History of the Khitans

Khitan / Liao 契丹 / 遼
388–1211
Location of Khitan-Liao (1025)
Capital	Shangjing (918-1120)
Common languages	Khitan language
Religion	?
Government	Monarchy
King, Chief, Emperor
History
• split from Kumo Xi	388
• set up the Liao dynasty	907
• defeated, some absorbed, some exiled	1125
• final defeat by a coup	1211
Population
• peak	9,000,000
Preceded by Succeeded by Xianbei Kumo Xi Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) Naimans
1. Another Khitan Dynasties are including Northern Liao and Western Liao. 2. Liao Dynasty had a different name "Khitan" which was used in 916-947, 983-1066.

The Khitan (or Khitai, Chinese: 契丹; pinyin: Qìdān) were an nomadic people which was locate in modern Manchuria (Northeast China) since the 4th century, dominated much of it by the 10th century under the Liao Dynasty, and eventually collapsed by 1125 (or 1211).

From Xianbei origine, they were part of the Kumo Xi tribe until 388, when the Kumo Xi-Khitan tribal complex was hugely defeated by the newly established Northern Wei, allowing the Khitan to split to their own tribe and entity, starting the Khitan's history.

They were then under the alternate domination of the steppe prower on their West (Turks, 5th to 8th, then Uyghurs, 8th and 9th centuries) and the Chinese from their south (Northern dynasties or Tang, respectively 5 and 6th, and 7 to 10th c.), and in some case under Koreans domination (from East, mainly Goguryeo), according to the balance of power of the moment. Under this triple domination and pression, Khitans started to show growing power and independence. This raise was, compare to other cases, slow. Slow because frequently crushed by its neighbouring powers, each using the Khitans warriors when he need, but each ready to crush them when Khitans rose to much and became powerful, close to become an independent 4th regional power. The 696-697 Li-Shun Rebellion is really instructive on this "2 adults and 1 teenager" game : the Khitans are encouraged by Turks to took all the risks and revolts again Tang, what they successfully accomplish, to finally be attacked on their rear by Turks, to the full benefits of newly-reborn Turkish empire (2d, 682-745).

Enjoying the departure of Uyghur people for West, and the collapse of the Tang Dynasty in early 10th, they established the Liao Dynasty in 907. The Liao Dynasty proved to be a significant power north of the Chinese plain, continuously moving south and West, gaining control over former Chinese and Turk-Uyghur's territories. They eventually fell to the Jin Dynasty of the Jurchen in 1125, who submit and absorb Khitans to their military benefit.

Following the fall of the Liao Dynasty, many moved further west and established the state of Kara Khitai. Their name survived in the Russian word for China (Китай, Kitay), as well as the archaic English (Cathay), Portuguese (Catai), and Spanish (Catay) appellations of the country. They has been classified by Chinese historians as one of the Eastern proto-Mongolic ethnic groups Donghu (simplified Chinese: 东胡族; traditional Chinese: 東胡族; pinyin: Dōnghú zú).

Origins

To expand soon

References to the Khitan in Chinese sources date back to the fourth century. Ancestors of the Khitan were the Yuwen clan of the Xianbei, an ethnic group situated in the area covered by the modern Liaoning province. After their regime was conquered by the Murong clan, the remnants scattered in the modern-day Inner Mongolia and mixed there with the original Mongolic population.

Pre-Dynastic Khitans (388-907)

They had been identified as a distinct ethnic group since paying tribute to the Northern Wei Dynasty in the mid-6th century.

During the time of the Tang Dynasty in China, the Khitan people oscilated between vassality to Tang or to Turks, according to the moment balance of power, or under the Uyghurs when they replaced the Turks as the main steppe power. However, once the Uyghurs left their home in the Mongolian Plateau in 842, enough of a power vacuum was create that gave the Khitan the opportunity to make their rise. The Khitan invaded the areas vacated by the Uyghurs, bringing them under their control.

Khitan's Military activities from 388 to 618

To expand soon

Recorded notable Khitans' raids on Chinese Empire occurred several times as early as the seventh century. In 605, moving and raiding south, they were crushed by a Sui General leading 20,000 Turkish cavalry.

