Overview
This lecture covers the history of the Khitan Liao dynasty, its rise to power, dual-emperor system with China, and eventual downfall, highlighting political, cultural, and gender dynamics.
Origins and Identity of the Khitans
- The Khitans were a steppe people, linguistically linked to Mongols, but with a unique and complex identity.
- The Liao dynasty was founded by YelĂĽ Abaoji, who became Khitan Great Khan in 907 and emperor in 916.
- The Khitans' lineage traces to the Xianbei, who split from the Donghu after defeat by the Xiongnu in the 3rd century BCE.
Establishment and Legitimacy of the Liao Dynasty
- YelĂĽ Abaoji adopted Chinese imperial customs, declaring era names and appointing his family as successors.
- The Liao dynasty is considered legitimate in official Chinese history, despite being culturally labeled as "barbarian" invaders.
- Mongol Yuan dynasty historians affirmed the legitimacy of non-Han dynasties to validate their own rule.
Political Context and Expansion
- Abaoji allied with Li Keyong during the chaotic fall of the Tang dynasty, gaining valuable political advice.
- He broke Khitan tradition by forming a hereditary monarchy, using both Khitan and Chinese governance systems.
- Liao expanded by conquering Balhae in 926, leading to conflicts with the Korean Goryeo dynasty.
Succession and Governance
- After Abaoji, his younger son YelĂĽ Deguang became emperor, bypassing the more Sinicized elder son YelĂĽ Bei.
- Empress Shulu Ping, a formidable leader, played a key role in securing succession.
- The Khitans administered northern nomads by traditional law and the southern population with Chinese laws.
Interactions with Chinese Dynasties
- Liao became a powerbroker during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, at times supporting or opposing Chinese factions.
- The Khitans acquired the strategic Sixteen Prefectures, including the site of modern Beijing.
- YelĂĽ Deguang briefly took the Chinese throne but failed to hold it, facing resistance and logistical challenges.
Decline and Fall
- The dual-emperor system with the Song dynasty persisted until the rise of the Jin (Jurchen) dynasty in 1115.
- Customary abuses by Khitan elites, such as demands on noble women, provoked rebellion among the Jurchens.
- The Liao dynasty fell in 1125 to the Jin, but remnants formed the Western Liao (Karakitai).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Khitan — Steppe ethnic group that founded the Liao dynasty.
- Liao Dynasty — Empire (907–1125) founded by Khitans, ruled northern China and parts of Mongolia, Korea, and Siberia.
- Mandate of Heaven — Chinese concept granting emperors the right to rule.
- Sinification/Sinicized — Adoption of Chinese culture and institutions.
- Sixteen Prefectures — Strategically vital region in northern China granted to the Liao.
- Jurchen — Tribal people who established the Jin dynasty after rebelling against Liao.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the succession and structure of Khitan governance.
- Watch the upcoming episode on the Jurchen Jin dynasty for further context.