The mountainous region of modern Fujian province had always been an area that was quite independent from the central government. The brothers Wang Chao 王潮, Wang Shenzhi 王審知, and Wang Shengui 王審邽 followed Wang Xu 王緒 who tried to become independent from the Tang 唐 empire. The Wang brothers captured Wang Xu and continued the struggle of independency. Wang Chao was installed as military commissioner (jiedushi 節度使) of Weiwu 威武 in 894. In 904, Wang Shenzhi was enfeoffed with the title of king of Langye 琅琊, in 909 as king of Min 閩. Because his empire was so remote and economically and culturally backward, Wang Shenzhi tried everything to attract scholars that should help to construct an efficient bureaucracy, tax system and economical directives. In fact, the intensive maritime trade of the Min kingdom prepared the blooming sea trade of the Song Dynasty 宋. In 933 Wang Yanjun 王延鈞 killed his brother Wang Yanhan 王延翰and proclaimed himself emperor of Min. From now on, the rulers were controlled by ministers and mighty generals. For a short time, in 943-945, Wang Yanzheng 王延政 (the ruler Wang Yanxi's 王延曦 brother) proclaimed himself emperor of the independent realm of Yin 殷, with the reign motto Tiande 天德 (Capital: Jianzhou 建州/modern Nanping 南平). Only one year later, the Min empire was destroyed by Southern Tang (Nantang 南唐). Chen Hong 陳洪, military commissioner (jiedushi 節度使) of the Pinghai military prefecture 平海軍 reigned independent in realm called Qingyuan 清源 (Capital: Quanzhou 泉州). The area of Min was only conquered by Song in 978. See also titles of rulers (dynastic titles are not listed here). Rulers of Min 閩 (909-945) Capital: Fuzhou 福州/modern Fujian temple name -----reign periods personal name Min Taizu 閩太祖 (Zhongyiwang 閩忠懿王, Zhaowuwang 閩昭武王) 909-925 Wang Shenzhi 王審知 Min Sizong 閩嗣宗 925-926 Wang Yanhan 王延翰 Min Huizong 閩惠宗 or Taizong 閩太宗 926-935 -----Longqi 龍啟 933-934 -----Yonghe 永和 935 Wang Yanjun 王延鈞 (or Lin 鏻) Min Kangzong 閩康宗 935-938 -----Tongwen 通文 936 Wang Jipeng 王繼鵬 (or Chang 昶) Min Jingzong 閩景宗 939-942 -----Yonglong 永隆 939 Usurper Wang Yanzheng 王延政, ruler of Yin 殷 943-945 -----Tiande 天德 943-945 Wang Yanxi 王延羲 (or Xi 曦) Min Tiandedi 天德帝 (Fu Gongyiwang 福恭懿王) 943-945 -----Tiande 天德 943-945 Wang Yanzheng 王延政 Military commissioners (jiedushi 節度使) of Qingyuan 清源 949-978 Liu Congxiao 留從效 Chen Hong 陳洪 978 Min conquered by Song 宋.

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