Emperor Shengzong of Liao (16 January 972 – 25 June 1031), personal name Wenshunu,
sinicised
Sinicization, sinofication, sinification, or sinonization (from the prefix , 'Chinese, relating to China') is the process by which non-Chinese societies come under the influence of Chinese culture, particularly the language, societal norms, cul ...
name Yelü Longxu, was the sixth
emperor
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
Liao dynasty
The Liao dynasty (; Khitan: ''Mos Jælud''; ), also known as the Khitan Empire (Khitan: ''Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur''), officially the Great Liao (), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed between 916 and 1125, ruled by the Yelü ...
Northern Song dynasty
Northern may refer to the following:
Geography
* North, a point in direction
* Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe
* Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States
* Northern Province, Sri Lanka
* Northern Range, a ra ...
sought to take advantage of the situation by launching an invasion on the Liao dynasty's southern capital (present-day
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
) in the contentious
Sixteen Prefectures
The Sixteen Prefectures () comprise a historical region in northern China along the Great Wall in present-day Beijing, Tianjin, and northern Hebei and Shanxi.
Name
It is more specifically called the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun or the Six ...
in 986. Three large Song armies were sent to three different strategic locations on the approach to the southern capital. While initially successful, the young Emperor Shengzong, along with Empress Dowager Xiao, led an army of Liao cavalry to counter the enemy and defeated the Song forces at the Battle of the Qigou Pass in June. Empress Dowager Xiao appointed
Yelü Xiuge
Yelü Xiuge (耶律休哥) (died 998) was an important Khitan general and politician in imperial China's Liao dynasty. He commanded a disciplined army and fought the Song forces for several decades, taking care to not harm any innocent individua ...
as her senior general to continue attacks on the Song dynasty in retaliation until the following year.
In 1004, the Liao dynasty carried out a large-scale invasion of Song territory, camping out in the town of Shanyuan, about 100 miles north of the Song capital of
Kaifeng
Kaifeng () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, China. It is one of the Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and is best known for having been the Chinese capital during the Nort ...
. This resulted in the Treaty of Shanyuan, signed in mid-January 1005. According to this treaty, the Song dynasty would pay an annual tribute of 200,000 bolts of silk and 100,000
Jurchens
Jurchen (Manchu language, Manchu: ''Jušen'', ; zh, 女真, ''Nǚzhēn'', ) is a term used to collectively describe a number of East Asian people, East Asian Tungusic languages, Tungusic-speaking peoples, descended from the Donghu people. They ...
could continue this arrangement with the Song dynasty with the founding of their Jin dynasty.
Examination system
Emperor Shengzong also institutionalised state examinations for the selection of officials, which was done in 988, based on models used by the
Han Chinese
The Han Chinese () or Han people (), are an East Asian ethnic group native to China. They constitute the world's largest ethnic group, making up about 18% of the global population and consisting of various subgroups speaking distinctive va ...
-led
Tang
Tang or TANG most often refers to:
* Tang dynasty
* Tang (drink mix)
Tang or TANG may also refer to:
Chinese states and dynasties
* Jin (Chinese state) (11th century – 376 BC), a state during the Spring and Autumn period, called Tang (唐) b ...
and
Song
A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...
dynasties. 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 30 and 130 candidates passing the triennial exams by 1014.
Most ''
jinshi
''Jinshi'' () was the highest and final degree in the imperial examination in Imperial China. The examination was usually taken in the imperial capital in the palace, and was also called the Metropolitan Exam. Recipients are sometimes referre ...
'' degree holders were not even appointed to office, as Khitan aristocrats were far more likely to receive appointments. Khitan people receiving appointments did so specifically through patronage, as they were expressly prohibited from taking the examinations.
Spread of Buddhism
Emperor Shengzong began the active patronage of
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religion or philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It originated in northern India as a -movement in the 5th century BCE, and gra ...
, rebuilding temples such as the Monastery of Solitary Joy. Within a century of his reign, an estimated 10% of the Liao population were Buddhist monks or nuns, though this figure may have been exaggerated. While the Khitans 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, whom 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
Sedentary lifestyle is a lifestyle type, in which one is physically inactive and does little or no physical movement and or exercise. A person living a sedentary lifestyle is often sitting or lying down while engaged in an activity like soci ...
population resided. There is evidence to suggest that the Khitan populace maintained their
animistic
Animism (from Latin: ' meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, hum ...
belief systems along with their rituals.
Innovations
During the rule of Emperor Shengzong, the Liao dynasty instituted feudal reform, spurring its economy. Prior to this, it had depended on territorial expansion, slavery and thievery. Under Emperor 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
Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fibre, milk, or other products. It includes day-to-day care, selective breeding, and the raising of livestock. Husbandry has a long history, starti ...
, particularly horse and sheep raising, as well as agriculture and fishing. During Emperor Shengzong's reign, the Liao dynasty enjoyed peace and prosperity, so it is widely praised that Emperor Shengzong's reign was a golden age of the Liao dynasty
Goryeo-Khitan Wars
Family
Consort and issue(s):
* Deposed Empress, of the Xiao clan (廢后蕭氏)
* Empress Rende, of the Xiao clan (仁德皇后 蕭氏; 983–1032), personal name (菩薩哥), a niece of Empress Ruizhi
**''Unnamed Prince,'' 2nd sonDied as children
**''Unnamed Prince,'' 3rd son
* Empress Qin'ai, of the Xiao clan (欽哀皇后 蕭氏; d. 1057), personal name Noujin (耨斤)
** Yelü Zongzhen,
Emperor Xingzong of Liao
Emperor Xingzong of Liao (3 April 1016 – 28 August 1055), personal name Zhigu, sinicised name Yelü Zongzhen, was the seventh emperor of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China.