Khitan's Military activities in Tang period (618-907)

Under Tang Taizong (r. 626-649), Khitans became vassals of Tang.

The Li-Sun Rebellion (696-697)

Despite some occasional clashs, Khitans remained Chinese vassals until these 690's. According to the « Loose rein policy », the Khitan area of this time was under control of Tang by the Governor-general of Yingzhou, Zhao Wenhui, assisted by local Khitans' chieftains, namely the Khitan chieftain and regional governor of Songmo, Li Jinzhong, and his brother-in-law, the Khitan chieftain and prefect of Guicheng Sun Wanrong.

Opposition raise according to Zhao Wenhui behaviour, who firstly looked at local chieftains as servant and humiliated them on many occasions, provoking an associated resentment, and secondly because of the 696's famine occurred in this Khitan area. The Loose rein policy ask to the unsuccessful Tang Governor-general to pay relief, what Zhao Wenhui failed to do, worsing the situation (by not finding solution and not providing relief), and launching the Khitan rebellion (696, fifth month).

Li Jinzhong lead the rebellion, and according to Khitan abilities at war, Yingzhou was soon captured, allowing him to declare himself "Wushang Kehan" (無上可汗: paramount khaghan). Sun Wanrong assisted him as general, successfully leading tens of thousands of troops southward.

The first major response of Tang came in the form of a twenty-eight generals force, promptly defeated by Khitans in the Xiashi Gorge battle (near modern Lulong County of Hebei Province, 696, eighth month). Tang were astonished by the announcement of the defeat, and Empress Wu Zetian quicly issued decrees to launch a new offensive and encourage participations, but the battlefield staid a place of Khitan's victories until Li Jinzhong died of disease. But this Khitans awakening displease to Turks and their Newly reborn Empire too (682-745), with Ashina Mochuo khaghan asking to Tang to be allow to allied himself to Chinese efforts in exchange of an imperial marriage for his daughter, to be son of empress Wu (diplomatic adoption), the return of Turks in Chinese territories (Hexi), and the return of Khitans as Turkish vassals.

The second major Chinese offensive came on the tenth month of 696, Tang attacking from south while Türks did from north, enjoying the recent death of Li Jingzhong. Khitans were in a dangerous situation, suffering heavy lost, but Sun Wanrong took the lead and restored good order and motivation in Khitan's troops. They continuously stormed into Jizhou and Yingzhou, shaking the whole region of Hebei (current north of Huanghe). This opposition was inconclusive.
Also, the powerful Wang Xiaojie assisted by Su Honghui and some others Chinese generals lead a third 170,000 troops strong army to the area of the Xiashi Gorge, but were also crushed by Khitan, who mastered in battlefield and ambuscades. Wang Xiaojie was killed while Su Honghui fled, Khitan were allowed to capture the following frontier garrison of Youzhou, south of Yingzhou.

In a fourth campaign (fifth month, 697), Emperess Wu sent Lou Shide and Shatuo Zhongyi leading a 200,000 troop strong army northward to stop Sun Wanrong who was avancing southward. Despite previous victories on battlefields, Turks refused the proposed Khitan-Turk alliance an launch a massive attack on Xincheng, while the helpful (Kumo) Xi betrayed Khitan to support China. Khitan populations were now facing devastating Turksish plunders on north, while successful Khitan army was now facing Chinese 200,000 troops plus Xi troops on south. In such critical situation, cohesion in Khitan headquarters collapsed, ending by the assassination of Sun Wanrong by one of his own subordonates. The Khitan troops, without clear leader and in such critical situation collapsed too, while the reman Khitan, together with Xi, gave alliegiance to Turks, as formerly planed between Mochou khaghan and empress Wu Zetian in early 696, while a new chieftain was proclaim : Li Shihuo (697-717, [李]失活).

Consequently, Khitan, together with Xi and both under Turkish leadership, remained time by time aggressive toward Chinese, with the Tang launching several punitive campaigns against them fomr 700 to 714.

