Wang Yanzheng (died 951?), known as Tiande Emperor after his era name of Tiande, formally Prince Gongyi of Fu, also known during Min as the Prince of Fusha, was the last ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min. In 943, he, then in civil war with his brother Wang Yanxi (Emperor Jingzong), declared himself emperor of a new state of Yin at his base Jian Prefecture (建州, in modern Nanping, Fujian), but after Wang Yanxi was killed by the general Zhu Wenjin, who was himself assassinated thereafter, Wang Yanzheng reclaimed the title of Emperor of Min. His reign would last less than three years overall, though, as Min's northwestern neighbor Southern Tang bore down militarily on him and forced his surrender, ending Min. Background It is not known when Wang Yanzheng was born. His father was Min's first ruler, Wang Shenzhi (Prince Zhongyi), but his mother's identity is not recorded in history. Further, while his older brother Wang Yanxi (the third among his brothers to rule Min) was said to be Wang Shenzhi's 28th son, Wang Yanzheng's birth rank is also not recorded in history. (However, as Wang Yanzheng was not mentioned on the tombstone of Wang Shenzhi's wife Lady Ren Neiming, he was likely born after Lady Ren's death in 918.) The first reference to Wang Yanzheng in historical sources was in 931, when another older brother, Wang Yanjun, then ruling but carrying only the title of Prince of Min as a vassal of Later Tang, had defeated and executed their adoptive brother, Wang Yanbing, who had controlled the Jian Prefecture region and had tried to seize control of the Min state from Wang Yanjun. After Wang Yanbing's death, Wang Yanjun sent Wang Yanzheng to Jian to try to comfort the people, and he later commissioned Wang Yanzheng as the prefect of Jian, a post that Wang Yanzheng then appeared to remain at for the next several years. Service under and civil war with Wang Xi In 939, Wang Yanxi became Min's ruler (and changed his name to Wang Xi) after the prior emperor of Min, their nephew Wang Chang, had been overthrown and killed. It was said that after taking the throne (using, at that time, the title of king), Wang Xi became arrogant and cruel, taking grudges out on people, including his clan members. Wang Yanzheng wrote several letters to him urging him to change his behavior. Wang Xi did not listen, and wrote back angry letters to rebuke Wang Yanzheng.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Wang Yanzheng (died 951?), known as Tiande Emperor after his era name of Tiande, formally Prince Gongyi of Fu, also known during Min as the Prince of Fusha, was the last ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min. In 943, he, then in civil war with his brother Wang Yanxi (Emperor Jingzong), declared himself emperor of a new state of Yin at his base Jian Prefecture (建州, in modern Nanping, Fujian), but after Wang Yanxi was killed by the general Zhu Wenjin, who was himself assassinated thereafter, Wang Yanzheng reclaimed the title of Emperor of Min. His reign would last less than three years overall, though, as Min's northwestern neighbor Southern Tang bore down militarily on him and forced his surrender, ending Min.

Overview

Wang Yanzheng (died 951?), known as Tiande Emperor after his era name of Tiande, formally Prince Gongyi of Fu, also known during Min as the Prince of Fusha, was the last ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Min. In 943, he, then in civil war with his brother Wang Yanxi (Emperor Jingzong), declared himself emperor of a new state of Yin at his base Jian Prefecture (建州, in modern Nanping, Fujian), but after Wang Yanxi was killed by the general Zhu Wenjin, who was himself assassinated thereafter, Wang Yanzheng reclaimed the title of Emperor of Min. His reign would last less than three years overall, though, as Min's northwestern neighbor Southern Tang bore down militarily on him and forced his surrender, ending Min. Background It is not known when Wang Yanzheng was born. His father was Min's first ruler, Wang Shenzhi (Prince Zhongyi), but his mother's identity is not recorded in history. Further, while his older brother Wang Yanxi (the third among his brothers to rule Min) was said to be Wang Shenzhi's 28th son, Wang Yanzheng's birth rank is also not recorded in history. (However, as Wang Yanzheng was not mentioned on the tombstone of Wang Shenzhi's wife Lady Ren Neiming, he was likely born after Lady Ren's death in 918.) The first reference to Wang Yanzheng in historical sources was in 931, when another older brother, Wang Yanjun, then ruling but carrying only the title of Prince of Min as a vassal of Later Tang, had defeated and executed their adoptive brother, Wang Yanbing, who had controlled the Jian Prefecture region and had tried to seize control of the Min state from Wang Yanjun. After Wang Yanbing's death, Wang Yanjun sent Wang Yanzheng to Jian to try to comfort the people, and he later commissioned Wang Yanzheng as the prefect of Jian, a post that Wang Yanzheng then appeared to remain at for the next several years. Service under and civil war with Wang Xi In 939, Wang Yanxi became Min's ruler (and changed his name to Wang Xi) after the prior emperor of Min, their nephew Wang Chang, had been overthrown and killed. It was said that after taking the throne (using, at that time, the title of king), Wang Xi became arrogant and cruel, taking grudges out on people, including his clan members. Wang Yanzheng wrote several letters to him urging him to change his behavior. Wang Xi did not listen, and wrote back angry letters to rebuke Wang Yanzheng.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).