The
Liang dynasty (502–587), also known as the
Southern Liang dynasty , was the third of the Southern Dynasties during
China's
Southern and Northern Dynasties period. Located in central China, north of
Lake Dongting, the Liang dynasty was followed by the
Chen dynasty. The
Western Liang dynasty , with its capital established at
Jiangling in 555 by
Emperor Xuan, a grandson of Liang's founder
Emperor Wu, claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Liang dynasty; it was subservient to the successive
Western Wei Dynasty,
Northern Zhou dynasty, and
Sui dynasty, and was abolished by
Emperor Wen of Sui in 587.