Thursday, September 4, 2008

Emperor Daozong of Liao

Emperor Daozong of Liao , born Yelü Hongji or Yehlu Hongji, was an emperor of the Liao dynasty, a kingdom of the people in what is now neartheastern China. Succeeding his father, , in 1055, Daozong ruled until he was murdered in 1101. He was succeeded by his son, .

Daozong was notable for reviving the name "Great Liao" in 1066, a designation first given the kingdom by in 947. Other noteworthy achievements made during his reign include the completion of a Liao edition of the Buddhist ''Tripitaka'' and the construction of the Sakyamuni Pagoda in 1056.

He survived at least one attempt on his life in 1063, when a group of Khitans, angry that their system of tribal justice had been put under local Chinese administration, ambushed his hunting party. Daozong survived the attack and the rebels were executed, but to reassert his legitimacy as ruler he was forced to perform a traditional "rebirth" ceremony. In 1070, he restructured the legal system to reflect the differences in Chinese and Liao customs.

However, Daozong's reign was fraught with corruption. Daozong spent lavishly on his palaces and his Buddhist worship. Many people under his rule were angered by the high taxes and began to rise against Liao, most notably the Nurchen tribe.

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