Emperor Taizu of Liao

Taizu of the Liao Dynasty was emperor of the Khitan Empire . His given name was Abaoji . Some sources also suggest that the surname Yelü (耶律} was adopted during his lifetime, though there is no unanimity on this point.

He was born in 872 and died in 926 in China. He had a turbulent childhood. His grandfather was killed in a conflict between tribes, and his father and uncles fled. Yelü Abaoji was hidden by his grandmother for his safety.

Legends surrounding Abaoji’s birth

Later generations of Chinese historians record a variety of legends that surrounded the birth of Abaoji. According to the legends, his mother dreamed that the sun fell from the sky and into her bosom, from which pregnancy followed. When she gave birth, the room is said to have become filled with a mysterious light and extraordinary fragrance. As a newborn, his body was that of a three-year-old, and the legends go on to say that he was walking at the age of three months. He is even recorded as being able to see events before they passed.

Rise to power

The Yaolian clan had dominated the leadership of the tribes since the 750s. They maintained good relations with the Tang Dynasty of China to the south. However, by the end of the ninth century, leaders of the powerful Yila Tribe were expressing dissatisfaction with the Yaolian khans. Abaoji’s father had been the elected chieftain of the Yila Tribe. As surnames were considered a marker of Chinese culture, they were not used by the Khitan people outside of the Yaolian imperial clan.

Abaoji became chieftain of the Yila tribe in 901 and in 903, was named the Yuyue, Commander of all Khitan military forces. This had the effect of making him second only to the great khan in the hierarchy of the Khitan nation. In 907, he appeared at the triennial council and demanded to be named the khaghan, the Khan of khans. His successes against the Chinese in the north led to receiving the support of seven tribal chiefs and even the acquiescence of the last Yaolian Great Khan himself.

Innovations

Abaoji’s success was in his ability to introduce innovations to Khitan society. Arguably the most important was the introduction of a dual administrative system in which nomadic steppe peoples would be governed by steppe traditions and sedentary populations in conquered Balhae and north China would be governed by a civil bureaucracy drawn largely on Chinese methods. While this did not receive universal support from tribal leaders due to the erosion of their own powers, this became the model that later steppe peoples would use to govern their diverse empires.

Two more important innovations were introduced in 916. He adopted Chinese court formalities in which he declared himself Celestial Emperor in the Chinese-style and adopted a reign name, also in the Chinese manner of ruling. The second was to name his son, Prince Bei, heir apparent, also a first in Khitan society and something that directly contrasted with Khitan notions of rule by merit. This second innovation did not take hold so easily as few of his successors experienced simple successions.

In 918, Abaoji had a new walled city built. A Chinese city was built adjacent to this city in which artisan’s shops, commercial shops, and warehouses were constructed.
Later, would be built, including a Supreme Capital , that served as the base of Khitan administration.

Abaoji ordered the development of a Khitan script in 920. Known as Khitan large script, it looks superficially like Chinese writing, however, it bears little resemblance to Chinese writing, and the two were mutually unintelligible. Five years later, the arrival of a delegation led Abaoji to order his younger brother Diela to develop a script on more syllabic principles. Unlike the Japanese and Koreans, the Khitan managed to adopt the cultural and administrative tool of writing without the baggage of Chinese culture and grammar that came with the wholesale adoption of Chinese characters.

Relationship with the Later Tang

Li Keyong was a who was in the service of the Tang Dynasty until its fall in 907. In 905, Abaoji went to Li Keyong’s stronghold in present-day Shanxi Province and swore blood-brotherhood.

’s son, Li Cunxu founded the Later Tang Dynasty on the ashes of the Later Liang Dynasty in 923. On his death, though relations between the two had soured, the proper forms were followed and an emissary was sent to the Khitan capital.

Yao Kun

Yao Kun was sent by the court to meet with Abaoji in 926. He caught up with the Khitan ruler in Manchuria while he was om campaign against the Balhae kingdom while he was encamped at Fuyu in present-day Jilin Province.
Abaoji demanded that the Later Tang Dynasty surrender the Sixteen Prefectures. If they were given up, there would be no more cause for invading China. Yao Kun stated that this was not in his authority. This response landed him in prison, where he still was when Abaoji died from illness on September 6, 926.

