Imperial clan factions were a common phenomenon in the South China kingdoms during the period of the Five Dynasties (907-960). The political unrest in Central Plains of China, the relatively stable relationship among the southern states, the small and narrow minded political concepts of most of the second generation rulers, their extravagant ruling conduct and suppressing and killing policy, and coups d’etat that took place here and there, all contributed to the frequently occurring royal family factions at that time. The conflicts failed to dissolve the miscellaneous causes of the time to which they themselves were attributed; rather, as part of the turbulent background, they became the cradle and activator of future factions, hence the repeated staging of royal clan fighting.
