Government Monarchy 552–555 Emperor Yuan of Liang | 502–549 Emperor Wu of Liang 555–557 Emperor Jing of Liang | |
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Capital Jiankang (502–552, 555–557)
Jiangling (553–587) 549–551 Emperor Jianwen of Liang | ||
The Liang dynasty (Chinese: 梁朝; pinyin: Liáng cháo) (502–587), also known as the Southern Liang dynasty (南梁), was the third of the Southern Dynasties during China's Southern and Northern Dynasties period. Located in central China, north of Lake Dongting, the Liang dynasty was followed by the Chen dynasty. The Western Liang dynasty (西梁), with its capital established at Jiangling in 555 by Emperor Xuan, a grandson of Liang's founder Emperor Wu, claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Liang dynasty; it was subservient to the successive Western Wei Dynasty, Northern Zhou dynasty, and Sui dynasty, and was abolished by Emperor Wen of Sui in 587.
Contents
Rule
During the Liang dynasty, in 547 a Persian embassy paid tribute to the Liang, amber was recorded as originating from Persia by the Book of Liang.
The ending date for Liang dynasty itself is a matter of controversy among historians. Many historians consider the end of Emperor Jing's reign in 556, when he was forced to yield the throne to Chen Baxian, who established Chen dynasty, to be Liang's end date. Others regard the abolition of Western Liang in 587 to be the true end of Liang.
A Liang scion named Xiao Xian attempted to revive the Liang dynasty during the collapse of the Sui dynasty. He was defeated and executed by Emperor Gaozu of Tang.
Artistic heritage
Tombs of a number of members of the ruling Xiao family, with their sculptural ensembles, in various states of preservation, are located near Nanjing. The best surviving example of the Liang dynasty's monumental statuary is perhaps the ensemble of the Tomb of Xiao Xiu (475–518), a brother of Emperor Wu, located in Qixia District east of Nanjing.