Succession

Though Prince Bei was designated heir apparent in 916, the empress dowager Yingtian did not consider him to be worthy and managed to have her second son Deguang succeed to the throne. Deguang became known to history as and he reigned from 926 to 947.

Era names

* Shence
* Tianzan
* Tianxian

Emperor Taizong of Liao

Emperor Taizong was the second emperor of the .

Succession to the Throne

He was the second son of , founder of the Khitan Empire which became the Liao Dynasty. Though his father named his elder brother, Prince Bei, as his heir apparent in 916, upon his death, the empress dowager Yingtian favored Deguang because she felt he better embodied the ideals of the steppe. In addition to being the favorite of his mother, he was also favored by the nobility. Yēlǜ Déguāng was crowned as emperor following the death of his father in 926.

Prince Bei

The newly crowned Emperor Taizong allowed his elder brother to retain his title of Prince of , which was created from the recently conquered kingdom of Balhae . However, just to be on the safe side, Taizong maintained surveillance over his elder brother. Prince Bei slipped into China in 930, but as late as 934, he continued sending intelligence reports to his younger brother despite the welcome he received by Emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty.

Expansion into Northern China

Emperor Taizong used the intelligence sent by his brother to take advantage of the crumbling Later Tang Dynasty. When Shi Jingtang revolted against the Later Tang, Taizong sent Liao aid. The resulting was no more than a puppet state of the Liao. Through this action, Taizong was successful in gaining strategic territory that his father coveted, the Sixteen Prefectures and along with them, control of the passes that controlled admittance into China Proper.

Emperor Taizong led another invasion into China in 945 when the Later Jin began to show independence from its Khitan masters. On this first engagement, Taizong barely escaped with his life. However, further pressure the following year led to the collapse of the Later Jin. The Khitan pressed their advantage, and even occupied the Later Jin capital. While much of northern China was occupied by the Khitan, Muzong had second thoughts once facing the challenges of governing a large sedentary population. Khitan forces were forced to pillage, a tactic common among steppe peoples used to intimidate a sedentary enemy. In April, 947, Taizong abandoned the capital and set to return to the Sixteen Prefectures. He fell ill and died on May 18 during the course of this return journey.

Raising his Nephew

Taizong raised Prince Bei's son as his own. Taizong’s nephew became the very model of a Khitan prince under Taizong’s tutelage. Taizong was also ambitious like his father, and wanted to expand Khitan's territory. After the defection of a Later Jin general, Taizong was able to conquer the in 947 after fighting a hard and bloody campaign. It was at this time that Taizong changed the dynasty name to Liao. Taizong died in China on this expedition, during which he was accompanied by his nephew.

Taizong reformed the political structures of the Liao dynasty. He set up North and South ministries, dealing with the tribes and the Han respectively. However, there were still many flaws in the government and army structure.

Following Taizong’s death in 947, Prince Bei’s son ascended the throne as despite the opposition of the Empress Dowager Yingtian.

Work Referenced

Emperor Shizong of Liao

Emperor Shizong , also known as Wuyu , is the third emperor of Liao dynasty, reigning from 947 to 951. He is the son of Prince Bei, the eldest son of Abaoji, the founder of the . He came to power after the death of his uncle, , who raised him after his father left for China and the court of the Later Tang Dynasty.

Ascension

Emperor Taizong was on campaign in China when he died in 947. Ruan accompanied him on this campaign, allowing him to quickly gain the support of army leaders. While returning to the capital, his grandmother, the empress dowager Yingtian, had plotted to have her third son, Prince Lihu, ascend to the throne, and sent an army to intercept her grandson. She had denounced Ruan in her campaign to support her son. However, the Khitan nobles, knowing that Prince Lihu was entirely unfit for the throne, refused to support her this time as they did previously with the ascension of Deguang as Emperor Taizong. Fortunately, the strong support the court gave to Ruan’s claim prevented a civil war among the Khitans.

