History of the Later Han

The Later Han, also known as the Hou Han, was a brief Chinese dynasty that emerged after the fall of the Eastern Han Dynasty, lasting from 947 to 950 CE. It was established by Liu Zhiyuan, a military leader seeking to restore stability and legitimacy to the declining Han legacy amid regional conflicts and political fragmentation. The dynasty aimed to revive traditional Han values but faced ongoing internal strife and external threats, which led to its short duration. Its existence highlights the turbulent period of Chinese history marked by rival states vying for control before reunification under the Song Dynasty.