Dynasties of ChinaLiao dynastyLiao dynasty lineage
Jingfu · Zhongxi · Reign 1031—1055
Taking advantage of the war between Song and Xia, he forced the Song Dynasty to increase the annual coins, personally conquered Western Xia twice, worshiped Buddhism and Confucianism, and Liao Dynasty turned from prosperity to decline in his hands.
Yelü Zongzhen, the eldest son of Shengzong, was raised by Empress Xiao Bodhisattva of Qitian since childhood. After ascending the throne in 1031, Xiao Noujin established himself as the regent of the Empress Dowager, persecuted Empress Qitian to death, and appointed his younger brothers to have exclusive power. In 1034, she planned to depose Xingzong and replace her with her youngest son Yelü Zhongyuan. Zhongyuan informed his brother, and Xingzong took back the queen mother's seal and moved it to Gyeongju to guard the mausoleum, and he has been in charge since then.
Xingzong believed in Buddhism, liked poetry and painting, often sang with Han scribes, and paid attention to revising laws. He took advantage of the war between Song and Xia to ask for the land in Guannan from Song, and settled the matter with Song's increase in annual coins. In 1044 and 1049, he sent troops to Western Xia twice. First, he was defeated miserably in Hequ, and although he made some gains later, he finally ended up with Western Xia becoming a vassal. During his reign, the number of monks and nuns increased greatly, taxes and servitude became heavier, and Liao dynasty began to turn from prosperity to decline. He died of illness in 1055 at the age of forty.
Politicsmother regent
After taking the throne, Xiao Noujin, the biological mother, made herself regent for the Queen Mother. She falsely accused Queen Qitian, who raised Xingzong, of treason, moved her to Shangjing, and forced her to commit suicide the following year. Xiao Noujin's brothers hold important positions and are domineering.
PoliticsReceive the Queen Mother's Talisman Seal
Xiao Noujin conspired to depose Xingzong and install his youngest son Yelü Zhongyuan in his place. Zhongyuan informed his brother of the plot. Xingzong took back the Queen Mother's Fuxi and moved it to Qingzhou to guard the mausoleum of Shengzong. He then took charge of the government and treated Chongyuan favorably.
PoliticsPromulgation of new regulations
The minister was ordered to collect the laws and regulations since Taizu and compile 547 articles of the "Chongxi New Regulations" for promulgation, which made the Liao dynasty laws more systematic and laid the foundation for the further revision of laws in the Daozong Dynasty.
CultureBuild the Bodhisattva Tibetan Hall
The Bojiajiao Tibetan Hall was built in the Buddhist temple in Yunzhou (now Datong, Shanxi) to collect Buddhist scriptures. Along the wall of the hall is a double-story sutra cabinet, enshrining more than 20 colorful sculptures from the Liao Dynasty. This temple later became Huayan Temple.
Lasting legacyThe Bojiajiao Palace now exists in Huayan Temple in Datong, Shanxi Province. The Liao Dynasty colored sculptures and wall sutra cabinets in the temple are well preserved and are treasures of Liao Dynasty architecture and sculpture art.
DiplomacyChongxi increased coins
Taking advantage of the war between Song and Xia, Xiao Temo and Liu Liufu were sent to the Song Dynasty to claim the ten counties in Guannan that were recovered by Shizong in the later Zhou Dynasty. Song Dynasty sent Fu Bi to negotiate back and forth, and finally settled with an annual increase of 100,000 taels of silver and 100,000 pieces of silk.
MilitaryThe defeat of Hequ
On the grounds that Western Xia was tempting the Dangxiang tribes in the Liao border, he personally led a large army to conquer Western Xia. He won first and then lost in Hequ: Yuan Hao built a strong wall to clear the country and counterattacked in the wind. The Liao army was defeated and the prince-in-law Xiao Hujian was captured.
PoliticsSheng Yunzhou to Xijing
Shengyun Prefecture is the Datong Prefecture of Xijing. So far, Shangjing, Tokyo, Zhongjing, Nanjing, and Xijing have become the five major centers of Liao Dynasty district governance.
MilitaryRecruit Western Xia
Taking advantage of Yuan Hao's new death and Yizong's young age, he divided into three groups to conquer Western Xia again. Xiao Hui on the North Route was attacked and defeated by the Xia Army. The South Route Army defeated the Xia Army in Helan Mountain and captured Yuan Hao's widow. In 1053, Western Xia sent envoys to ask for peace and be professed ministers.
PeopleXingzong died of illness
He died of illness in August at the age of forty. According to legend, he promised at a banquet that he would be crowned the emperor's younger brother Chongyuan in the future. In the end, his eldest son Yelü Hongji ascended the throne, laying hidden dangers for the Chongyuan Rebellion in the future.
Shengzong Palace, Xingzong's biological mother. After Xingzong ascended the throne, he established himself as the regent of the Queen Mother and forced Queen Qitian to death. Later, because of the conspiracy to depose Xingzong, he was moved to Gyeongju to guard the mausoleum. He was welcomed back in 1039.
The second son of Shengzong, the same mother and brother of Xingzong. In 1034, he reported his mother's conspiracy and was named the crown prince's younger brother, holding a high and powerful position. Xingzong failed to succeed to the throne after his death. In 1063, he rebelled and committed suicide after defeat.
A relative and important minister, he served as the privy envoy of the Beiyuan many times. In 1049, the Tongbei Army conquered Western Xia. Because they underestimated the enemy and did not take precautions, they were attacked by the Xia army and returned with a heavy defeat.
Liao dynasty, a Han Jinshi, is famous for his rhetoric. In 1042, he sent two envoys to the Song Dynasty to negotiate for the land in Guannan, which promoted the increase of coins in Chongxi.