Li Jing (, later changed to ; 916 – August 12, 961), originally Xu Jingtong (), briefly Xu Jing () in 937–939, courtesy name Boyu (), also known by his temple name Yuanzong (), was the second ruler (sometimes called Zhongzhu, , ) of imperial China's Southern Tang state during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. He reigned his state from 943 until his death.
During Li Jing's earlier reign, he expanded Southern Tang's borders by extinguishing smaller neighboring states: Min in 945 and Chu in 951. However, the warfare also exhausted the wealth of the country, leaving it ill-prepared to resist the Later Zhou invasion in 956. Forced to cede all prefectures north of the Yangtze River, he also had to relinquish his title as an emperor and accept Later Zhou's overlordship in 958, and later Song dynasty's overlordship after 960 when Song succeeded Later Zhou.
Family
Parents
Father: Li Bian
Mother: Empress Yuanjing, of the Song clan (元敬皇后 宋氏), personal name Song Fujin (宋福金) Wives Empress Guangmu (光穆皇后; d.965) of the Zhong clan (鍾氏) Li Hongji, Crown Prince Wenxian (文獻太子 李弘冀, d. 959), first son Li Yu, King of Tang (唐國主 李煜, 937 – 15 August 978), fifth son Li Congqian, Duke of E (鄂國公 李從謙), ninth son Lady Ling, of the Ling clan (凌氏) Li Congshan, Duke of Nanchu (南楚國公 李從善, 940 – 987), seventh son Unknown: Li Hongmao, Prince of Qing (慶王 李弘茂), second son Third son Li Congqin, Duke of Zhaoping (昭平郡公 李從慶), fourth son Li Liangzuo (李良佐) sixth son Li Congyi, Duke of Jiang (江國公 李從鎰), eight son Li Congxin, Duke of Wenyang (文陽郡公 李從信), tenth son Li Congfu (李從甫), eleventh son Princess Taining (太寧公主), third daughter married Liu Jie (劉節), a son of Liu Chongjun (劉崇俊) Princess Yongjia (永嘉公主), fourth daughter Princess Li married a man surnamed Sun (孫) married Shengzong of Liao and had issue (a daughter)
Background
Li Jing, then named Xu Jingtong, was born in 916. His father Xu Zhigao was then Wu's prefect of Sheng Prefecture (昇州, in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu), under his adoptive father (Xu Jingtong's grandfather) Xu Wen, who was then Wu's regent. He was Xu Zhigao's oldest son. His mother was Xu Zhigao's second wife Song Fujin, who would later give birth to three more sons, Xu Jingqian, Xu Jingsui, and Xu Jingda.
During Wu
In 923, by which time Xu Zhigao was the junior regent under Xu Wen, there was an incident where the general Zhong Taizhang (), who had assisted in Xu Wen's coming to power, was under investigation for corruption. Xu Zhigao advocated punishing Zhong, but Xu Wen, pointing out Zhong's contributions, declined, and instead ordered Xu Zhigao to take one of Zhong's daughters as wife for Xu Jingtong, although it is not clear whether the marriage took place that year or later. In 925, Xu Jingtong, then age nine, was given the office of Jiabu Langzhong (), a supervisory official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu). He later was given the title of an imperial guard general. In 930, by which point Xu Zhigao had succeeded Xu Wen as regent, Xu Zhigao planned to leave the Wu capital Jiangdu (江都, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) and take up his headquarters at Jinling (i.e., the former Sheng Prefecture), he started the preparations of leaving Xu Jingtong at Jiangdu as junior regent by having him given the titles of minister of defense (兵部尚書, Bingbu Shangshu) and acting chancellor (參政事, Can Zhengshi). In 931, when Xu Zhigao's chief advisor Song Qiqiu suddenly claimed to want to retire, it was Xu Jingtong that Xu Zhigao sent to Song's retirement mansion to urge Song to return to the government. Later in the year, Xu Zhigao left Jiangdu and took up headquarters at Jinling, leaving Xu Jingtong at Jiangdu to oversee the government, assisted by Song and Wang Lingmou. Xu Jingtong received the titles of Situ (司徒, one of the Three Excellencies), chancellor (同中書門下平章事, Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi), and acting director of military matters (知中外左右諸軍事, Zhi Zhongwai Zuoyou Zhujunshi).
In late 934, Xu Zhigao summoned Xu Jingtong from Jiangdu to Jinling, to serve as his deputy at Jinling, with the titles of deputy military governor of Zhenhai (鎮海, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu) and Ningguo (寧國, headquartered in modern Xuancheng, Anhui) Circuits, deputy commander of the armies of all circuits (諸道副都統, Zhudao Fu Dutong), and acting overseer of military matters (判中外諸軍事, Pan Zhongwai Zhujunshi). His younger brother Xu Jingqian was made junior regent at Jiangdu in his place.