Chen dynasty

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The Chen dynasty (Chinese: 陳朝) was the fourth and the last of the southern dynasties in China. It was an ethnic Han dynasty.

Few records survive from the time of the Chen dynasty. However, the records that exist say that the dynasty was strong and rich. Legend says that the Chen dynasty had ten times more wealth than Europe at the time. The Chen dynasty's rulers had a tax system and ruling system similar to the Kang-Qian 'flourishing age'. (The Kang-Qian age was the last and richest Chinese feudal dynasty).

The Chen dynasty took in an enormous amount of silver, which was used as money at the time. The records that still exist say that the dynasty had as much as 30 million taels of silver in their reserves. (A silver tael weighed about 30 grams.) During the Chen dynasty, there was also a huge demand for Chinese silk, spices, porcelain, artwork, and many other products.

In the year 589, the Sui dynasty took over the Chen dynasty after the last Chen Emperor abdicated (gave up his position as Emperor).

Kings[change | change source]

Names given after death Family names and personal names Years Time periods
Convention: Chen + posthumous name
Emperor Wu of Chen - Wu Di (武帝 wu3 di4) Chen Ba Xian (陳霸先 chen2 ba4 xian1) 557-559 Yongding (永定 yong3 ding4) 557-559
Emperor Wen of Chen - Wen Di (文帝 wen2 di4) Chen Qian (陳蒨 chen2 qian4) 560-566 Tianjia (天嘉 tian1 jia1) 560-566
Tiankang (天康 tian1 kang1) 566
Emperor Fei of Chen - Fei Di (廢帝 fei4 di4) Chen Bo Zong (陳伯宗 chen2 bo2 zong1) 567-568 Guangda (光大 guang1 da4) 567-568
Emperor Xuan of Chen - Xuan Di (宣帝 xuan1 di4) Chen Xu (陳頊 chen2 xu1) 569-582 Taijian (太建 tai4 jian4) 569-582
Emperor Houzhu of Chen (後主 hou4 zhu3) Chen Shu Bao (陳叔寶 chen2 shu2 bao3 583-589 Zhide (至德 zhi4 de2) 583-586
Zhenming (禎明 zhen1 ming2) 587-589