kingdom · China, Tibet and Mongolia

Northern Han

951 CE – 979 CE · capital Taiyuan

The last of the Ten Kingdoms, a Liao-backed Shatuo state at Taiyuan that held out against the Song until 979.

Origins

When Guo Wei overthrew the Later Han in 951, Liu Chong, brother of its founder Liu Zhiyuan and governor of Hedong, proclaimed himself emperor at Taiyuan, refusing to recognise the Later Zhou and claiming to continue the Han dynasty.

Rule and society

Northern Han held only the poor, mountainous centre of Shanxi and depended on the Liao dynasty, whose emperor Liu Chong addressed as 'uncle' and paid tribute. Its army was strong in defence, but it could not afford long wars. With Khitan help it attacked Later Zhou in 954 and was beaten at Gaoping.

Decline and legacy

The Song Dynasty attacked Taiyuan in 968 and 969, even flooding the city, but Liao relief armies saved it. In 979 Emperor Taizong of Song defeated the Khitan relief force and besieged Taiyuan until Liu Jiyuan surrendered. The city was razed, completing the Song reunification of China proper.

Lineage

Later Han 947 CE – 951 CENorthern Han

Connections (2)

Northern Han was a vassal of Liao dynasty951 CE – 979 CE
Northern Han was conquered by Song Dynasty979 CE

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Cite this page

APA: The Epoch Institute. (2026). Northern Han. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-han
MLA: “Northern Han.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-han. Accessed .
Chicago: The Epoch Institute. “Northern Han.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-han.
Harvard: The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Northern Han’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/northern-han (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