Reign

Shizong was known both for his generosity as well as for his martial prowess. This generosity was not extended to either his grandmother or his uncle both of whom were sent far from the capital by Shizong. Both died soon afterward, Prince Lihu in rebellion and Yingtian of old age.

Shizong took to the field in 951 in a successful effort to resist Chinese advances from the south. However, later that year, a mere four years after his ascension as emperor, he was killed by a rebellious nephew who was part of an effort within the imperial clan to usurp the throne.

During his reign, Shizong adopted several reforms that propelled the Liao Dynasty into a feudal society and consolidated power into one central government. However, Shizong was also a drunkard and liked to hunt. On a night in September 951, Shizong was murdered by an officer after a battle. He was only thirty-three, and had reigned for only three years.

Emperor Muzong of Liao

Emperor Muzong of Liao Dynasty reigned from 951 to 969. He was the son of Emperor Taizong of Liao, and succeeded Emperor Shizong, who was murdered in 951.

Rebellions

His reign was plagued by plots and rebellions against him from both the Yelu imperial clan and the Xiao consort clan. He fired many ministers who worked for Emperor Shizong, and used force against those who dared to rebel against him. However, his brutal use of force and repression was eventually able to restore stability and the authority of the throne.

In June 952, his uncle wrote a letter to the Later Zhou Dynasty, saying that "Muzong is a drunkard and has no ambition". Muzong discovered the letter and executed his uncle. In July 952, Shizong's brother Yelu Loguo attempted to rebel, but Muzong suppressed it and executed him. In October 953, Muzong's brother and several high-ranking officials plotted against him. Once again, Muzong discovered the plot and executed most of the plotters, but imprisoned his brother instead of killing him. A similar situation occurred in November 959, where his brother was spared, but the other plotters were killed.

Relations with China

The Later Zhou Dynasty took advantage of Muzong’s troubles to consolidate its position in North China, a region that had been under the influence of the since earlier in the century. Despite this, the Northern Han, who remained under the protection of the Liao Dynasty were able to maintain their independence.

The Later Zhou emperor attacked Liao positions in 958 in an attempt to regain the Sixteen Prefectures. This provoked Muzong to lead a large army to the southern capital . Military confrontation was averted with the death of the death of the Later Zhou emperor. Early the next year, Muzong returned to the capital.

Midway through Muzong’s reign, the Song Dynasty had supplanted the last of the Five Dynasties, the Later Zhou Dynasty. Relations with the Song were peaceful during the reign of Muzong. Despite this peace, there were two issues outstanding between the two states that would result in war following Muzong’s reign: those of the Sixteen Prefectures and Northern Han state. Neither of these issues would be resolved during the reign of Muzong.
The two states began exchanging began exchanging annual visitations on New Year’s Day. Profitable trade also continued to grow between the two sides.

Fate

Emperor Muzong, like Shizong, was an alcoholic and had many vices. His alcoholism earned him the nickname “The Dozing Emperor.” He had a violent temper and frequently killed people without reason. He also liked to hunt. Muzong's reign was one of the darkest in Liao Dynasty's history, and his government was a shambles.

In February 969, Muzong went out to hunt in the Black Mountains. Muzong and his servants drank and had a feast. After midnight, Muzong called out for food, but no one responded. He went into a rage and threatened to kill the chefs. The frightened chefs, along with some servants, sneaked into Muzong's tent and murdered him.

Work Referenced

:Note: This source used for the first two sections of this article, not the third.

Emperor Jingzong of Liao

Emperor Jingzong of Liao Dynasty reigned from 969 to 982.

Yēlǜ Zōngzhēn succeeded Muzong in 969 after Muzong was murdered in a hunting trip. He had support from both Khitan and Han officials.

Emperor Jingzong made several important contributions to Liao Dynasty. He started to use Han officials in the government, appointing one as the Minister of Southern Affairs and the Duke of Qin. This allowed the government to run more efficiently and sped up the transformation of Liao society into a feudal society.

