Five Dynasties & Ten Kingdoms · 907 – 979

Empress Li (Later Han)

Artist: Xiang Li
Medium: watercolor on silk
Dimension: 36×79 in

Empress Li (died 954) was the wife of Liu Zhiyuan, founder of the Later Han dynasty during China’s Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. She became empress when Liu Zhiyuan ascended the throne in 947. After his death in 948, their son, Liu Chengyou, succeeded him, and Empress Li assumed the title of Empress Dowager. She served as regent during the interregnum of 951, following her son’s death, until the installation of his successor. Empress Dowager Li passed away in 954.

Her Spouse: Emperor Gaozu of Later Han

Liu Zhiyuan (895–948 CE), later known as Emperor Gaozu of Later Han, was a Shatuo military governor who seized the opportunity presented by the collapse of the Later Jin and the death of the Khitan Liao emperor to declare himself emperor in 947 CE, founding the Later Han dynasty—the fourth of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He commanded territories previously under Later Jin, repelled Khitan incursions, and elevated his realm’s legitimacy by invoking descent from the Han dynasty founder Liu Bang. Though his reign lasted only about a year due to his death in 948 CE, his foundation of the Later Han briefly restored a degree of stability before the dynasty’s eventual fall.