Person

Liu Zhiyuan

895–948 · 10th century · Also known as Emperor Gaozu of Later Han

Liu Zhiyuan was a Shatuo general who governed Taiyuan under the Later Jin. When the Khitan Liao army took Kaifeng in 947 and ended that dynasty, he proclaimed himself emperor, and as the Khitan withdrew he entered Kaifeng and founded the Later Han, the shortest of the Five Dynasties. He died early in 948 and was succeeded by his young son Liu Chengyou.

Liu Zhiyuan
Image: 王圻 王思義輯 · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 3 state histories

Later Jin (936-947)Later HanNorthern Han

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Liu Zhiyuan. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/liu-zhiyuan
MLA
“Liu Zhiyuan.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/liu-zhiyuan. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Liu Zhiyuan.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/liu-zhiyuan.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Liu Zhiyuan’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/liu-zhiyuan (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