He cracked down on corruption in the government, firing those who were bribed or incompetent. Jingzong also accepted criticisms willingly. He stopped hunting frequently after an official made a connection between hunting and Muzong's death, and Jingzong began to prepare war against his southern neighbors.

Military Campaigns

Jingzong's first conflict with Song dynasty came with the Song's invasion of Northern Han Dynasty. However, the Liao reinforcements were destroyed by a Song army, and Song later destroyed the Northern Han. The Song army followed up the victory with an attack on the Liao city of Beijing. However, the Liao army completely routed the Song, and Song Taizong fled the battlefield.

Several battles followed, with a stalemate between the Liao and Song.

Emperor Jingzong later died on his way back from a hunting trip.

Emperor Shengzong of Liao

Emperor Shengzong of Liao , also known as Yelu Longxu , succeeded as Emperor of the Liao Dynasty at the age of 12 in 982. As he was too young to actually rule, his mother, , effectively ruled the kingdom.

Conflict with the Song

The leader sought to take advantage of the young emperor by launching an invasion on the Liao Southern Capital in the contentious Sixteen Prefectures in 986. Three large forces were sent to three different strategic locations on the approach to the Southern Capital. While initially successful, the young emperor along with the Empress Dowager led a Khitan cavalry force and defeated the Song forces at the Battle of the Qigou Pass in June. The Empress Dowager appointed Yelu Xiuge as her senior general continued attacks on the Song in retaliation until the next year.

In 1004, the Liao led a large-scale invasion of Song territory, camping out in the town of Shanyuan, about 100 miles north of the capital of Kaifeng. This resulted in the Treaty of Shanyuan, signed in mid-January, 1005. According to this treaty, the Chinese paid an annual tribute of 200,000 bolts of silk, 100,000 ounces of silver. This arrangement would remain in place with modifications until the end of the Liao Dynasty, and in fact, the Jurchen could continue this arrangement with the Song with the founding of the .

Examination System

Shengzong was also the one to institutionalize state examinations for the selection of Chinese officials, which was done in 988, based on models used by the Tang Dynasty, which had fallen in 907, and the Song Dynasty, which existed concurrently with the Liao. Despite the importance of the return of the examination system, it initially only opened the road for very small numbers, as only three to five were awarded initially, and the number only increased to between thirty and 130 candidates passed the triennial exams by 1014.

Most jinshi degree winners were not even appointed to office as aristocrats were far more likely to receive appointments. Khitan people receiving appointments were specifically through patronage as they were expressly prohibited from sitting the examinations.

Growth of Buddhism

Emperor Shengzong began the active patronage of Buddhism. Within a century of his reign, an estimated ten percent of Liao population were Buddhist monks or nuns, though this figure may have been exaggerated. While the Khitan did not associate Buddhism with the Chinese people because it was seen more as a Uyghur religion and thus not the religion of the Chinese, who they saw as inferior, what is not clear is the extent that Buddhism penetrated the Khitan population, as the bulk of Buddhist shrines and temples were located in the southern part of the domains of the Liao where the largely Chinese sedentary population resided. There is evidence to suggest that the Khitan populace maintained their animistic belief systems along with their rituals.

Innovations

During the rule of Emperor Shengzong, the Liao instituted feudal reform, spurring its economy. Prior to this, it had depended on territorial expansion, slavery, and thievery. Under Shengzong's rule, most slaves were liberated, becoming normal members of society. The most important parts of the economy from then on were animal husbandry, particularly horse and sheep raising, as well as agriculture, and fishing.

Citations

Work Cited

Emperor Xingzong of Liao

Emperor Xingzong of Liao was an emperor of the Liao Dynasty. He reigned from .

Xingzong was the eldest son of Shenzong, and was made Prince in 1021 when he was six years old. He was crowned emperor when Shenzong died in 1031.

Xingzong's reign was the beginning of the end for the Liao Dynasty. The government was corrupt and the army stated to fall apart. He attacked the Western Xia dynasty many times, and waged war upon the Song dynasty. However, the frequent wars were not looked kindly upon by his people, and there were much anger among them for the high taxes. Xingzong was also into Buddhism and spent lavishly for his own pleasure. He died in 1054.