Meng Chang

Meng Chang
孟昶
"Last Ruler" of Later Shu (more...)
2nd and last emperor of Later Shu
ReignSeptember 10, 934[1][2] – February 23, 965[2][3]
PredecessorMeng Zhixiang (Emperor Gaozu), father
Born919
Taiyuan
DiedJuly 12, 965[2][3]
modern Kaifeng, Henan
SpouseConsort Xu (Madame Huarui)
Issue
  • Meng Xuanzhe (孟玄喆), son
  • Meng Xuanjue (孟玄珏), son
  • Meng Xuanbao (孟玄寶), son
  • Daughter (m. Yi Chongdu)
  • Daughter (m. Han Chongsui)
  • Daughter (m. Zhao Wenliang)
  • Daughter (m. Li Xiaolian)
  • Daughter (m. Wu Kegong)
  • Daughter (m. Zhao Chengxu)
Names
Surname: Mèng ()
Given name: Rénzàn (), later changed to Chǎng ()
Courtesy name: Bǎoyuán ()
Era dates
Míngdé () (inherited from Meng Zhixiang):
934 – 938
  • Year 1: 18 January 934 – 5 February 935
  • Year 2: 6 February 935 – 26 January 936
  • Year 3: 27 January 936 – 12 February 937
  • Year 4: 13 February 937 – 1 February 938

Guǎngzhèng ():

938 – 966
  • Year 1: 2 February 938 – 22 January 939
    Year 2: 23 January 939 – 10 February 940
    Year 3: 11 February 940 – 29 January 941
    Year 4: 30 January 941 – 19 January 942
    Year 5: 20 January 942 – 7 February 943
    Year 6: 8 February 943 – 27 January 944
    Year 7: 28 January 944 – 14 February 945
    Year 8: 15 February 945 – 4 February 946
    Year 9: 5 February 946 – 24 January 947
    Year 10: 25 January 947 – 12 February 948
    Year 11: 13 February 948 – 31 January 949
    Year 12: 1 February 949 – 20 January 950
    Year 13: 21 January 950 – 8 February 951
    Year 14: 9 February 951 – 29 January 952
    Year 15: 30 January 952 – 17 January 953
    Year 16: 18 January 953 – 5 February 954
    Year 17: 6 February 954 – 26 January 955
    Year 18: 27 January 955 – 14 February 956
    Year 19: 15 February 956 – 2 February 957
    Year 20: 3 February 957 – 22 January 958
    Year 21: 23 January 958 – 10 February 959
    Year 22: 11 February 959 – 30 January 960
    Year 23: 31 January 960 – 19 January 961
    Year 24: 20 January 961 – 7 February 962
    Year 25: 8 February 962 – 27 January 963
    Year 26: 28 January 963 – 15 February 964
    Year 27: 16 February 964 – 4 February 965
    Year 28: 5 February 965 – 24 January 966
Regnal name
Emperor Ruìwén Yīngwǔ Rénshèng Míngxiào (皇帝)
Posthumous name
Prince Gongxiao of Chu (楚恭孝王)
HouseMeng
DynastyLater Shu
FatherMeng Zhixiang
MotherEmpress Dowager Li

Meng Chang (孟昶) (919–965), originally Meng Renzan (孟仁贊), courtesy name Baoyuan (保元), posthumously honored as Prince Gongxiao of Chu (楚恭孝王) by the Emperor Taizu of Song, was the second and last emperor of the Later Shu dynasty of China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He ruled from 934 until 965, when his state was conquered by the Northern Song dynasty. He died soon afterwards.

Meng ruled largely peacefully for three decades. The Later Shu became one of the centers for the arts and literature, where it flourished with support from the court. An anthology of lyric poetry known as the Amidst the Flowers Anthology was compiled in 940. It was also among the most stable of the southern states, but it also stagnated militarily and politically. When the Northern Song usurped the Later Zhou dynasty, the last of the Five Dynasties, in 960, the Emperor Taizu of Song made it his mission to reunify China proper. Northern Song forces forced Meng Chang to surrender in 965.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference ZZTJ279 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Academia Sinica Chinese-Western Calendar Converter.
  3. ^ a b Xu Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 4.