A Multi-State System, 907-1279

An Lushan Rebellion, 755-63

Background

Sogdian and Turk

Lushan=Rokshan “Light”

Frontier armies

Foster son of Zhang Shougui (d. 739)

Bodyguard of 8,000 Tongra, Qay and Khitan “foster sons”

Revolt in 755

Political conflicts with court officials

Generals

Shi Siming

Tian Chengsi

The Five Dynasties 907-960

Later Liang 907-923
Later Tang/T’ang (Shatuo/Sh’a-t’o Turks) 923-936
Later Ji/Chi 936-947
Later Han 947-950
Later Zhou/Chou 95l-960

Multi-State China

Liao Dynasty [Khitan], 907-916-1125

Song (Sung) Dynasty 960-1279

N. Song (960-1127)

Capital at Kaifeng

S. Song (1127-1279)

Hangzhou (Hang-chou)

Xi Xia (Hsi-Hsia) Dynasty [Tangut], ca. 982-1038-1227

Jin (Chin) Dynasty [Jurchen], 1115-1234

Traditional View of Northern Dynasties

Barbaric Oppressors

Border Regimes: Liao and Xi Xia

Multi-ethnic states

Chinese practicing agriculture

Source of wealth

Song population 20 times larger

Successful

Only a few imperial Chinese dynasties lasted longer

Han, Tang, and Song

Liao Dynasty (907-916-1125)

Khitan

Pastoral nomadic people

W. Manchuria homeland (Liao River)

Spoke an Mongolic language

Tang Borderland Origins

Repetition of late Han-Northern Dynasties pattern

Tang or Turk Uighur vassals 7th-8th centuries

Khitan contingent in An Lushan’s forces, 755

Abaoji

Tribal leader, 907

Bypassed tribal councils 910, 913

Emperor Taizu (r. 916-926)

Liao Success

Personal talent of Abaoji
Exploit power vacuum

China disunified since late Tang 880s
Inner Asia in disarray since fall of Uighur Turks in 840s

Liao Government

Multiple capitals

Dual administration

Khitan remains in Mongolia

Dominant Regimes in Multistate system: Liao and Jin

Liao Treaty with Song, 1005

200,000 bolts of silk and 100,000 ounces of silver annually
Emperors address each other as brothers

Jin Treaty with Song, 1127

300,000 bolts of silk, 1 million strings of coins, and 300,000 ounces of silver annually
Jurchen ruler as uncle/Song ruler as nephew

Significance of Northern Regimes

Cultural synthesis

Arose on fringes of Chinese civilization

Adopted some Chinese practices

Process seen earlier in Korea, Japan, Vietnam, etc.
Bureaucratic government

Succession
Management of agricultural populace

Written language

Mongol Rulers in China and Iran