Wanyan Xiyin
Encyclopedia
Wanyan Xiyin was a trusted advisor of the Jurchen chieftain, Wanyan Aguda
(later the Emperor Taizu, the first emperor of the Jin Dynasty). Described by modern writers as the "Chief Shaman" of the pre-Jin Jurchen state, he became deeply interested in Chinese culture, and is
particularly known as the creator of the first writing system
for the Jurchen language.
Wanyan Xiyin's original Jurchen name is transcribed in Chinese sources as Wushi ( or 悟室; Wade-Giles
, Wu-shih). He belonged to the Jurchen Wanyan
tribe, but not to the actual imperial Wanyan family.
Along with Wanyan Nianhan
(1080-1137) and Gushe (骨括, or Hushe, 胡舍), Wushi was one of the three chief advisors of Aguda
at the time of his rebellion against the Liao
. He continued to be a trusted advisor of Aguda as he became the first Emperor Taizu of the Jin Dynasty, and of and his successor Taizong
(r. 1123-1134). However, Wushi (Xiyin) fell into disgrace under Taizong's successor Xizong
(r. 1135-1149) and had to commit suicide in 1140.
According to the contemporary Chinese sources, "Wushi was crafted and talented. It was he who personally devised laws and the script for the Jurchen, and thus shaped them into one state (guo, 国). The people of the state called him shan-man (珊蛮); shan-man in Jurchen means a shamaness. This is because he understood changing conditions like a good. From Nianhan down, nobody was able to be his equal."
As the translator of this text, Herbert Franke
, notes, this may be the earliest known Chinese document in which the word 珊蛮 (shanman) is attested; it corresponds to the Manchu
saman ("shaman, sorcerer").
Wushi was fascinated by Chinese classics, and collected a large library when Jurchens seized and looted
the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, Pianjing (now Kaifeng
). He invited several Chinese scholars, led by Yuwen Xuzhong (宇文虚中; he was captured by the Jurchen while an envoy to the Jin), to advise him and to teach his sons and grandsons. Hong Hao (洪皓) - another Song envoy similarly detained by the Jurchen - though that it was under Yuwen's influence that a variety of Chinese cultural practices entered the Jin Empire, such as the forms of government organizations, the scale of official ranks, salaries, and hereditary privileges, as well as the rules for assigning posthumous name
s to emperors and the taboo
against using characters that appear in emperors' names.
The instruction offered by Yuwen and other Chinese scholars must have been successful, as Wushi's sons were able to write Chinese poems for Hong Hao. The degree of their sinicization was high enough for one of them to become one of the first Jurchen to have a Chinese wife.
The tombs of Wanyan Xiyin and his family members are said to be located near the city of Shulan
in Jilin
Province. Since 1961, they have been listed on the provincial register of the protected historical sites.
characters and the Liao
script.
Wanyan Aguda
Emperor Taizu of Jin was Emperor of Jin from January 28, 1115 to September 19, 1123.He was the chieftain of the Jurchen Wanyan tribe, founder and first emperor of the Jin Dynasty . He was the younger brother of Wanyan Wuyashu...
(later the Emperor Taizu, the first emperor of the Jin Dynasty). Described by modern writers as the "Chief Shaman" of the pre-Jin Jurchen state, he became deeply interested in Chinese culture, and is
particularly known as the creator of the first writing system
Jurchen script
Jurchen script was the writing system used to write Jurchen language, the language of the Jurchen people who created the Jin Empire in the northeastern China of the 12th–13th centuries. It was derived from the Khitan script, which in turn was derived from Chinese...
for the Jurchen language.
Wanyan Xiyin's original Jurchen name is transcribed in Chinese sources as Wushi ( or 悟室; Wade-Giles
Wade-Giles
Wade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
, Wu-shih). He belonged to the Jurchen Wanyan
Wanyan
Wanyan was a Heishui Mohe tribe living in the drainage region of the Heilong River during the Khitan Liao Dynasty time. The Wanyan clan was founded by Hanpu, who, according to the "History of the Jin" , came from the kingdom of Goryeo at the age of sixty...
tribe, but not to the actual imperial Wanyan family.
Along with Wanyan Nianhan
Wanyan Nianhan
Wanyan Nianhan , later known by his Chinese name, Zonghan was one of the top military commanders of the Jurchen people both during their pre-imperial and early Jin Empire period.-Biography:...
(1080-1137) and Gushe (骨括, or Hushe, 胡舍), Wushi was one of the three chief advisors of Aguda
Wanyan Aguda
Emperor Taizu of Jin was Emperor of Jin from January 28, 1115 to September 19, 1123.He was the chieftain of the Jurchen Wanyan tribe, founder and first emperor of the Jin Dynasty . He was the younger brother of Wanyan Wuyashu...
at the time of his rebellion against the Liao
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...
. He continued to be a trusted advisor of Aguda as he became the first Emperor Taizu of the Jin Dynasty, and of and his successor Taizong
Emperor Taizong of Jin
Emperor Taizong of Jin was emperor of the Jin Dynasty, which ruled northern China from September 27, 1123 to February 9, 1135. His birth name was Wányán Wúqǐmǎi , and his reign name was Tiānhuì ....
