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Xiao Yanyan
Empress Dowager Chengtian of Liao
from one 1892 print of the novel Legends of Generals of the Yang Family (《楊家將傳》)[note 1]
Regent of the Liao dynasty
Regency13 October 982 – 23 December 1009
MonarchEmperor Shengzong (son)
Born953
Died(1009-12-23)December 23, 1009
SpouseYelü Xian (Emperor Jingzong)
Issue
  • Yelü Longxu (Emperor Shengzong), son
  • Yelü Longqing (耶律隆慶), son
  • Yelü Longyou (耶律隆祐), son
  • Yelü Guanyinnü (耶律觀音女), daughter
  • Yelü Changshounü (耶律長壽女), daughter
  • Yelü Yanshounü (耶律延壽女), daughter
Names
Family name: Xiāo (蕭)
Khitan name: Yanyan (燕燕)
Chinese name: Xiāo Chuò (蕭綽)
Regnal name
Empress Dowager Ruìdé Shénlüè Yìngyùn QĬhuà Chéngtiān (睿德神略應運啟化承天皇太后)
Posthumous name
Empress Shèngshén Xuānxiàn (聖神宣獻皇后)
Empress Ruìzhì (睿智皇后)
FatherXiao Siwen (蕭思溫)
MotherYelü Lübugu (耶律呂不古)

Xiao Yanyan (Chinese: 蕭燕燕; 953–1009), also known as Empress Dowager Chengtian (承天皇太后) was a Khitan empress and military leader of imperial China's Liao dynasty.[1][2] She was regent on behalf of her son from 982.[1]

History

Xiao Yanyan was the 3rd child of Xiao Siwen (蕭思溫), Liao's chancellor.[3] Also referred to by the name Xiao Chuo, Xiao's original Khitan family name was Bali (拔裏氏).[4] She was the youngest of the Xiao sisters, along with Xiao Hunian and Lady Xiao.[1]

Xiao later married Emperor Jingzong of Liao and would go on to bear the crown Prince Yelü Longxu.[5][3] Being granted the title of Empress, Xiao was influential during her husband's reign.[6][2]

She would go on to become regent for her son in 982 when he ascended the Liao throne as Emperor Shengzong at 12 years old after the untimely death of Emperor Jingzong of Liao who died while returning from a hunting trip.[2][7][8]

In Khitan culture, it was acceptable for women to take part in military action, and indeed to be military commanders: Xiao became a military commander of great renown.[9] In 986, the Liao Empire was invaded by the Song dynasty to the south under the leadership of Emperor Taizong of Song, but was defeated by Liao forces under Xiao's command; she is said to have commanded the troops herself on the front line of the battle.[5] They routed the Song soldiers and captured thousands, who, as it was her birthday, Xiao pardoned.[2] A further invasion by the Song would ensue in 989 only to be defeated once again by Liao forces resulting in the death of Yang Ye.

In her personal life, Empress Dowager Chengtian was reported to have an accepted, spouse-like relationship with her advisor - and commanded of the Northern Chancellery - Han Derang.[10][11]

As Empress Dowager Chengtian, Xiao commanded her own army of 10,000 cavalry and would personally lead the Liao army in battle against the Song in 1005, despite being over 50 years old by that point.[2]

Known for her great skills in civil administration, Empress Dowager Chengtian retained great influence until her death at age 57 in 1009.[12][2] Chinese chronicles, such as The History of the Liao, credit most of the success of Emperor Shengzong's reign to his mother, Chengtian.[11][13]

She was also instrumental in arranging a marriage between her son and her court lady, Xiao Noujin.[citation needed] However, she had a poor relationship with her two older sisters, and she eventually poisoned or murdered both of them.[citation needed]

Modern references

Film and television

Literature

Notes

  1. ^ Essentially the same novel, with slight modifications by publishers and editors, as the second half of the Records of the Two Songs, South and North (《兩宋南北志傳》) written by Xiong Damu (熊大木) in the late 16th century.

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c Snodgrass, Mary Ellen (2023-12-20). Women Warriors in History: 1,622 Biographies Worldwide from the Bronze Age to the Present. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-5032-6.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Wiles, Sue (2015-01-28). Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-51562-3.
  3. ^ a b Shang, Xizhi; Liang, Liangxing (1994). Tales of Empresses and Imperial Consorts in China. Hai Feng Publishing Company. ISBN 978-962-238-218-3.
  4. ^ 遼史.卷七十一.后妃傳:"後族唯乙室、拔裏氏，而世任其國事。太祖慕漢高皇帝，故耶律兼稱劉氏；以乙室、拔裏比蕭相國，遂為蕭氏。...景宗睿智皇后蕭氏，諱綽，小字燕燕，北府宰相思溫女。"
  5. ^ a b Zhu, Ruixi; Zhang, Bangwei; Liu, Fusheng; Cai, Chongbang; Wang, Zengyu (2016-12-22). A Social History of Medieval China. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-16786-5.
  6. ^ The Chalice and the Blade in Chinese Culture: Gender Relations and Social Models. China Social Sciences Publishing House. 1995. ISBN 978-7-5004-1741-5.
  7. ^ SK, Lim (2018-11-12). Chinese Imperial Women (2010 Edition - EPUB). Asiapac Books Pte Ltd. ISBN 978-981-229-994-9.
  8. ^ Zhang, Shiwei (2021-11-16). The Logical Deduction of Chinese Traditional Political Philosophy. Springer Nature. ISBN 978-981-16-4376-7.
  9. ^ Hinsch, Bret (2020-12-16). Women in Song and Yuan China. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-4492-3.
  10. ^ Wanton Women in Late-Imperial Chinese Literature: Models, Genres, Subversions and Traditions. BRILL. 2017-04-18. ISBN 978-90-04-34062-6.
  11. ^ a b McMahon, Keith (2013-06-06). Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-1-4422-2290-8.
  12. ^ " Women in power 750-1000" from Guide2womenleaders.com, last accessed January 13, 2007
  13. ^ Kuhn, Dieter (2011-10-15). The Age of Confucian Rule. Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-24434-4.
  14. ^ chinesemov. "Battle Between Song and Liao Dynasties (2019)".

Sources

Categories