Wang Shenzhi, King of Min: Expanding the Realm and Reshaping Fuzhou in the Late Tang Dynasty
Wang Shenzhi, King of Min: Expanding the Realm and Reshaping Fuzhou in Abstract During the chaotic late Tang and Five Dynasties periods, the southeastern region of China experienced thirty years of peace and prosperity under the governance of Wang Shenzhi. Formally enfeoffed as the King of Min in 909 AD (Liang Kaiping 3rd Year), he established the political philosophy of “Better to be an open-door Jiedushi than a closed-door Emperor.” He orchestrated a massive urban expansion of Fuzhou, moving from the “Inner City” (Zicheng) to the “Outer City” (Luocheng) and finally the “Entrenched City” (Jiacheng). By constructing Luocheng with a circumference of 40 li, he pushed the city’s boundaries beyond the three central mountains. Simultaneously, he opened Gantang Port, promoting early maritime trade and establishing Fuzhou as a pivotal node on the Maritime Silk Road. Wang’s policies not only defined the geographical layout of modern Fuzhou but also deeply shaped the cultural and economic identity of Fujian. ...