Xiao Hunian (萧胡辇; 953–1009), also known as Hehan (和罕) was a Khitan noble lady of

imperial China The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC), during the reign of king Wu Ding. Ancient historical texts such as the '' Book of Documents'' (early chapte ...

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 ...

. She was one of the Xiao sisters and the oldest sister of

Lady Xiao Lady Xiao (personal name unknown), also known as Yileilan (伊勒兰) was a Khitan noble lady of imperial China's Liao dynasty. She was one of the Xiao sisters along with Xiao Hunian and Xiao Yanyan. 齐伟. 《路振〈乘轺录〉中“韩� ...

and

Xiao Yanyan Xiao Yanyan (; 953–1009), also known as Empress Dowager Chengtian (承天皇太后) was a Khitan empress and military leader of imperial China's Liao dynasty. She was regent on behalf of her son from 982. History Xiao Yanyan was the 3rd chil ...

History

Xiao Hunian was the eldest daughter of

Xiao Siwen Xiao Siwen (? — 970) was a Chinese politician who served as the chancellor and northern commissioner for military affairs of the Liao dynasty. He was the father of Xiao sisters (Xiao Hunian, Lady Xiao and Xiao Yanyan). However, for the sake of t ...

(萧思溫), Liao's

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

and

Yelü Lübugu Yelü Lübugu () or known by her title as Princess of Yan State (), was a Liao dynasty princess and the first daughter of Emperor Taizong of Liao. She then married Prime Minister Xiao Siwen and bore him the three Xiao Sisters (Xiao Hunian, Lady Xi ...

, Princess Yan. She had two younger sisters,

and

. She married

Yelü Yanchege Yelü Yanchege, King of Qi (; 935–972) was a prince of the Liao dynasty. He was the second son of Emperor Taizong of Liao and the second younger brother of Emperor Muzong. He was honoured as Crown Prince Qinjing (欽靖皇太叔). After his neph ...

, her uncle and the son of

Emperor Taizong of Liao Emperor Taizong of Liao (25 November 902 – 18 May 947), personal name Yaogu, sinicised name Yelü Deguang, courtesy name Dejin, was the second emperor of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China. Background Yelü Deguang was born in 902, befor ...

. Her brother-in-law Yelü Xian ascended to the throne as Emperor Jingzong. He promoted Yelü Yanchege as the King of Qi, and Xiao Hunian became the Queen of Qi. In the year 972, Yelü Yanchege died and Xiao Hunian received the title of Consort Dowager. After her husband died, she took over as head of his army and became the commander in chief of an expeditionary force against border tribes in the west in 994 and led her troops in a campaign against the

Xi 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 tha ...

, where she was credited with the establishment of the northwestern city of Kodun. She later married Han Yu, however, Han Yu passed away in 987. Xiao Hunian, now widowed, served as a spy against Song during the reign of her nephew

Emperor Shengzong Emperor Shengzong of Liao (16 January 972 – 25 June 1031), personal name Wenshunu, sinicised name Yelü Longxu, was the sixth emperor of the Khitan-led Chinese Liao dynasty and its longest reigning monarch. Conflict with the Northern Song dyn ...

. During her military journeys, she fell in love with a slave named Talan A'bo (挞览阿钵). Her relationship with him was not supported by Xiao Yanyan, and their relationship was further estranged. Xiao Yanyan did not have a good relationship with their second sister, Lady Xiao, either. Lady Xiao's husband Yelü Xiyin had been murdered, and Lady Xiao had tried to poison Xiao Yanyan, but was instead forced to commit suicide. Despite her pleas to save Lady Xiao, Xiao Hunian was imprisoned, then sentenced to death by Xiao Yanyan.

Media Portrayal

*Portrayed by

Charmaine Sheh Charmaine Sheh Sze-man (; born 28 May 1975) is a Hong Kong actress. After winning second runner-up in the 1997 Miss Hong Kong pageant, Sheh signed a contract with TVB in 1998. She is best known for her roles in '' Return of the Cuckoo'' (2000 ...

in the 2020 Chinese television 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 lege ...

.''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Xiao, Hunian Women in war in China Women leaders of China Chinese princesses Xiao clan 953 births 1009 deaths Women in medieval warfare 10th-century Khitan women 11th-century Khitan women Suicides in the Liao dynasty