Emperor Shengzong of Liao
Emperor Shengzong of Liao 遼聖宗 | |||||||||||||
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6th Emperor of Liao Dynasty | |||||||||||||
Reign | 14 October 982 – 25 June 1031 | ||||||||||||
Predecessor | Emperor Jingzong | ||||||||||||
Successor | Emperor Xingzong | ||||||||||||
Born | Wenshunu (Khitan name) Yelü Longxu (sinicised name) 16 January 972 | ||||||||||||
Died | 25 June 1031 | (aged 59)||||||||||||
Empress | Xiao Pusage | ||||||||||||
Concubine | Xiao Noujin Consort Puwei Consort Jiang Consort Xiao Consort Xiao Consort Ma Consort Da Consort Bai Consort Li Consort Ai Consort Sun | ||||||||||||
Issue | Sons: Yelü Zongzhen Yelü Zhongyuan Yelü Biegute Yelü Wuge Yelü Gou'er Yelü Hougu Daughters: Yelü Yange Yelü Yanmu Yelü Shuogu Yelü Cuiba Yelü Taoge Yelü Dianni Yelü Jiuge Yelü Changshou Yelü Bage Yelü Shige Yelü Boshi Yelü Taige Yelü Saige Yelü Xingge | ||||||||||||
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Father | Emperor Jingzong | ||||||||||||
Mother | Xiao Chuo |
Emperor Shengzong of Liao | |||
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Traditional Chinese | 遼聖宗 | ||
Simplified Chinese | 辽圣宗 | ||
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Wenshunu (Khitan name) | |||
Chinese | 文殊奴 | ||
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Yelü Longxu (sinicised name) | |||
Traditional Chinese | 耶律隆緒 | ||
Simplified Chinese | 耶律隆绪 | ||
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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 dynasty[]
Emperor Shengzong succeeded his father, Emperor Jingzong, at the age of 12 in 982. As he was too young to rule at the time, his mother, Empress Dowager Xiao, became the regent.
Emperor Taizong of the Northern Song dynasty sought to take advantage of the situation by launching an invasion on the Liao dynasty's southern capital (present-day Beijing) in the contentious Sixteen Prefectures 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.[1] Empress Dowager Xiao appointed Yelü Xiuge 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. 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 taels of silver to the Liao dynasty in exchange for peace.[2] This arrangement would remain in place with modifications until the end of the Liao dynasty, and in fact, the Jurchens 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-led Tang and Song 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 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.[3]
Spread of Buddhism[]
Emperor Shengzong began the active patronage of Buddhism, 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.[citation needed] 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 population resided. There is evidence to suggest that the Khitan populace maintained their animistic belief systems along with their rituals.[4]
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, 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[]
Harem[]
- Empress, of the Xiao clan (萧氏), demoted to Noble Consort (贵妃)
- Xiao Pusage, Empress of the Xiao clan (萧氏皇后 萧菩萨哥; 983–1032), a niece of Empress Ruizhi
- Xiao Noujin, Empress Yinai of the Xiao clan (伊奈皇后 萧耨斤; d. 1057)
- Yelü Zongzhen, Emperor Xingzong of Liao (耶律宗真; 1016–1055)
- Yelü Zongyuan (耶律宗元; 1021–1063)
- Yelü Yanmu (耶律岩母)
- Yelü Shuogu (耶律槊古)
- Noble Consort, of the Xiao clan (贵妃 萧氏; 970–993)
- Yelü Yange (耶律燕哥; b. 990)
- Virtuous Consort, of the Xiao clan (德妃 萧氏; d. 1017)
- Lady of Warm Ceremony, of the Geng clan (淑仪 耿氏)
- Yelü Zongyuan (耶律宗愿; 1008–1072)
- Concubine, of the Xiao clan (萧氏)
- Yelü Cuiba (耶律崔八; d. 1030)
- Yelü Taoge (耶律陶哥)
- Concubine, of the Xiao clan (萧氏)
- Yelü Dianni (耶律钿匿)
- Concubine, of the Ma clan (马氏)
- Yelü Jiuge (耶律九哥)
- Concubine, of the Da clan (大氏)
- Yelü Changshou (耶律长寿)
- Concubine, of the Bai clan (白氏)
- Yelü Bage (耶律八哥)
- Yelü Shige (耶律十哥)
- Yelü Baishi (耶律擘失)
- Yelü Taige (耶律泰哥)
- Concubine, of the Li clan (李氏)
- Yelü Saige (耶律赛哥)
- Concubine, of the Ai clan (艾氏)
- Yelü Xingge (耶律兴哥)
- Concubine, of the Puhai clan (仆槐氏)
- Yelü Zongxun (耶律宗训)
- Yelü Zongwei (耶律宗伟)
- Unknown
- Yelü Zongjian (耶律宗简; d. 1050)
Ancestry[]
Yelü Abaoji (872–926) | |||||||||||||||||||
Yelü Bei (899–937) | |||||||||||||||||||
Shulü Ping (879–953) | |||||||||||||||||||
Emperor Shizong of Liao (919–951) | |||||||||||||||||||
Empress Rouzhen (d. 951) | |||||||||||||||||||
Emperor Jingzong of Liao (948–982) | |||||||||||||||||||
Shulü Pogu | |||||||||||||||||||
Xiao Aguzhi | |||||||||||||||||||
Lady Yelü | |||||||||||||||||||
Xiao Sagezhi (d. 951) | |||||||||||||||||||
Emperor Shengzong of Liao (972–1031) | |||||||||||||||||||
Xiao Humeili | |||||||||||||||||||
Xiao Siwen (d. 970) | |||||||||||||||||||
Xiao Chuo (953–1009) | |||||||||||||||||||
Yelü Abaoji (872–926) | |||||||||||||||||||
Emperor Taizong of Liao (902–947) | |||||||||||||||||||
Shulü Ping (879–953) | |||||||||||||||||||
Yelü Lübugu | |||||||||||||||||||
In popular culture[]
- Portrayed by Jang Dong-jik and Oh Gun-woo in the 2009 KBS2 TV series Empress Cheonchu.
- Portrayed by Chen Hao, Cary Ye and Leo Pei in the 2020 Chinese TV series The Legend of Xiao Chuo.
Notes[]
References[]
- Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China: 900-1800. Harvard University Press. pp. 68–71, 76–86, 115–116.
- 972 births
- 1031 deaths
- Liao dynasty emperors
- Liao dynasty Buddhists
- Chinese Buddhist monarchs
- 11th-century Chinese monarchs
- 10th-century Chinese monarchs
- People from Chifeng
- 10th-century Khitan rulers
- 11th-century Khitan rulers