On This Day in History: Guo Wei's Coup and the Birth of the Later Zhou Dynasty (February 11, 951)

On February 11, 951, the military commander Guo Wei launched a decisive coup in the Chinese capital of Kaifeng, overthrowing the Later Han regime and establishing the Later Zhou Dynasty.

The event reshaped the political landscape of the fracturing Five Dynasties period and set the stage for the eventual reunification of China under the Song.

A China in Turmoil

The mid‑10th century was one of the most chaotic eras in Chinese history. The once‑mighty Tang Dynasty had collapsed in 907, and northern China fell into a rapid cycle of short‑lived dynasties-Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou-each rising and falling through warlordism, palace intrigue, and military coups.

By 951, the ruling Later Han Dynasty was weak and internally divided. Its young emperor, Liu Chengyou, was heavily influenced by court favorites and suspicious of the powerful generals who actually held the empire together.

Among those generals was Guo Wei, a seasoned commander respected by the army and known for his administrative skill and personal discipline.

The Spark: A Fatal Miscalculation

Tensions between the emperor and his generals reached a breaking point when Liu Chengyou, influenced by corrupt courtiers, ordered the assassination of several top military leaders. Guo Wei narrowly escaped the purge.

The move backfired spectacularly.

Instead of eliminating threats, the emperor provoked a full‑scale military revolt. Troops loyal to Guo Wei rose in open rebellion, marching toward the capital to "cleanse the court" of corrupt influences.

The Coup of February 11

On February 11, 951, Guo Wei's forces entered Kaifeng. The young emperor was killed while attempting to flee, and the Later Han regime collapsed almost instantly.

Guo Wei, initially reluctant to claim the throne, was persuaded by his officers and officials that only he could restore stability. He accepted, founding the Later Zhou Dynasty, the last and arguably strongest of the Five Dynasties.

A Dynasty Built on Reform

Though his reign was short-Guo Wei died in 954-his impact was lasting.

He and his successor, Emperor Shizong, implemented reforms that strengthened the central government and reduced the power of regional warlords. These reforms included:

- reorganizing the military to curb warlord autonomy

- improving tax collection and land administration

- promoting capable officials regardless of aristocratic background

These changes created a more stable foundation than any dynasty had achieved since the Tang.

Why This Moment Matters

Guo Wei's coup is more than a dramatic palace overthrow. It marks:

- the beginning of the most competent and reform‑minded regime of the Five Dynasties

- a crucial step toward the reunification of China

- the political environment that allowed Zhao Kuangyin-a Later Zhou general-to launch the Song Dynasty in 960

In other words, the Later Zhou was the bridge between chaos and one of China's greatest eras.

A Legacy of Order After Chaos

Guo Wei is remembered as a pragmatic, stabilizing figure in a time of upheaval. His coup on February 11, 951, was not merely a grab for power-it was the turning point that ended one dynasty, strengthened another, and paved the way for the reunification of China.