The Southern Han (917โ971) was a prominent maritime state during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, ruling over the modern-day Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. It was founded by Liu Yan, who capitalized on the foundation laid by his brother Liu Yin, a former Tang Jiedushi.
With its capital at Guangzhou (Panyu), Liu Yan declared himself emperor, initially naming the state 'Great Yue' before changing it to 'Great Han' to claim legitimate descent from the ancient Han Dynasty. Geographically positioned along the southern coast, Southern Han flourished as a global hub for maritime trade.
Guangzhou was a bustling international port frequented by Arab and Southeast Asian merchants, dealing in luxury goods such as ivory, rhino horns, and peacock feathers. The state also controlled a lucrative pearl-diving industry, known as the 'Glistening Pools,' which generated immense wealth.
This prosperity allowed the emperors to construct lavish palaces adorned with gold and pearls, though it also led to a culture of extreme extravagance. The governance of Southern Han was uniquely characterized by its heavy reliance on eunuchs.
Mistrusting traditional scholars, the emperors mandated that many officials be castrated to ensure their loyalty; at its peak, the administration reportedly employed over 20,000 eunuchs. While economically successful, the state was also notorious for the cruelty of its rulers and the implementation of horrific punishments.
Internal decay eventually weakened the state, leading to its conquest by the rising Song Dynasty in 971. A popular legend tells of the last emperor, Liu Chang, who prepared a fleet filled with treasures to escape, only to have his trusted eunuchs steal the jewels and leave him behind to face the Song army.