Emperor Shengzong of Liao
Encyclopedia
Emperor Shengzong of Liao (January 16, 982–June 25, 1031), born as Yelü Longxu , succeeded Emperor Jingzong
as Emperor of the Liao Dynasty
at the age of 12 in 982. As he was too young to actually rule, his mother, Empress Dowager Xiao, effectively ruled the kingdom. He reigned from 14 October 982 to 25 June 1031.
leader Emperor Taizong
sought to take advantage of the young emperor by launching an invasion on the Liao Southern Capital (Beijing
) in the contentious Sixteen Prefectures
in 986. Three large forces were sent to three different strategic locations on the approach to the Southern Capital. While initially successful, the young emperor along with the Empress Dowager led a Khitan cavalry
force and defeated the Song forces at the Battle of the Qigou Pass in June. The Empress Dowager appointed Yelu Xiuge as her senior general continued attacks on the Song in retaliation until the next year.
In 1004, the Liao led a large-scale invasion of Song territory, camping out in the town of Shanyuan, about 100 miles north of the capital of Kaifeng
. This resulted in the Treaty of Shanyuan, signed in mid-January, 1005. According to this treaty, the Chinese paid an annual tribute
of 200,000 bolts of silk, 100,000 ounces of silver. This arrangement would remain in place with modifications until the end of the Liao Dynasty, and in fact, the Jurchen could continue this arrangement with the Song with the founding of the Jin Dynasty.
, which had fallen in 907, and the Song Dynasty
, which existed concurrently with the Liao. 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 thirty and 130 candidates passed the triennial exams by 1014.
Most jinshi degree winners were not even appointed to office as Khitan
aristocrats
were far more likely to receive appointments. Khitan people receiving appointments were specifically through patronage as they were expressly prohibited from sitting the examinations.
, re-building temples such as the Monastery of Solitary Joy. Within a century of his reign, an estimated ten percent of Liao population were Buddhist monk
s or nun
s, though this figure may have been exaggerated. While the Khitan 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, who 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.
. Prior to this, it had depended on territorial expansion, slavery
, and thievery. Under 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 Shengzong's reign, the Liao Dynasty enjoyed peace and prosperity, so it is widely praised that Shenzong's reign is the golden age of Liao Dynasty
Emperor Jingzong of Liao
The Emperor Jingzong of Liao , born as Yelü Xian , was an emperor of the Liao Dynasty and reigned from 13 March 969 to 13 October 982....
as Emperor of the Liao Dynasty
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
at the age of 12 in 982. As he was too young to actually rule, his mother, Empress Dowager Xiao, effectively ruled the kingdom. He reigned from 14 October 982 to 25 June 1031.
Conflict with the Song
The SongSong Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
leader Emperor Taizong
Emperor Taizong of Song
Emperor Taizong , born Zhao Kuangyi, was the second emperor of the Song Dynasty of China from 976 to 997. He was the younger brother of Emperor Taizu. His temple name Taizong means "Grand Ancestor".-Overview:...
sought to take advantage of the young emperor by launching an invasion on the Liao Southern Capital (Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
) in the contentious Sixteen Prefectures
Sixteen Prefectures
The Sixteen Prefectures are a region in northern China stretching from present-day Beijing westward to Datong. In most areas, it is approximately seventy to one hundred miles in width...
in 986. Three large forces were sent to three different strategic locations on the approach to the Southern Capital. While initially successful, the young emperor along with the Empress Dowager led a Khitan cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
force and defeated the Song forces at the Battle of the Qigou Pass in June. The Empress Dowager appointed Yelu Xiuge as her senior general continued attacks on the Song in retaliation until the next year.
In 1004, the Liao led a large-scale invasion of Song territory, camping out in the town of Shanyuan, about 100 miles north of the capital of Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
. This resulted in the Treaty of Shanyuan, signed in mid-January, 1005. According to this treaty, the Chinese paid an annual tribute
Tribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
of 200,000 bolts of silk, 100,000 ounces of silver. This arrangement would remain in place with modifications until the end of the Liao Dynasty, and in fact, the Jurchen could continue this arrangement with the Song with the founding of the Jin Dynasty.
Examination System
Shengzong was also the one to institutionalize state examinations for the selection of Chinese officials, which was done in 988, based on models used by the Tang DynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, which had fallen in 907, and the Song Dynasty
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
, which existed concurrently with the Liao. 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 thirty and 130 candidates passed the triennial exams by 1014.
Most jinshi degree winners were not even appointed to office as Khitan
Khitan people
thumb|250px|Khitans [[Eagle hunting|using eagles to hunt]], painted during the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]].The Khitan people , or Khitai, Kitan, or Kidan, were a nomadic Mongolic people, originally located at Mongolia and Manchuria from the 4th century...
aristocrats
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
were far more likely to receive appointments. Khitan people receiving appointments were specifically through patronage as they were expressly prohibited from sitting the examinations.
Growth of Buddhism
Emperor Shengzong began the active patronage of BuddhismBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, re-building temples such as the Monastery of Solitary Joy. Within a century of his reign, an estimated ten percent of Liao population were Buddhist monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s or nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
s, though this figure may have been exaggerated. While the Khitan did not associate Buddhism with the Chinese people because it was seen more as a Uyghur
Uyghur people
The Uyghur are a Turkic ethnic group living in Eastern and Central Asia. Today, Uyghurs live primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China...
religion and thus not the religion of the Chinese, who 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.
Innovations
During the rule of Emperor Shengzong, the Liao instituted feudal reform, spurring its economyEconomy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
. Prior to this, it had depended on territorial expansion, slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
, and thievery. Under Shengzong's rule, most slaves were liberated, becoming normal members of society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
. The most important parts of the economy from then on were animal husbandry
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
, particularly horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
and sheep raising, as well as agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. During Shengzong's reign, the Liao Dynasty enjoyed peace and prosperity, so it is widely praised that Shenzong's reign is the golden age of Liao Dynasty