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Brief: This article recounts Hou Jing’s Rebellion, which devastated the Liang Dynasty. After being rejected by Eastern and Western Wei, Hou Jing defected to Liang. Betrayed by Emperor Wu, he captured Jiankang, starved the emperor to death, and seized power. His tyranny destroyed southern China, paving the way for the rise of the Chen…
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Introduction: This article tells the story of Emperor Wu of Liang, a devout Buddhist ruler who repeatedly became a monk and required huge ransoms to return to the throne. He built hundreds of temples but neglected national defense. His extreme piety drained the treasury and left the realm vulnerable, leading to his tragic death…
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The Hou Jing Rebellion was a devastating uprising that erupted in the final years of Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty (r. 502–549 CE), led by Hou Jing, a former general who had defected from Eastern Wei.
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Brief: This article covers the West Lodge Debates under Southern Qi. Prince Xiao Ziliang hosted a scholarly circle including Zu Chongzhi, who calculated pi precisely. Skeptic Fan Zhen challenged Buddhist karma with On the Annihilation of the Spirit, sparking a landmark faith–reason clash. It captures a rare golden age of southern culture and thought.
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Fan Zhen (c. 450–c. 510 CE) was a prominent materialist philosopher of the Southern Qi and Liang dynasties during the Southern Dynasties period. His courtesy name was Zizhen, and he was a native of Wuyin, Nanxiang Commandery (in present-day northwestern Biyang County, Henan).