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Ningling Ge
Ningling Ge ( or ; 1032–1048) was a crown prince of the Western Xia dynasty and the fourth son of the Emperor Jingzong, the founding monarch. Ningling Ge was a member of Tangut Weiming (嵬名) clan. "Ningling" (寧令, Tangut: ) was his Tangut title, which meant "Grand Prince", while "Ge" (哥) was his personal name. Life Ge was born in 1032 to empress Yeli. He had also one elder brother, Ning Ming (寧明, "Prince Ming") and one younger brother, Xili (錫狸). In 1042, Ge's elder brother Ning Ming was murdered by Yuanhao for confessing taoism. Another brother, Xili, died prematurely. Anxious about subsequent deaths of the princes, Emperor Jingzong appointed Ge as Crown Prince. Ge was favoured by his father for his talents, force and beautiful appearance. Yuanhao had high hopes for his son, henceforth prepared him for the succession. However, Ge presented rather pacifism and did not support aggressive and highly expensive foreign policy. Yuanhao once took his son on the ba ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Western Xia
The Western Xia or the Xi Xia (), officially the Great Xia (), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as ''Mi-nyak''Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts and Tibetans, was a Tangut-led Buddhist imperial dynasty of China that existed from 1038 to 1227. At its peak, the dynasty ruled over the modern-day northwestern Chinese provinces of Ningxia, Gansu, eastern Qinghai, northern Shaanxi, northeastern Xinjiang, and southwest Inner Mongolia, and southernmost Outer Mongolia, measuring about . Its capital was Xingqing (modern Yinchuan), until its destruction by the Mongols in 1227. Most of its written records and architecture were destroyed, so the founders and history of the empire remained obscure until 20th-century research in China and the West. The Western Xia occupied the area around the Hexi Corridor, a stretch of the Silk Road, the most important trade route between northern China and Central Asia. They made significant achievements in literature, art, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emperor Jingzong Of Western Xia
Emperor Jingzong of Western Xia (1003–1048), born Li Yuanhao () or Tuoba Yuanhao (), also known as Zhao Yuanhao (趙元昊), Weiming Yuanhao (嵬名元昊) and Weiming Nangxiao (嵬名曩霄), was the founding emperor of the Western Xia dynasty of China, reigning from 1038 to 1048. He was the eldest son of the Tangut ruler Li Deming. Early background Yuanhao was born to Tuoba Weiming's consort, lady Weimu as "Weimai" (嵬埋). After his father died in 1032, he became the leader of the Tangut. He was described as a talented army general and had always wanted to establish a country for the Tanguts. Military campaigns Early in his leadership, Jingzong abolished the surname Zhao which had been given by the Song dynasty, replacing it with the surname Weiming (Chinese: 嵬名, Tangut: ). He had also started a revolution, changing the lifestyles of the Tangut people. He ordered Tangut men to shave their heads or they would face public execution. He also ordered a change of clot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tangut People
The Tangut people ( Tangut: , ''mjɨ nja̱'' or , ''mji dzjwo''; ; ; mn, Тангуд) were a Tibeto-Burman tribal union that founded and inhabited the Western Xia dynasty. The group initially lived under Tuyuhun authority, but later submitted to the Tang dynasty, prior to their establishment of the Western Xia. They spoke the Tangut language, which was previously believed to be one of the Qiangic languages or Yi languages that belong to the Tibeto-Burman family. Phylogenetic and historical linguistic accounts, however, reveal that Tangut belonged to the Gyalrongic languages. Language The Tangut language, otherwise known as ''Fan'', belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Like many other Sino-Tibetan languages, it is a tonal language with predominantly mono-syllabic roots, but it shares certain grammatical traits central to the Tibeto-Burman branch. It is still debated as to whether Tangut belongs to the Yi or Qiangic subdivision of Tibeto-Burm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grand Prince
Grand prince or great prince (feminine: grand princess or great princess) ( la, magnus princeps; Greek: ''megas archon''; russian: великий князь, velikiy knyaz) is a title of nobility ranked in honour below emperor, equal of king or archduke and above a sovereign prince. Grand duke is the usual and established, though not literal, translation of these terms in English and Romance languages, which do not normally use separate words for a "prince" who reigns as a monarch (e.g., Albert II, Prince of Monaco) and a "prince" who does not reign, but belongs to a monarch's family (e.g., Prince George of Wales). Some Slavic (Królewicz), Germanic, Dutch, and Scandinavian languages do use separate words to express this concept, and in those languages ''grand prince'' is understood as a distinct title (for a cadet of a dynasty) from ''grand duke'' (hereditary ruler ranking below a king). Some recent sources also use Archduke. The title of ''grand prince'' was once used for the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shen Kuo
Shen Kuo (; 1031–1095) or Shen Gua, courtesy name Cunzhong (存中) and pseudonym Mengqi (now usually given as Mengxi) Weng (夢溪翁),Yao (2003), 544. was a Chinese polymathic scientist and statesman of the Song dynasty (960–1279). Shen was a master in many fields of study including mathematics, optics, and horology. In his career as a civil servant, he became a finance minister, governmental state inspector, head official for the Bureau of Astronomy in the Song court, Assistant Minister of Imperial Hospitality, and also served as an academic chancellor.Needham (1986), Volume 4, Part 2, 33. At court his political allegiance was to the Reformist faction known as the New Policies Group, headed by Chancellor Wang Anshi (1021–1085). In his ''Dream Pool Essays'' or ''Dream Torrent Essays'' (; ''Mengxi Bitan'') of 1088, Shen was the first to describe the magnetic needle compass, which would be used for navigation (first described in Europe by Alexander Neckam in 1187).Bowma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dream Pool Essays
