Wang Shenzhi (Chinese: 王審知; 862 – December 30, 925), courtesy name Xintong (信通) or Xiangqing (詳卿), posthumous name Prince[6] Zhongyi of Min (閩忠懿王) and also known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Min (閩太祖), was the founding monarch of Min (now part of the Fujian province, with a capital of Fuzhou) during China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, reigning as prince but posthumously promoted to the rank of emperor.

Wang Shenzhi hailed from a long line of illustrious administrators and military officers feted by historians.

[9] In 881, the bandit leader Wang Xu, along with his brother-in-law Liu Xingquan (劉行全), captured Guāng Prefecture (光州, in modern Xinyang); he was subsequently commissioned the prefect of Guang Prefecture by Qin Zongquan the military governor (Jiedushi) of Fengguo Circuit (奉國, headquartered in modern Zhumadian, Henan).

Wang Xu, in fear, gathered 5,000 soldiers from Guang and Shou Prefectures and forced the people to cross the Yangtze River to the south.

By the time that Wang Xu reached Zhang Prefecture, his army was running low on food.

If the soldiers and the generals all are dead, I will go myself.Wang Yanfu and Wang Shenzhi, fearful of the rebuke, intensified their attacks.

[13] In 900, Emperor Zhaozong bestowed the honorary chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事) on Wang Shenzhi.

Wang Shenzhi recognized the new emperor, and was subsequently given the greater chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中).

[16] In 909, Emperor Taizu created him the Prince of Min,[2] and also gave him the chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling (中書令, governor of Palace Secretariat).

[2] As prince, Wang was said to be frugal, often wearing hemp shoes, with his mansion remaining small and unexpanded.

His criminal penalties were relaxed and tax rates were low; these policies were said to lead to both the government and the people becoming wealthy, and his realm to be calm.

[20]) In 918, Wu, which was then ruled by Yang Wo's brother and successor Yang Longyan, launched a major attack, commanded by the general Liu Xin (劉信), on Tan Quanbo the military governor of Baisheng Circuit (百勝, headquartered in modern Ganzhou, Jiangxi), who was ruling the circuit in independence but whose nominal allegiance had vacillated between Wu and Later Liang.

Min forces advanced to Yudu (雩都, in modern Ganzhou) to try to aid Tan, while Wuyue and Chu also sent troops.

Subsequently, Liu captured Tan's capital Qian Prefecture (虔州), allowing Wu to directly take over Baisheng Circuit.

However, later, after he received a white deer and a purple lingzhi, he became arrogant, believing in the prophecies of the Buddhist monk Haoyuan (浩源) that he would become prince in the future.

[23] Subsequently, emissaries were exchanged between Min and Later Tang, and Wang Shenzhi recognized Emperor Zhuangzong's suzerainty.