Life
Yelü Zongzhen was the eldest son of Emperor Shengzong. He was ...
(耶律宗真; 1016–1055), 4th son
** Yelü Zongyuan (耶律宗元; 1021–1063), 6th son
** Princess Zhang of Qin State (秦國長公主 耶律岩母堇), personal name Yanmuqin (岩母堇), 2nd daughter
***Married Xiao Zhuobu (蕭浞卜)
***Married Xiao Haili (蕭海里)
***Married Xiao Hudu (蕭胡覩)
***Married Xiao Hui (蕭惠) and had issue (one son)
** Princess of Yue State (越國公主), personal name Shuogu (槊古), 3rd daughter
***Married Xiao Xiaozhong (蕭孝忠) and had issue (
Xiao Guanyin
Xiao Guanyin (; 1040–13 December 1075), known as the Empress Yide (懿德皇后) during her tenure from 1055 to 1075, and as Empress Xuanyi (宣懿皇后) after her death, was an empress consort of the Liao dynasty of China, married to her cousi ...
)
* Noble Consort Xiao, of the Xiao clan (貴妃 蕭氏; 970–993), daughther of Xiao Pai (蕭排)
** ''Unnnamed Prince''
**''Unnamed Princess''
**Princess of Qin (秦國公主, b. 990), personal name Yange (燕哥), 1st daughter
***Married Xiao Pili (蕭匹里) in 1012 and had issue (five sons and six daughters).
* Virtuous Consort Xiao, of the Xiao clan (德妃 蕭氏; d. 1017)
*''Liyi'', of the Ma clan (麗儀 馬氏)
**Princess Xunyang (潯陽公主), personal name Jiuge (九哥), 7th daughter
***married Xiao Lian (蕭璉) in 1017
* ''Shuyi'', of the Geng clan (淑儀 耿氏)
** Yelü Zongyuan (耶律宗願; 1008–1072), 10th son
* ''Zhaoyi'', of the Bai clan (昭儀 白氏)
**Princess Tongchang (同昌公主), personal name Bage (八哥), 9th daughter
***married Liu Sangu (劉三嘏)
** Princess Sanhe (三河郡主), personal name Shige (十哥), 10th daughter
***married Xiao Gaojiu (蕭高九)
**Princess Renshou (仁寿縣主), personal name Baishi (擘失), 11th daughter
***married Liu Siduan (劉四端)
** Princess Yelü (耶律公主), personal name Taige (泰哥), 12th daughter
***married Xiao Hulie (蕭忽烈)
* ''Shunyi,'' of the Li clan (順儀 李氏)
** Princess Jinxiang (金鄉郡主), personal name Saige (賽哥), 13th daughter
***married Xiao Tuyu (蕭圖玉)
* ''Fangyi'', of the Ai clan (芳儀 艾氏)
** Princess Yelü (耶律公主), personal name Xingge (興哥), 14th daughter
***married Xiao Wangliu (蕭王六)
* ''Heyi'', of the Puhai clan (和儀 仆槐氏)
** Yelü Zongxun (耶律宗訓), 8th son
** Yelü Zongwei (耶律宗偉), 9th son
* ''Lady'', of the Xiao clan (萧氏)
** Princess Nanyang (南陽公主, b. 1130), personal name Cuiba (崔八), 4th daughter
***married Xiao Xiaoxian (蕭孝先)
** Princess Zhangning (長寧公主), personal name Taoge (陶哥), 5th daughter
***married Xiao Yangliu (蕭楊六)
* ''Lady'' , of the Xiao clan (蕭氏)
** Princess of Jing State (荆國公主), personal name Dianni (鈿匿), 6th daughter
***married Ciao Shuanggu (蕭雙古)
* ''Lady'', of the Da clan (大氏)
** Princess Linhai (臨海縣主), personal name Changshou (長壽), 8th daughter
***married Dali Qiu (大力秋) of Bohai
***married Xiao Gu (蕭古)
* Unknown
**Yelu Fubaonu (耶律佛寶奴, b. 988), 1st son
**Yelu Shusi (耶律屬思, b.1017), 5th son
** Yelü Zongjian, Prince of Liucheng (柳城郡王 耶律宗簡; d. 1050), 7th son
Ancestry
In popular culture
* Portrayed by Jang Dong-jik and Oh Gun-woo in the 2009
KBS2
The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) () is the national broadcaster of South Korea. Founded in February 1927, it is one of the leading South Korean television and radio broadcasters.
KBS operates seven radio networks, ten television channels, a ...
TV series ''
Empress Cheonchu
''Empress Cheonchu'' (; also known as ''The Iron Empress'') is a 2009 South Korean period television series based on the title character, an actual historical figure and her lifelong struggle to protect the country her ancestors built. The grand ...
''.
*Portrayed by Chen Hao, Cary Ye and Leo Pei in the 2020 Chinese TV series ''
The Legend of Xiao Chuo
''The Legend of Xiao Chuo'' () is a 2020 Chinese television series based on the novel Yan Yun Tai by Jiang Shengnan. It stars Tiffany Tang in the title role, along with Shawn Dou, Charmaine Sheh and Jing Chao. The series chronicles the life of leg ...