**Nong Zhigao**
**Definition:**
Nong Zhigao (c. 1025–1055) was a prominent Zhuang leader and warrior who led several uprisings against the Song dynasty in the 11th century in what is now southern China and northern Vietnam.
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**Biography**
Nong Zhigao was born into the Nong clan, a powerful Zhuang family in the borderlands between the Song dynasty and the kingdoms of Southeast Asia. He is best known for his efforts to establish an independent kingdom for the Zhuang people, resisting Chinese imperial control. In 1042, he declared himself king and led a series of rebellions against the Song authorities, briefly capturing several key cities.
**Rebellions and Legacy**
Despite initial successes, Nong Zhigao’s forces were eventually defeated by the Song military. He fled to the kingdom of Đại Cồ Việt (modern Vietnam), where he continued to resist Song influence until his death around 1055. Nong Zhigao remains a symbol of ethnic resistance and cultural identity among the Zhuang and other Tai-speaking peoples.
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**META_DESCRIPTION:**
Nong Zhigao was an 11th-century Zhuang leader who led rebellions against the Song dynasty to establish an independent kingdom. He is remembered for his role in regional resistance and ethnic identity.