The Li-Sun rebellion and the Turks

Turks played a marjor role in crushing this rebellion, on military actions and on strategic role as well (attacking on the rear!). It is to understand the Turkish situation. Turks were submit to China in 630, crushing their first Turkish Empire. In 679, enjoying Chinese internal political turmoil, they revolted. They were bloodly defeated by Tang troops in 681 in a Pyrrhic victory, also, the remnant Eastern Turks reunited under Ashina Guduolu (d. 691), who was able to proclaimed the reborn of the Turkish empire (682-745), without Tang's reaction.
At his death, his brother Mochuo replaced him, and engaged Turks in an aggressive policy of "plunder to strengthen" as the best way to revitalize his Empire. Turks plundered all their neighbour, Khitan and Chinese as well, but encouraged Khitans to rebel against Tang rule. But almost as soon as Khitan rebelled and were successful, Turks proposed China an alliance. Actually, Turks, in war against China, were just asking for a diversion on east, allowing them to be more free on their front. When Khitans unexpectedly appeared to be so successful, they both were surprised and affraid, seeing a new power born on their East, but also, seeing Khitan fighting hard against Chinese, seen the perfect occasion to take advantage of both Khitan and Tang. By attacking Khitan on their rear, they provided a inestimable help to Tang, while working for themselves too by crushing eastern raising power.

Even more, while the fourth Chinese campaign was still not launch and despite previous propositions of alliance, Turks attacked Chinese territories to show clearly their strong (third month, 697). Also, along with the final victoty, they eventually got back the Turkish population held in six Chinese northern border prefectures since 670-674, the submission of both Khitan and Xi, plus large amount of seed-grain, silk, farming implements, iron, noble titles for Mochou khaghan (General, Khaghan, noble's rank) and the asked imperial marriage.

The Ketuyu rebellion (720-734)

In the 710's, the Khitan military chief Ketuyu (可突于) was so valiant and beloved by Khitan's commoners that the Khitan King Suogu (李娑固 Li Suogu, r. 718-720) became both jealous and in fear. Accordingly, he plotted to assassinate Ketuyu. As often the case, the plot was disclosed, and Ketuyu's troops attacked the King, who fled to Yingzhou to get Chinese support.
Xu Qinzhan (許欽?), the Chinese Governor-General of Yingzhou immediately called for a punitive military campaign, ordering General Xue Tai, assisted by 500 valiant soldier, Xi troops, and Suogu troops to walk northward. The Chinese-loyalist army was crushed, both Suogu (Khitan King) and Li Dapu (Xi King) were killed, while Xue Tai was kindly captured (and not executed) by Ketuyu, in hope to resume good relations with Chineses, sending an envoy to humbly apologize, while he enthroned Suogu's cousin Yuyu (李鬱于, 720-722/724).

Indeed, peaceful relations were restored, and when Ketuyu made a second coup to face new king Tuyu suspicions, Tang court peacefully confirmed the newly enthronized king Shaogu (李邵固 Li Shaogu, 725-730), displaying the respective Tang's will of appeassement.

In 730, Ketuyu went to present tributes to Chang'an and was then mistreated by the chancellor Li Yuanhong. Back to Khitan territories, Ketuyu assassinated the pro-Tang Shaogu (fifth month, 730) and switched the allegiance of his subjects and of the Xi tribes from Tang to Türks, sending a clear message to Tang. Ketuyu then attacked Pinglu (part of Yingzhou) where a preventive Tang's army was stationed.
The Chang'an officials were panicked by the vision of a new Khitan rebellion. They ordered Prince of Zhong Jun -as commander in chief- assisted by 18 generals to go north with warriors recruited from as far as Guannei, Hedong, Henan and Hebei to crush this Khitan-Xi rebellion. In 732 (third month) Khitan-Xi troops were defeat by the Prince of Xin'an, Ketuyu had to fled away while Li Shi Suogao, the Xi king, betrayed to submit back to Tang with his 5,000 subjects, getting by the way the titles of the Prince of Guiyi (allegiance and righteousness) and prefect of Guiyi Zhou, with the Xi allowed to settle in Youzhou, under Chinese protection.

