Dynasties | Liu Song Dynasty 420-479

The general Liu Yu became emperor as Song Wudi in 420. To avoid confusion with the later Song dynasty the prefix 'Liu' (or six) is used to identify it with the period of six dynasties (Wu, Jin, Liu Song, Qi, Liang and Chen). Like many of the dynasties it started with strong rule but soon descended into chaos by weak and selfish heirs. Confucianism began to take a strong hold of the administration of the Southern Empire.