhou Dynasty. During his three years in office, he rectified the administration of officials and reduced taxes and services, laying the foundation for the resurgence of the later Zhou Dynasty.
IBiography
- Reign
- 3 years
- Reign era
- Guangshun · Xiande
- Order of accession
- Ruler #1 · Later week
- Life dates
- 904—954
- Titles
- Temple name: Taizu · Posthumous title: Emperor Shengshengongsuwenwuxiao · Buried at Songling Mausoleum
Guo Wei was a native of Yaoshan, Xingzhou. He came from a humble background and joined the army at a young age. He was appreciated by Liu Zhiyuan for his bravery, and he followed him to establish the Later Han Dynasty, and was promoted to the rank of Privy Councilor. In 950, Emperor Yin killed the auxiliary ministers and secretly ordered the killing of Guo Wei and his family. Guo Wei raised troops in Yedu and entered Kaifeng. In the first month of the following year, he was supported by the soldiers in Chanzhou, splitting the yellow flag and proclaiming himself emperor.
After proclaiming himself emperor, he targeted the bad governance left over from the Later Han Dynasty and abolished the tyranny: he abolished cattle rent and cattle hide tax, cut redundant officials, banned the donation of luxury goods from various places, severely punished corrupt officials, reduced taxes and servitude, and implemented military and agricultural reforms. He also reused civil servants such as Wang Pu, Fan Zhi, and Wei Renpu to rectify the imperial army. He died of illness in the first month of 954. He passed the throne to his adopted son Chai Rong and ordered that the funeral be kept simple. He only reigned for three years, but he laid the foundation for the prosperity of the later Zhou Dynasty.
IITimeline
Before accession
MilitaryYedu raised troops
In November, Emperor Yin killed the auxiliary minister and secretly ordered the killing of Guo Wei and his family. Guo Wei summoned the generals to raise troops in Yedu, and went south in the name of Qingjun side, and invaded Kaifeng, and the Later Han Dynasty fell.
During the reign · 951—954
PoliticsChanzhou supports the establishment
In the first month of the first month, Guo Wei led his army north to resist the Khitan. When he arrived at Chanzhou, the soldiers split a yellow flag and draped it on him, proclaiming him emperor. He returned to Kaifeng and proclaimed himself emperor. The name of his country was Zhou, and it was changed to Yuan Guangshun. The later Chenqiao Mutiny followed this story.
EconomyWaste cattle rent
During the Later Jin and Later Han Dynasties, the government took possession of private cattle, and the people had to pay rent to the government. However, many of the cattle died, and the rent was still not reduced. Guo Wei ordered official cattle to be distributed to cultivators, abolished cattle rent, and abolished cattle hide tax, so that farmers could rest and recuperate.
MilitaryThe Northern Han Dynasty and the Khitan invaded the south
In 951, Liu Chong proclaimed himself emperor in Taiyuan, established the Northern Han Dynasty, attached himself to the Khitan, and invaded the south from time to time. Guo Wei kept strict defenses in the north, while focusing on repairing the southern countries, he concentrated on reorganizing their internal affairs.
SocietyPay homage to Confucius
In 952, after the state Wei put down the rebellion of Murong Yanchao in Yanzhou, he went to Qufu and personally paid a visit to the Confucius Temple. He ordered the temple to be repaired and praised the descendants of the Confucius family to show his respect for Confucianism and Taoism.
Lasting legacyQufu Confucius Temple, Confucius Forest and Confucius Mansion were listed as World Cultural Heritage in 1994 as "Confucius Temple, Confucius Forest and Confucius Mansion".
EconomyGrant camp fields to the people
In 953, the government ordered the abolition of government-owned farmland services, and gave the government-owned farmland together with cattle and farm tools to tenants as permanent property. The refugees were also recruited and land reclamation was encouraged. The taxes and servitudes tended to be equalized, laying the foundation for Chai Rong's future reforms.
PeoplePassed away entrusting the heir
In the first month of the year 954, Guo Wei fell seriously ill and ordered Chai Rong to ascend the throne. He ordered that the funeral be frugal and that a paper-clothed coffin be used. There should be no stone figures or animals in front of the mausoleum, and no palace staff should be required to guard the mausoleum.
IIIPeople of this reign
Fan Zhi
PoliticsThe chief minister in the Guo Wei and Chai Rong dynasties was diligent and honest. He participated in the revision of the code "Xian De Xing Tong" and remained the chief minister after entering the Song Dynasty.
Wang Jun
PoliticsA close minister of Guo Wei, he participated in the plan to establish the Zhou Dynasty. Later, he conflicted with the chief minister because of his power and was demoted to death in another place.