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The
Liao Dynasty(907-1125)
was established by the Khitan tribe (Qidan). The Qidan minority was an
ancient nomadic tribe that lived in northern China. In 916, Yelu Abaoji,
the chief of the Qidan tribe, established the Qidan Kingdom and proclaimed
himself emperor. Historically, Yelu Abaoji was called Emperor Taizu. In
947, Emperor Taizong renamed his dynasty the "Great Liao"; in
983, Emperor Shengzong revived the name Khitan; and in 1066, Emperor Daozong
restored the name "Great Liao."In 1104, Liao launched another
war. In the following year, having tired of the ceaseless skirmishes with
the nomadic people, the Song proposed the Chanyuan Treaty with the Liao.
The treaty required the Liao to ensure quiet frontiers for the Song. In
return, the Song had to pay a yearly tribute to the Liao.The Liao Dynasty,
using the tributes paid by the Song, achieved rapid progress and reached
a zenith both economically and politically.The Liao government, weakened
by economical disasters and internal quarrels, became brittle. Quickly,
the Jin army occupied most of the Liao territory. In 1125, Emperor Tianzuo
was captured by the Jin army, which brought the Liao Dynasty to an end.
The Jin Dynasty(1115-1234) was founded by Nuzhen. The
ancestors of the Nuzhen people lived in the Changbai Mountains and the
Helongjiang Valley. The Nuzhen tribe consisted of dozens of clans where
the Wanyan clan was the largest. In 1113, as chieftain of the clan union
Wanyan Aguda succeeded to unite all of them, marking a new era in Nuzhen
tribal history. In 1114, Wanyan performed a ritual with his armies on
the banks of the Lailiu River and established a new dynasty -- the Great
Jin Dynasty -- in 1115, proclaiming himself emperor. Initially, the Jin
Dynasty established its capital city in Huining later moving to Yanjing
(Beijing City). Lastly, the capital was moved to Bianjing on the site
of modern Kaifeng City in Henan Province. For a long period of time the
Jin people were oppressed by the Qidan people. In 1120, the Jin Dynasty
made an alliance with the Northern Song (960-1127) to defeat the Liao,
and in 1125 the Liao Emperor Tianzuo was captured and his dynasty collapsed.
The Jin then assumed total control of Northern China.
Soon afterwards, the Jin turned against the Northern Song. Emperor Taizong
who was greatly encouraged by the victory over the Liao, launched a general
war against the Song. Although the Song army put up a strong resistance,
due to its weak court and ineffective leadership, the Jin army prevailed.
In 1127, the Jin army took the capital, Kaifeng, and captured the Song
emperor. Following the fall of the Northern Song, the remainder of the
court fled south and established a new dynasty ¨C the Southern Song (1127-1279).
Soon, the newly founded Southern Song also became a target for the Jin.
However, this attempt proved less successful for the Jin due to the resistance
led by Yuefei, Han Shizhong and other heroes. The Jin army suffered heavy
setbacks and could no longer compete with the Song. Thus, a period of
coexistence between the two rival powers came into being.
A peaceful yet uneasy period between the rival Jin and Southern Song dynasties
was made possible when the Jin became an ally of the Western Xia. This
gave the Jin a dominant position in which it was able to demand tributes
from the Song. However, the Jin underestimated the growing threat from
its ancient enemies, the Mongolians.
With the growing power of Mongolians, Jin was threatened by Mongols. In
1233, the Mongolian army conquered Bianjing (Jin¡¯s capital). In 1234
the Mongolian army, assisted by the Song army, captured Jin¡¯s emperor
and put an end to the Jin Dynasty.
Western
Xia Dynasty In 1038 that the Tangut chieftain Li Yuahao, named
himself emperor of Da Xia, and demanded of the Northern Song emperor¡¯s
recognition as an equal. The Song court accepted the recognition of Li
Yuanhao as ¡°governor¡±, but not ¡°emperor¡±, a title considered exclusive
to the Song emperor. After intense diplomatic contacts, in 1043 the Tangut
state accepted the recognition of the Song emperor as emperor in exchange
for annual tribute, which implied tacit recognition on the part of the
Song of the military power of the Tangut.
After the Jin destroyed the Northern Song Dynasty in 1127, Western Xia
took several thousands square miles of land from Northern Song. In 1227
Western Xia was destroyed by Mongol.