A second major campaign came in 733 (fourth month), Guo Yingjie being ordered to lead 10,000 troops assisted by Xi warriors to crush Khitan. But Ketuyu came first with Turkish support, putting Chinese-Xi troops in difficulty, thus, Xi fled to save themselves. As predictable, Guo Yingjie and his men, alone to face Khitan-Turkish troops, lost with heavy causalities: Guo along most of his men being killed on the battlefield. While one year later the Khitan were defeated by Zhang Shougui, regional commander of Youzhou (second month, 734).

Ketuyu, seeing Khitan forces exhausted by repetitive Tang campaigns, pretended to surrender (twelfth month, 734) and was eventually was murdered together with his pupet King, Qulie (李屈列 Li Qulie 730-734), by his subordonate Li Guozhe (李過折). Li Guozhe being soon himself assassinate in favor of a Ketuyu's clan restoration.

Origines of the Ketuyu Rebellion

While traditional scholars explain this Ketuyu Rebellion as a typical babarian reaction, modern historians are more cautionous. Both the Chinese Liao expert Shu Fen and the Japanese Matsui Hitoshi are incline to think that Chinese lenient policy encouraged Ketuyu's arrogance.
On contrary, Xu Elian-Qian support that the Chinese interferences in Khitan internal changes caused the aggressive Ketuyu's reactions. That true for the conflict of 720 and the aggressive Chinese ingerence tentative. But this opinion don't explain the 725's Chinese appaissement policy, Chinese leting Ketuyu kill the Khitan king and enthrone a new one. Actually, when Ketuyu was personnally mistreated in Chang'an (730), this resentment lead him to choice the huge of consequencies diplomatic opposition by turning his submission to Turk. This turn was predictablely understand by Chang'an as a first magnitude treason which can't be tolerate, leading to the following 5 years of war to submit them back. Shu and Matsui don't see this Chinese reaction as an aggressive interference, but as an predictable interference, caused by Ketuyu arogant turn face to the recent lenient policy.

Xu explain that Khitans were in a turning point, the Dahe family being collapsing as an after-shock of the Li-Sun Rebellion, while the Yaonian family was raising by organizing a new confederation (web of alliances). Accordingly, this period was rich in turmoils. The opposition may have came from the respective perceived definition of the « Loose rein » agreement. In time of weakness of the central power, like in the 680's, this Loose rein policy means large independence for submited population, who choice their own chief, etc. In time of strong central power —as under Tang Xuanzong reign (712-756)— the central Chinese power is incline to impose his pro-Chinese choices, including in choice of Kings and major chiefs, despite the previous Loose rein agreement. Also, in prosperous revitalizing time such Xuanzong's reign and face to the 720's coup, Tang official immediately sent an army to support the dethroned pro-Tang king, clearly interfering in Khitan internal affairs.

Also, the 730-734 war seems to have been the consequences of both Chinese revitalized foreign policy, Khitan internal turmoil and associated pression on Ketuyu, and following miscalculations from Ketuyu.

Harrased by An Lushan (750's)

In 751-752, following An Lushan's provocations a harassments, the Khitans moved south to attack the Chinese Tang Empire, and were blocked by his troops. The continuous agitation of Khitans on the northeast of the Empire, maintant by An Lushan actions, provided An Lushan more and more support troops from Chang'an, growing to 160,000 men. The high chancellor, Li Linfu, wanted both to resist the Khitans' pressure and counterbalance the growing influence of the Yang clan in Chang'an affairs. When Li Linfu died and Yang Guozhong —a Yang clan member— replaced him as high chancellor, An Lushan rose in rebellion with his composed armies, and attacked the central power, with some Khitan, Xi, and Turkish supporters .

