荆南政权是五代十国时期南方九国之一，自后梁太祖开平元年五月高季兴任荆南节度使起，经高季兴、高从诲、高保融、高保勖、高继冲四世五主的统治，至宋太祖建隆四年二月宋灭荆南止，共56年。 自成汭开始，外力军事力量的入主逐渐改变了荆南只是作为东南财源型藩镇的局面，使得荆南走上了割据的道路。而五代荆南政权正是在这种趋势下建立的的。除荆南外，后梁时的其他边镇在后唐之时变成了内地藩镇，而以前保持一定独立性的义武、武顺、天雄等镇在后唐之时，已经失去了原来的地位。这样，荆南的地位就显得特殊了。荆南的特殊的地理位置使它能“交通吴、蜀，朝廷浸不能制”。同样因为它是边镇，就能借助其他势力来抵抗中原政权的征讨。这些情况，就造成了荆南政权能够超越后梁其他藩镇走上独立割据的道路。 荆南政权能够存在五十余年，有其内部和外部的原因。荆南内部原因在于政权内部的稳定，统治者对人才利用得当以及统治者善于纳谏，这些使得荆南政权得以健康的运转。荆南因其对他国的捍蔽作用得以在夹缝中求生存，依赖五代十国时期南北势力平衡才得以存在，一旦平衡被打破又没有新的平衡得以重建，荆南政权的灭亡也就指日可待了。 就政体而言，荆南与同时中原政权附属国的吴越和马楚不同，不存在所谓的藩镇——王国双轨政体，而是单一的藩镇体制。荆南的军队建制，也采用是藩镇兵制，有着亲军系统和牙兵系统。其亲军名为云猛都。荆南又建有番号为水手都水军。 长期来看，荆南采取了事大、通吴、弱楚、联汉、防蜀的外交政策。当然，这些政策并不是一成不变的，而是在不同情况和环境下进行灵活机动的调整。荆灵活的外交政策，使得荆南在一次又一次危难之中化险为夷，成功地使高氏避免了像唐末成汭、赵匡明、贺瓌那样短暂统治荆南的局面。 由于由统一帝国的地方，上升到区域内的中央，使荆南在政治和经济上得到很大的自主权，使得荆南能够充分发挥本地优势进行经济建设。同时，荆南政权所奉行的政策也在一定程度上刺激本地区经济的发展。

The regime of Jingnan is one of the nine kingdoms in southern China during the Five dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It is from the first year of Kaiping of the Emperor Taizu of the Latter Liang, when Gao Jixing became the military governor of Jingnan to the fourth year of the Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty,when Song annexed Jingnan. It is during the rule of Gao Jixing, Gao Conghui, Gao Baorong,Gao Baoxu and Gao Jichong,together 56 years. Form Chengrui, the exterior of the military forces changes the source of wealth military governor's aspect of Jingnan gradually, causing Jingjnan embarked on the road of the separatist regime.The regime of Jingnan established under this tendency. Except Jingnan, the other military governors of border of the Latter Liang became interior ones in the Latter Tang. The military governors of Yiwu,Wushun and Tianxiong had lost its original position in the Latter Tang. So that .Jingnan's status appeared is special.Jingnan's particular location makes it can be in league with Wu and Shu, so that the central government can't control it. Also because it is a border garrison, it can use additional forces to resist punitive expedition of the central government. The regime of Jingnan can exist over 50 years, have it own internal and external reasons. The internal reasons are the regime's internal stability, the rulers in talent applied properly and the rulers are good at being receptive to admonition. These reasons cause Jingnan to be able the health revolution. Because Jingnan can cover an effect to protect the function to other kingdoms, it is able to strive for the survival in the crevice.It is also dependent on balance of North-South power to exists during the five dynasties.Once the balance is broken and there isn't a new balance restored, the perdition of Jingnan is also just round the corner. Speaking of the system of government, Jingnan is different with the other dependencies of the Central Plains regime—Wuyue and Chu. There is no so-called military governor-kingdom dual regime, but is the sole military governor system. Jingnan's army organization system, also uses the military governor military system.it has the pro-military system and the Ya -soldier system.Its pro-military system named Yunmengdu. Jingnan has built the waterborne troop named Shuishoudu. In the long term, Jingnan adopts the diplomatic policy of serving the powerful countries,colluding with Wu,weakening Chu,associating Nanhan and guarding against Shu.Of course, these policies are not immutable, but in different situations and environments to flexible adjustment.The flexible diplomatic policy causes Jingnan to turn danger into safety timeand time again. It succeeded in avoiding as Cheng Rui, Zhao Kuangming temporary ruled Jingnan in late Tang Dynasty. Due to the local government of the unified empire became the central government of the region, Jingnan has more autonomy in the politics and economy.It makes Jingnan to give full play to the local advantages economic construction.