Royals › Monarch / Emperor
Meng Chang
Last ruler of the Later Shu, who reigned at Chengdu for some thirty years under the era name Guangzheng and surrendered to the Song in 965
Mural of the event “Conquest of Later Shu by Song”, which this person took part in.
After Northern Song founded itself at Kaifeng, it faced surrounding regional regimes lined up in defense. Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin formulated the south-first-then-north strategy and resolved to first clear the wealthy southern fragmentation.
Also known as Meng Renzan · Houshu Houzhu · Qin Wang · Chu Wang · Houshu Jiangwang
- Roles
- Monarch / Emperor
Meng Chang, first named Renzan and styled Baoyuan, was a son of the Later Shu founder Meng Zhixiang and was born at Taiyuan. He succeeded at sixteen in 934, kept the era name Mingde and changed it to Guangzheng in 938, then killed the overbearing general Li Renhan and ruled in person. When the Later Zhou retook Qin and Feng prefectures, he massed grain and troops at Jianmen and the Gorges, cast iron coins and monopolised iron goods, though favourites such as Wang Zhaoyuan knew nothing of war. In 964 the Song founder intercepted his secret letter proposing a joint attack with the Northern Han and sent Wang Quanbin against Shu, and early in 965 Meng surrendered. Taken to Kaifeng and made Duke of Qin, he died soon after and was posthumously named Prince of Chu, with the title Gongxiao. The History of Song records that he wrote a New Year couplet on peach-wood charms for his palace door.
Life and times
- 919 CEBorn
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
Song - 965Conquest of Later Shu by Song
Took partage 46A major military milestone in Song's campaign to reunify Southern regional regimes. - 965 CEDied
Works
Literature · Sayings3- Inscription on the Peach-wood CharmsFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsCouplet Meng Chang of Later Shu wrote on his door charms, said to be the first spring couplet
- Skin of Ice and Bones of JadeFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsIdiom from the Later Shu lyric Jade Pavilion Spring: a cool beauty on a summer night
- Wrung From the People's Fat and MarrowFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsIdiom from Meng Chang's admonition to officials: salaries paid from the people's sweat
- Literature · Lyrics1
- Yu Lou Chun (Skin of Ice and Bones of Jade)Five Dynasties and Ten KingdomsLyric of a summer night at Moheshi ascribed to Meng Chang of Later Shu, perhaps rebuilt later
- Literature · Prose1
- Admonition Issued to Magistrates (The Admonition Stone Inscription)Five Dynasties and Ten KingdomsMeng Chang's admonition to magistrates, four lines of which Song Taizong set in stone
Family tree
- Direct kin
Connections
- Shared events1
