Chengsheng

Chengsheng (承聖, November 552 – May 555) was an era name of Liang Emperor Yuan (梁元帝) Xiao Yi (蕭繹). It was used for 2 years and 6 months.

In March 552, Xiao Yi (蕭繹) attacked Hou Jing (後景), who had usurped the throne at Jiankang (建康), deposed him, and in November he ascended the throne at Jiangling and changed the era name. However, during the Chengsheng era rebellions broke out across the realm and warfare did not cease, and Xiao Ji (蕭紀), who had made himself independent in the Sichuan region, used Tianzheng (天正) as his era name.

In December 554, Jiangling fell to an attack by Western Wei (西魏), and Emperor Yuan was killed. In the first month of 555, Western Wei enthroned Xiao Cha (蕭詧) at Jiangling, establishing the puppet regime Western Liang (後梁), which changed the era name to Dading (大定).

Meanwhile, at Jiankang, Wang Sengbian (王僧弁) enthroned Xiao Fangzhi (蕭方智) as Prince of Liang (梁王) to succeed Emperor Yuan, but soon, under pressure from Northern Qi (北齊) to enthrone Xiao Yuanming (蕭淵明) as emperor, he submitted to this, deposed Xiao Fangzhi, enthroned Xiao Yuanming as emperor, and changed the era name. Because standard Chinese official histories do not recognize the legitimacy of Hou Jing, Western Liang, Xiao Yuanming, and others, they record all the events from 552 to 554 under the Chengsheng era name.

Era changes

• Taiqing (太淸) 6th year, 11th month, 12th day¹ (13 December 552): changed the era name to Chengsheng (承聖).²³⁴⁵