(r. 1123-1134). However, Wushi (Xiyin) fell into disgrace under Taizong's successor Xizong
Emperor Xizong of Jin
Emperor Xizong of Jin reigned from February 10, 1135 to January 9, 1150 as an emperor of the Jin Dynasty which controlled northern China from 1115 to 1234. His birth name was Wányán Hélá . His Han Chinese name was Wányán Dǎn .Wanyan Dan was the first son of the founder of the Jin Dynasty Wanyan...
(r. 1135-1149) and had to commit suicide in 1140.
According to the contemporary Chinese sources, "Wushi was crafted and talented. It was he who personally devised laws and the script for the Jurchen, and thus shaped them into one state (guo, 国). The people of the state called him shan-man (珊蛮); shan-man in Jurchen means a shamaness. This is because he understood changing conditions like a good. From Nianhan down, nobody was able to be his equal."
As the translator of this text, Herbert Franke
Herbert Franke
This is an article about a German sinologist. For the science fiction writer, see Herbert W. FrankeHerbert Franke was a German historian of China...
, notes, this may be the earliest known Chinese document in which the word 珊蛮 (shanman) is attested; it corresponds to the Manchu
Manchu language
Manchu is a Tungusic endangered language spoken in Northeast China; it used to be the language of the Manchu, though now most Manchus speak Mandarin Chinese and there are fewer than 70 native speakers of Manchu out of a total of nearly 10 million ethnic Manchus...
saman ("shaman, sorcerer").
Wushi was fascinated by Chinese classics, and collected a large library when Jurchens seized and looted
Jingkang Incident
The Jingkang Incident , the Humiliation of Jingkang , or The Disorders of the Jingkang Period took place in 1127 when invading Jurchen soldiers from the Jin Dynasty besieged and sacked Bianjing , the capital of the Song Dynasty of China...
the capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, Pianjing (now 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...
). He invited several Chinese scholars, led by Yuwen Xuzhong (宇文虚中; he was captured by the Jurchen while an envoy to the Jin), to advise him and to teach his sons and grandsons. Hong Hao (洪皓) - another Song envoy similarly detained by the Jurchen - though that it was under Yuwen's influence that a variety of Chinese cultural practices entered the Jin Empire, such as the forms of government organizations, the scale of official ranks, salaries, and hereditary privileges, as well as the rules for assigning posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
s to emperors and the taboo
Naming taboo
Naming taboo is a cultural taboo against speaking or writing the given names of exalted persons in China and neighboring nations in the ancient Chinese cultural sphere.-Kinds of naming taboo:...
against using characters that appear in emperors' names.
The instruction offered by Yuwen and other Chinese scholars must have been successful, as Wushi's sons were able to write Chinese poems for Hong Hao. The degree of their sinicization was high enough for one of them to become one of the first Jurchen to have a Chinese wife.
The tombs of Wanyan Xiyin and his family members are said to be located near the city of Shulan
Shulan
Shulan is a city in northern Jilin province, Northeast China. It falls under the administration of Jilin City, to the south-southwest.-History:...
in Jilin
Jilin
Jilin , is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the northeastern part of the country. Jilin borders North Korea and Russia to the east, Heilongjiang to the north, Liaoning to the south, and Inner Mongolia to the west...
Province. Since 1961, they have been listed on the provincial register of the protected historical sites.
Jurchen script
On Aguda's orders, in 1119 or 1120, Wanyan Xiyin created the Jurchen script, known as the "large-character script", for use in the administration of the new Jurchen (Jin) Empire. He based it on ChineseChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
characters and the Liao
Liao
Liao can mean:* Liao Dynasty , a former dynasty in northern China founded by the Khitan people**Northern Liao , state founded by the Khitans in northern China...
script.
Literature
- Herbert Franke, 1997 (I): "Chinese Texts on the Jurchen (I): a Translation of the Jurchen in the San ch'ao pei-meng hui-pien. Originally published in Zantralasiatische Studien 9. Wiesbaden, 1975. Reprinted in: Herbert Franke and Hok-lam Chan, "Studies on the Jurchens and the Chin Dynasty", Variorum Collected Series Studies: CS591, Ashgate, 1997. ISBN 0-86078-645-5. (The work whose name is transcribed in Wade-GilesWade-GilesWade–Giles , sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a romanization system for the Mandarin Chinese language. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Wade during the mid-19th century , and was given completed form with Herbert Giles' Chinese–English dictionary of 1892.Wade–Giles was the most...
as San ch'ao pei-meng hui-pien is Xu Mengxin's "Collected Accounts of the Treaties with the North under Three Reigns", or San chao beimeng huibian in Pinyin. Franke translates and comments on its Chapter 3, which deals with the history and customs of the Jurchen people).
- Jing-shen Tao, "The Jurchen in Twelfth-Century China". University of Washington Press, 1976, ISBN 0-295-95514-7.