Xiao Wen (; died February 18, 935''

History of Liao The ''History of Liao'', or ''Liao Shi'' (''Liáo Shǐ''), is a Chinese historical book compiled officially by the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), under the direction of the historian Toqto'a (Tuotuo), and finalized in 1344.Xu Elina-Qian, ...

'', vol. 3.

Academia Sinica Academia Sinica (AS, la, 1=Academia Sinica, 3=Chinese Academy; ), headquartered in Nangang, Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. Founded in Nanking, the academy supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from ...

br>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter
), formally Empress Jing'an (靖安皇后, "the meek and peaceful empress"), probably née Shulü Wen (述律溫), was an empress of the Khitan-led Chinese

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 the wife of Emperor Taizong (Yelü Deguang).

Background

It is not known when Xiao Wen was born. Her father, whose personal name was Shilu (室魯)''History of Liao'', vol. 71. or Dilu (敵魯)''History of Liao'', vol. 73. Dilu was not directly referred to as her father, but as her brother Xiao Han was described to be Dilu's son, it was probable that Shilu and Dilu were the same person. and who was probably still using the surname Shulü (述律) at the time that she was born, was a younger brother of

Empress Shulü Ping 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), ...

, the wife of Liao's founder

Emperor Taizu of Liao Abaoji (872–6 September 926), posthumously known by his temple name as the Emperor Taizu of Liao, was a Khitan leader and the founding emperor of the Liao dynasty of China, ruling from 916 to 926. He had a sinicised name, Yelü Yi; some sourc ...

. (Xiao Wen's older brother Xiao Han was described by the

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 ...

historian

Sima Guang Sima Guang (17 November 1019 – 11 October 1086), courtesy name Junshi, was a Chinese historian, politician, and writer. He was a high-ranking Song dynasty scholar-official who authored the monumental history book ''Zizhi Tongjian''. Sima was ...

, in his ''

Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynast ...

'', as the first member of the Shulü household to use the name of Xiao, although it is not clear whether Sima's assertion was actually correct;''

'', vol. 286. the ''

'' explained that because Emperor Taizu admired

Han Dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...

's founder Emperor Gao (Liu Bang), he had his own Yelü clan take on 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 ...

surname of

Liu / ( or ) is an East Asian surname. pinyin: in Mandarin Chinese, in Cantonese. It is the family name of the Han dynasty emperors. The character originally meant 'kill', but is now used only as a surname. It is listed 252nd in the classic text ...

, while having the clans of past and present consorts of Yelü chieftains take on the surname of Xiao, after Emperor Gao's prime minister

Xiao He Xiao He (257 BC–193 BC) was a Chinese politician of the early Western Han dynasty. He served Liu Bang (Emperor Gao), the founder of the Han dynasty, during the insurrection against the Qin dynasty, and fought on Liu's side in the Chu–Han Co ...

; based on Liao tradition, nearly all of the subsequent empresses of Liao carried the surname of Xiao.) Xiao Wen married Emperor Taizu's and Empress Shulü's second son Yelü Deguang while Yelü Deguang carried the title of Generalissimo. (As Yelü Deguang was bestowed that title in 923, their marriage thus would be that year or later, but before Emperor Taizu's death in 926.)''History of Liao'', vol. 2.

As empress

After Emperor Taizu's death in 926,Yelü Deguang succeeded to the throne in 927 (as Emperor Taizong), bypassing his older brother

Yelü Bei Yelü Bei () (899''History of Liao'', vol. 72. – January 7, 937''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 280. Academia Sinicabr>Chinese-Western Calendar Converter), also known as Yelü Tuyu (耶律突欲 or 耶律圖欲), posthumously honored Emperor Wenxian Q ...

. The new emperor created Xiao Wen empress shortly thereafter. Empress Xiao was described to be intelligent, virtuous, and frugal. She was much favored by Emperor Taizong, such that she accompanied him on campaigns and hunts. She gave birth to his first son Yelü Jing in 931. Around the new year 935, she gave birth to his second son

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 ...

(耶律罨撤葛), and thereafter fell gravely ill. She died a month later. She was initially given the posthumous name of ''Zhangde'' (彰德, "displayed virtue"); her eventual posthumous name of ''Jing'an'' was given by Emperor Xingzong.

Notes and references

* ''

'', vol. 71. {{DEFAULTSORT:Xiao, Wen 935 deaths Liao dynasty empresses Xiao clan Year of birth unknown 10th-century Khitan women