Emperor Yizong of Western Xia (1047–1068), sinicized name Li Liangzuo (), was the second
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), ...
of the
Western Xia dynasty
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 tha ...
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
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 ...
", while "Liangcha" (兩岔) was his personal name.
After the death of his father,
Li Yuanhao
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 ...
(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
''His Mother'' is a 1912 American silent film produced by Kalem Company. It was directed by Sidney Olcott with Gene Gauntier and Jack J. Clark in the leading roles. It was one of more than a dozen films produced by the Kalem Company filmed in Ir ...
the Empress Dowager. In 1049, the
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 ...
attacked the Western Xia and forced it to become a vassal state. In 1056, the Dowager was killed and Yizong's uncle,
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 ...
, 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 states. Yizong began to attack the
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 ...
and raided their villages. He also forced the Turpan leader to surrender. In later years, Yizong began to improve diplomatic relationships with the Northern Song and Liao dynasties. He died suddenly in 1068.
Family
Consorts and issues:
* Empress Mozang (皇后沒藏氏, d.1061), daughter of Mozang Epang
*
Empress Gongsu
Empress (Dowager) Liang (Chinese: 梁太后; Tangut: , d. 1085), posthumously titled Empress Gongsu Zhangxian (恭肅章憲皇后), was the empress consort of Emperor Yizong of Western Xia. She was a member of the Liang clan, but her personal name ...
(恭肅皇后梁氏, d.1085), personal name Luoyao (落瑤)
**
Emperor Huizong of Western Xia
Emperor Huizong of Western Xia (1060–1086), born Li Bingchang (), was the third emperor of the Tangut-led Chinese Western Xia dynasty, ruling from 1067 to 1086.
After his father's sudden death, Huizong assumed the throne at the young age of ...
, personal name Bingchang (秉常)
**Princess, married son of Dong Zhan (董毡) Dong Tongbi (董通比)
References
''The Ageless Chinese'' by Dun J. Li
1047 births
1067 deaths
Western Xia emperors
11th-century Chinese monarchs
11th-century Tangut rulers
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