Pre-Dynastic Khitan's allegiances and reasons

• pre-388 : Kumo Xi, themselves submited to Turks, Part of the Kumo Xi-Khitan tribal complex

• 388-?: Later (383-409) & Northern Yan (409-436), 388's Kumo Xi defeat face to Norther Wei
• 479-? : Northern Wei, to avoid Rouran-Goguryean invasion
• 560's(?)-? : some tribes submit to Goguryeo, to avoid Northern Qi and Eastern Turk threat (heavy 553's defeat face to N. Qi + new threat by Turks) ;
• To complete
• 648-696 : Tang Dynasty, because of recent Tang expansion, and following Turkish collapse ;
• 696-697 : independent (Li-Sun Rebellion) and in war on all sides, encouraged by Tujue and cause by Chinese official mistreatment an famine ;
• 697-72X : Tang Dynasty+ Tujue, since the 697's defeat ;
• 730-734 : Turks, Ketuyu Rebellion cause by Tang interventionism and Tang's Chancellor mistreatment ;
• 734-? : Tang Dynasty, because of recent defeat.
• To complete

Liao Dynasty, The Golden Age (907-1125)

Khitan Empire in 1025 AD, along with its neighbors.

Liao funerary mask, 10-12th century CE.

Main article: Liao Dynasty

The Liao Dynasty was founded in 907 when Abaoji, posthumously known as Emperor Taizu was named the leader of the Khitan nation. Even though the Great Liao Dynasty was not declared until the 947, it is generally said to have begun with the elevation of Abaoji.

Though Abaoji died in 926, the dynasty would last nearly two more centuries. Five cities were designated as capitals during that dynasty. In addition to the Supreme Capital in the heartland of Khitan Territory, there were four regional capitals. One of which was Beijing, which became a capital in the first time in its history, though it was not the principle capital of the Dynasty, but rather was designated as the Southern Capital after the Khitan acquired the contentious Sixteen Prefectures in 935.

Abaoji introduced a number of innovations, some more successful than others. He divided the empire into two parts, one of which was governed based on nomadic models while the sedentary population was government largely in accordance with Chinese techniques.

Less successful was the attempted introduction of primogeniture in succession to the throne. Although he designed his eldest son to be heir, he did not succeed Abaoji.

Abaoji was "afraid that their use of Chinese advisers and administrative techniques would blur their own ethnic identity, the Khitan made a conscious effort to retain their own tribal rites, food, and clothing and refused to use the Chinese language, devising a writing system for their own language instead." The first of these two scripts was created in 920. The second, based on alphabetic principles, was created five years later.

Post Liao Dynasty history

Main article: Kara-Khitan_Khanate

The Khitans were absorbed by Jurchens, and widely use in the following years of war to conquest the north of Song territories. In the other hand, a number of the nobility of the Liao Dynasty escaped the area westwards towards Western Regions, establishing the short-lived Kara-Khitan or Western Liao dynasty, they were in turn absorbed by the local Turkic and Iranic populations and left no influence of themselves. As the Khitan language is still almost completely illegible, it is difficult to create a detailed history of their movements.

Other interesting issues

Writing systems

For a while after the invention of the Korean Hangeul script in the mid-15th century, the name of the Khitans continued to appear in Korean texts as 거란 (Georan/Kǒran). The ethnonym eventually fell out of use, however, and vanished along with the distinct ethnic identity of the Khitan people. Khitans had both a « small script », alphabetic, and « large script » based on Chinese characters.

A policy according to history's teaching

The Khitan are also said to have learned from history. On the one hand, they observed the fearsome effect that steppe cavalry had on the Chinese, through their use by the Uyghurs, Shatuo Turks, Kyrgyz, and later themselves. On the other, they also noted the effect that the adoption of Chinese writing and other tools of administration had on their cultural integrity. The Korean kingdom of Silla was known by the Khitan to refer to themselves as a “little China.” While their situation was not akin to that of Silla in a number of ways, they also did not want to fall into the same situation.

Modern days descendant ?

There is no clear evidence of there being any descendant ethnic groups of the Khitan in modern-day Northeast China, but some recent genetic studies have tended to support the hypothesis that the Daur ethnic group of Inner Mongolia contains at least some direct descendants of the ancient Khitan. Some Yunnan Han Chinese are descendants of the Khitan.

