Emperor Shizong of Liao

Emperor Shizong of Liao
Emperor of the Liao dynasty
Reign	16 May 947 – 7 October 951
Predecessor	Emperor Taizong
Successor	Emperor Muzong
Born	Wuyu (Khitan name) Yelü Ruan (sinicised name) 29 January 919
Died	7 October 951(951-10-07) (aged 32)
Spouse	Empress Zhen Xiao Sagezhi
Era dates Tianlu (天祿; 947–951) Posthumous name Xiaohe Zhuangxian Huangdi (孝和莊憲皇帝) Temple name Shizong
Father	Yelü Bei

Emperor Shizong of Liao
Traditional Chinese	遼世宗
Simplified Chinese	辽世宗
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Liáo Shìzōng
Wuyu (Khitan name)
Chinese	兀欲
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wùyù
Yelü Ruan
Chinese	耶律阮
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yēlǜ Ruán

Emperor Shizong of Liao (29 January 919 – 7 October 951), personal name Wuyu, sinicised name Yelü Ruan, was the third emperor of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty. He was the son of Yelü Bei, the eldest son of Abaoji (Emperor Taizu), the founder of the Liao dynasty. He came to power in 947 after the death of his uncle, Emperor Taizong, who raised him in his father's absence.

Ascension

Emperor Taizong was on campaign in China when he died in 947. Yelü Ruan accompanied him on this campaign, allowing him to quickly gain the support of the military leaders. While returning to the capital, his grandmother, Empress Dowager Yingtian, had plotted to have her third son, Yelü Lihu, ascend to the throne, and sent an army to intercept her grandson. She had denounced Yelü Ruan in her campaign to support her son. However, the Khitan nobles, knowing that Yelü Lihu was entirely unfit for the throne, refused to support her this time as they did previously with the ascension of Emperor Taizong. The strong support the Liao imperial court gave to Yelü Ruan's claim prevented a civil war among the Khitans.

Reign

Emperor Shizong was known both for his generosity as well as for his martial prowess. This generosity was not extended to either his grandmother or his uncle (Yelü Lihu) both of whom were sent far from the capital by Emperor Shizong. Both died soon afterward, Yelü Lihu in rebellion and Empress Dowager Yingtian of old age.

Emperor Shizong took to the field in 951 in a successful effort to resist Chinese advances from the south. However, later that year, a mere four years after his ascension as emperor, he was killed by a rebellious nephew who was part of an effort within the imperial clan to usurp the throne.

During his reign, Emperor Shizong adopted several reforms that propelled the Liao dynasty into a feudal society and consolidated power into a central government. However, Emperor Shizong was also a drunkard and liked to hunt. On a night in September 951, the emperor was murdered by an officer after a battle. He was only 33 years old and had reigned for only three years.

Personal information

• Father
  • Yelu Bei
• Mother
  • Lady Xiao
• Wives
  • Empress Zhen (created 947?, killed by Yelü Chage 951), mother of Prince Zhimo
  • Empress Xiao Sagezhi (created 950, killed by Yelü Chage 951), mother of Prince Xian and Princesses Hegudian, Guanyin, and Sala
• Children
  • Sons
    • Yelü Houbua (耶律吼不阿), died early, posthumously honored Crown Prince Zhuangsheng
    • Yelü Xian (耶律賢), probably né Yelü Mingyi (耶律明扆), later Emperor Jingzong of Liao
    • Yelü Zhimo (耶律只沒), the Prince of Ning (created sometime between 969 and 976, title stripped in 976, title restored in 983)
  • Daughters
    • Yelü Hegudian (耶律和古典), the Princess of Qin
    • Yelü Guanyin (耶律觀音), the Princess of Jin
    • Yelü Sala (耶律撒剌)

References

F.W. Mote (1999). Imperial China: 900-1800. Harvard University Press. pp. 52–53, 67. ISBN 0-674-01212-7.