Emperor Jingzong of Liao

Emperor Jingzong of Liao (1 September 948 – 13 October 982), personal name Yelü Xian, courtesy name Xianning, was the fifth emperor of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China.

Life[]

Yelü Xian succeeded Emperor Muzong in 969 after the latter was murdered by his servants during a hunting trip. He had support from both the Khitan and Han ruling elites.

Emperor Jingzong made several important contributions to the Liao dynasty. He employed ethnic Han officials in his government, appointing one as the Minister of Southern Affairs and the Duke of Qin. This allowed the government to run more efficiently and sped up the transformation of Khitan society into a feudal society. He cracked down on corruption in the government, firing those who were bribed or incompetent. Emperor Jingzong also accepted criticisms willingly. He stopped hunting frequently after an official made a connection between hunting and Emperor Muzong's death, and Emperor Jingzong began to prepare war against his southern neighbours.

Emperor Jingzong's first conflict with the Northern Song dynasty came with the Song invasion of the Northern Han dynasty. However, the Liao reinforcements were destroyed by a Song army, and Song later destroyed Northern Han. The Song army followed up the victory with an attack on Beijing, the Liao dynasty's southern capital. However, the Liao army completely routed the Song army, with Emperor Taizong of Song fleeing the battlefield. Several battles followed, with a stalemate between the Liao and Song dynasties.

Emperor Jingzong's body is weak, many diseases, sometimes unable to stand up to the court, the great national story is mostly handled by his wife Xiao Yanyan.

On 13 October, 982, Emperor Jingzong died on his way back from a hunting trip. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Shengzong, and his wife Xiao Yanyan served as regent.

Harem[]

• Xiao Yanyan, Empress Ruizhi of the Xiao clan (953–1009) (萧绰 睿智皇后 萧氏); Jingzong's second cousin
  • Yelü Guanyinnü, the Princess of Qi (969–1045) (耶律观音女 齐国公主)
    • Married Xiao Jixian (箫继先) and had issue (1 son and 2 daughters)
  • Yelü Longxu, Emperor Shengzong of Liao (972–1031) (耶律隆绪 辽圣宗)
  • Yelü Longqing, the Prince of Liang (973–1016) (耶律隆庆 梁王), honoured as Imperial Uncle Xiaozhen (孝贞皇太叔)
  • Yelü Changshounü, the Princess of Wei (975–1017) (耶律长寿女 卫国公主)
    • Married Xiao Paiya (箫排押) and had issue (2 daughters: Noble Consort Xiao and Princess Consort of Qin and Jin
  • Yelü Yanshounü, the Princess of Yue (976–996) (耶律延寿女 越国公主)
    • Married Xiao Hengde (箫恒德) and had issue (1 son , Xiao Pidi)
  • Yelü Longyou, Prince Xiaojing of Chu (979–1012) (耶律隆佑 楚孝靖王)
  • Yelü Zhengge (耶律郑哥) – disputed.
• Consort, of Bohai (渤海妃)
  • Yelü Shuge (耶律淑哥)
• Lady Mou (某氏)
  • Yelü Yaoshinu (耶律药师奴) – died early after birth
• Hunian (胡辇) – disputed, became the concubine of his son, Yelu Longxu; No issue.

Ancestry[]

In popular culture[]

• Portrayed by Jing Chao in the 2020 Chinese TV series The Legend of Xiao Chuo.

Sources[]

• Toqto'a; et al. (1344). Liao Shi (遼史) [History of Liao] (in Chinese).
• Twitchett, Denis C.; Tietze, Klaus-Peter (1994). "The Liao". In Twitchett, Dennis; Franke, Herbert (eds.). The Cambridge History of China, Volume 6: Alien Regimes and Border States, 907–1368. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 43–153. ISBN 978-0-521-24331-5.