---
node: five_dynasties_ten_kingdoms
type: period
slug: five_dynasties_and_ten_kingdoms
title: "Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms"
lead: "The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–960) was the era of fragmentation between the Tang and the Song. Five short-lived dynasties succeeded one another in the north while the south was divided among regional kingdoms."
published: 2026-07-09
updated: 2026-07-09
image_file: five_dynasties_and_ten_kingdoms.jpg
image_source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Five_Dynasties_Ten_Kingdoms_923_CE.png"
image_author: "Ian Kiu"
image_license: "CC BY 3.0"
---

## Overview

In north China, five short-lived dynasties followed one another: the Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou. The south and Shanxi were divided among about ten regional kingdoms.

## Key developments

Despite the political fragmentation, southern economies developed and printing spread.

## End and transition

In 960 Zhao Kuangyin, a Later Zhou general, founded the Song dynasty. The last holdout kingdom, the Northern Han, fell in 979.