''The Dream Pool Essays'' (or ''Dream Torrent Essays'') was an extensive book written by the Chinese polymath and statesman Shen Kuo (1031–1095), published in 1088 during the Song dynasty (960–1279) of China. Shen compiled this encyclopedic work while living in forced retirement from government office, naming the book after his private estate near modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province. The ''Dream Pool Essays'' was heavily reorganized in reprint editions by later Chinese authors from the late 11th to 17th centuries. In modern times it has been translated from Chinese into several languages. These include English, German, French, and Japanese translations. The ''Dream Pool Essays'' covers a range of topics including discoveries and advancements in Traditional Chinese medicine, mathematics, astronomy, science and technology, optics, architecture and civil engineering, metallurgy, and early archaeology. Observations of the natural world included those of wildlife, meteorolog ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Song Dynasty
The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest of the Ten Kingdoms, ending the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The Song often came into conflict with the contemporaneous Liao, Western Xia and Jin dynasties in northern China. After retreating to southern China, the Song was eventually conquered by the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty. The dynasty is divided into two periods: Northern Song and Southern Song. During the Northern Song (; 960–1127), the capital was in the northern city of Bianjing (now Kaifeng) and the dynasty controlled most of what is now Eastern China. The Southern Song (; 1127–1279) refers to the period after the Song lost control of its northern half to the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty in the Jin–Song Wars. At that time, the Song court retreated south of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Empress Xiancheng
Empress Xiancheng (; 1005–1048), of the Yeli clan, was a Western Xia empress as the first empress of Emperor Jingzong. Life Family background Empress Xiancheng was a member of the prominent Yeli clan. Her brothers, Yeli Yuqi and Yeli Wangrong were eminent officials and generals of the reign of the Emperor Jingzong of Western Xia. Her distant relative, Yeli Renrong, devised Tangut script in 1036. First elder brother: Yeli Wangrong (野利旺荣, d. 1042), served as a generalissimus during the Western Xia-Song war and held a title of ''Ningling'' (寧令, Tangut: ; lit. "Grand Prince"). Second elder brother: Yeli Yuqi (野利遇乞, d.1042), served as a general from 1038 to 1042 and held a title of Grand Prince of Tiandu (天都大王) Sister-in-law: Empress Xuanmuhuiwen (宣穆惠文皇后沒藏氏, d.1056) Reign of emperor Jingzong It is not known when was lady Yeli born. Lady Yeli entered the harem of Li Yuanhao as early as in 1027. As early as in 1032, when Li Yuanha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lady Mozang
Lady Mozang (died 1056), posthumous name Empress Xuanmu Huiwen (), was a consort of Emperor Jingzong of Western Xia. She was regent of Western Xia during the minority of her son Emperor Yizong of Western Xia in 1048 from 1056. Life Family background Lady Mozang was born into a prominent Tangut Mozang clan. Elder brother: Mozang Epang (没藏讹庞; d.1061), has served as great advisor (大师) since 1046 Paternal niece: Empress Mozang (皇后没藏氏; d.1061), daughter of Mozang Epang, empress of the Emperor Yizong of Western Xia During the reign of Emperor Jingzong It is not known when was Lady Mozang born nor when did she enter the imperial palace. Lady Mozang was known to be a gorgeous beauty and remarkable woman. Before entering the harem of Li Yuanhao, Lady Mozang had been a wife of Yeli Yuqi (野利遇乞), an elder brother of Empress Xiancheng. In 1047, Empress Xiancheng, lady Yeli, was demoted to a commoner and turned to nunnery due to her machinations. She h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mozang Epang
Mozang Epang (, d. 1061) was an ethnic Tangut statesman and chancellor of the Western Xia dynasty of China during the reign of the Emperor Jingzong and Emperor Yizong. Life Family background Mozang Epang was a member of the Tangut prominent Mozang clan. Due to marriages of his female family members, Epang was closely related to the ruling Weiming (Li) clan. Younger sister: Empress Xuanmu Huiwen (宣穆惠文皇后; d.1056), wife of the Emperor Jingzong of Western Xia Daughter: Empress Mozang, wife of the Emperor Yizong of Western Xia. Reign of the Emperor Jingzong The exact date of birth of Mozang Epang is not known. Mozang Epang rose to power during the Tianshoulifayanzuo era (天授理法延祚). When Crown Prince Ningming died of illness, Mozang Epang presented the candidature of Prince Ningling Ge (寧令哥 or 寧林格, lit. "Grand Prince Ge") as the heir apparent. In 1046, Mozang Epang was bestowed a title of Great Advisor (大師), which was equivalent to Prim ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emperor Yizong Of Western Xia
Emperor Yizong of Western Xia (1047–1068), sinicized name Li Liangzuo (), was the second emperor of the Western Xia dynasty of China, reigning from 1048 to 1067. Yizong was also known by his Tangut name Ningling Liangcha (寧令兩岔). "Ningling" (寧令, Tangut: ) was his Tangut title, which meant "Grand Prince", while "Liangcha" (兩岔) was his personal name. After the death of his father, Li Yuanhao (Emperor Jingzong) in 1048, Yizong assumed the throne at the age of one, but most of the power laid in the hands of his mother the Empress Dowager. In 1049, the Liao dynasty attacked the Western Xia and forced it to become a vassal state. In 1056, the Dowager was killed and Yizong's uncle, Mozang Epang, became the regent. In 1061, Yizong's uncle and cousin plotted against him, so he had them executed and assumed direct control of the Western Xia. Yizong expanded the central government, adding many offices. He made the armies more efficient and improved his control over faraway ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