Historical Atlas

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See also

Sub-studies

• Pre-Dynastic Khitan (388-907), before the Liao empire (include in this article)
• Liao Dynasty (907-1125), the Khitan Empire.
• Kara-Khitan Khanate (1125-1211), the kingdom set up by escaped Khitans

Ethnic and states context

• Origines : Xiongnu → Xianbei → Kumo Xi → Khitan
• Steppes (west) : Rouran (4th to 6th), Turkish Empire (5th to 8th) and Uyghur Empire (8th and 9th centuries), Kumo Xi
• China (south) : Northern dynasties (5 and 6th, especially Northern Wei), Tang (7 to 10th c.), Song Dynasty
• From East : Goguryeo, Jurchen, Goryeo (Goryeo-Khitan Wars)
• From North : Rouran, Didouyu, Mohe

See also Ethnic groups in Chinese history

Major Khitan characters

• Li Jinzhong (d. 696) and Sun Wanrong (d. 697)
• Ketuyu (d. 734)
• Abaoji (Taizu)

See also List of the Khitan rulers

Other

• Buraq Hajib
• Eagle hunting
• Khitan script

Sources

Pre-dynastic Khitan

• Xu Elina-Qian, Historical Development of the Pre-Dynastic Khitan, University of Helsinki, 2005. 273 pages. (for pre-907)
• MATSUI, Hitoshi 松井等 (Japan). "Qidan boxing shi 契丹勃興史 (History of the rise of the Khitan)". Mamden chiri-rekishi kenkyu hokoku 1 (1915).
  Translated into Chinese by Liu, Fengzhu 劉鳳翥. In Minzu Shi Yiwen Ji 民族史譯文集 (A Collection of Translated Papers on Ethnic Histories) 10 (1981). Repr. in: Sun, Jinji et al. 1988 (vol. 1), pp. 93-141
• Chen, Shu 陳述. Qidan Shi Lunzheng Gao 契丹史論證稿(A Study on the History of the Khitan). Beijing: Zhongyang Yanjiu Yuan Shixue Yanjiu Suo 中央研究院史學研究所, 1948.
• Chen, Shu 陳述. Qidan Shehui Jingji Shi Gao 契丹社會經濟史稿(A Study on the Khitan's Social Economical History). Shanghai: Sanlian Chuban She 三聯出版社, 1963.
• Feng, Jiasheng 1933.

Liao Dynasty

• Shu, Fen (舒焚), Liaoshi Gao 遼史稿 (An History of the Liao). Wuhan: Hubei Renmin Chuban She 湖北人民出版社, 1984
• WITTFOGEL, Karl & FENG, Chia-sheng. History of Chinese Society: Liao (907-1125). Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1949.

Post-Dynastic / Qara Khitai

• Biran, Michal. The Empire of the Qara Khitai in Eurasian History: Between China and the Islamic World, ISBN 0521842263

Useful official dynastic histories

• Wei Shu 魏史 (Dynastic History of the Northern Wei Dynasty): Wei, Shou 魏收 et al. eds. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju 中华书局, 1973.
• Xin Wudai Shi (XWDS) 新五代史 (New Dynastic History of the Five Dynasties): Ouyang, Xiu 歐陽修 et al. eds. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju 中华书局, 1974.
• Sui Shu (SS) 隋書 (Dynastic History of the Sui Dynasty): Wei Zheng 魏徵 et al. eds. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju 中华书局, 1973.
• Jiu Tangshu (JTS) 舊唐書 (Old Dynastic History of Tang Dynasty): Liu, Xu 劉昫 et al. eds. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju 中华书局, 1975.
• Xin Tangshu (XTS) 新唐書 (New Dynastic History of the Tang Dynasty): Ouyang, Xiu 歐陽修 et al. eds. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju 中华书局, 1975
• Liao Shi (LS) 遼史 (Dynastic History of the Khitan Liao Dynasty): Tuotuo 脱脱 et al. eds. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju 中华书局, 1974
• Song Shi 宋史 (History of Song): Tuotuo 脫脫 et al. eds. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju 中华书局, 1974
• Zizhi Tongjian (ZZTJ) 資治通鑒 (Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government): Sima, Guang 司馬光 ed. Beijing: Zhonghua Shuju 中华书局, 1956

Other

• Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China: 900-1800. Harvard University Press. pp. 31–71. ISBN 0674012127.
• EBREY, Patricia Buckley (1996). The Cambridge Illustrated History of China. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-66991-X.
• Khitans