382:
killed in this way, she sent one Zhao Siwen (趙思溫) to do so. Zhao refused. She stated to him, "You were a close attendant of the deceased
Emperor. Why do you refuse to go?" He responded, "No one was closer than you, Empress. If you go, I, your subject, will go next." Apparently impressed, she responded, "It is not that I am not willing to follow the deceased Emperor below ground. It is that the heir, my son, is young and weak. The state needs a leader, and therefore I cannot go." However, she cut off one of her hands and ordered that it be buried at Emperor Taizu's tomb. After this event, Zhao was spared. (Another account had it that she wanted to die as well at Emperor Taizu's death, but was dissuaded by her relatives, so she then came up with the solution of cutting off one of her hands.)
405:), was delivered to Empress Dowager Shulü, she pointed out Zhao's hypocrisy in claiming to want to defend the Later Tang emperor while actually engaging in negotiations with Emperor Taizong to have his support for the throne instead. When Zhao offered his properties at Lulong's capital You Prefecture (幽州) to her, she pointed out that Shi, as part of his agreement with Emperor Taizong to cede 16 prefectures to Khitan, had already been ceded to her, and therefore was no longer Zhao's, causing Zhao to be distressed and subsequently dying in Khitan captivity.
425:. With the capital defenceless because the army had been given to Du, Shi Chonggui surrendered, ending Later Jin. Emperor Taizong initially claimed to be the emperor for the former Later Jin territory as well. To congratulate him for this great victory, Empress Dowager Shulü sent wine, delicacies, and fruits from Khitan lands to Kaifeng. Whenever he drank the wine that she sent, he stood up and stated, "This was bestowed by the Empress Dowager. I do not dare to drink it sitting down."
413:, Shi Chonggui took a confrontational stance against the Liao, refusing to submit to Emperor Taizong as a subject, only referring to himself as "grandson." He also had Liao merchants arrested, and their assets seized. As a result, war erupted between the states. Empress Dowager Shulü was not in favor of waging war against Later Jin. As a result, Emperor Taizong entered into some peace negotiations with Shi Conggui in 945 that, however, were ultimately fruitless.
350:
emperor. You can decide which one you wish to support by holding his rein." The chieftains, knowing that she favoured Yelü Deguang, rushed to him and held to his rein. She thereafter declared him emperor (as
Emperor Taizong). Yelü Bei, angry over this turn of events, took several hundred soldiers and wanted to flee to Later Tang (Jin's successor state), but was intercepted by Khitan border guards. Empress Shulü did not punish him, but sent him to Dongdan.
338:
Then, she gathered their husbands and, weeping, asked them, "Do you miss the deceased
Emperor?" They responded, "The deceased Emperor has shown us much grace. Of course we miss him." She responded, "If you miss him, then go see him." She then slaughtered them. She then, leaving Emperor Taizu's younger brother Yelü Anduan (耶律安端) temporarily in charge at Dongdan, returned to the Khitan capital Linhuang (臨潢, in modern
366:) as empress. (The reason why Empress Xiao, and other members of her clan, were from this point referred to with the surname of Xiao rather than Shulü, was that Emperor Taizu had the several clans that produced consorts for his line change their names to Xiao.) It was said that Emperor Taizong was filially pious, such that if she were unable to eat due to an illness, he would not eat either. She commissioned the
323:. Zhang sought aid from Khitan. Wang Chuzhi's biological son Wang Yu (王郁) fled to Khitan, also encouraging Emperor Taizu to aid Zhang and use the chance to take control of both domains. Emperor Taizu agreed, and launched his army south. Empress Shulü opposed the operation. The Khitan army was subsequently defeated by the Jin army, and forced to withdraw.
451:
Emperor
Shizong's forward commanders Yelü Anduan and Yelü Liuge (耶律留哥), and she then negotiated a peace agreement accepting Emperor Shizong as emperor. Emperor Shizong then put her under house arrest at Emperor Taizu's tomb at Zu Prefecture (祖州, in modern Chifeng). She died there in 953, during the reign of
334:, creating his and Empress Shulü's oldest son Yelü Bei its king, with the title of "Imperial King Ren" (人皇王, Ren Huangwang)—while their second son Yelü Deguang was, at the same time, given the title of "General Crown Prince". It was said that this campaign was conducted with Empress Shulü's strategies.
450:
the Prince of
Yongkang instead, and Yelü Ruan declared himself emperor at Heng Prefecture (as Emperor Shizong). He continued north, heading toward Linhuang. Empress Dowager Shulü sent troops under her to resist Emperor Shizong's progress. Yelü Lihu, in command of these troops, was however defeated by
381:
Meanwhile, Empress
Dowager Shulü continued to carry out killings of those she considered difficult to control. She would often tell such killing targets, "Deliver a message to the deceased Emperor for me!" After they arrived at Emperor Taizu's tomb, she would execute them. After several hundreds were
479:
empress dowagers of the era were expected to wield their influence behind the scenes. However, Khitan women held a far higher status than their Han counterparts in the tenth century. Empress Shulü openly wielded her influence in the court of her husband as well as that of her son as empress dowager.
349:
Once then returned to
Linhuang, she wanted to divert the succession away from Yelü Bei, as she had favored Yelü Deguang. However, formally, she called an assembly of the chieftains, along with Yelü Bei and Yelü Deguang, and stated to them, "I love both of my sons, and I do not know which one to make
337:
Soon after conquering Balhae, Emperor Taizu died. Empress Shulü, at that time with Yelü Bei at Dongan, apparently to destroy potential dissent, gathered the wives of many generals and officials that she considered difficult to control, and stated to them, "I am now a widow. You should be like I am."
467:
While
Empress Shulü dominated the court in the first succession, she also made other contributions to Khitan culture. Most importantly regards the expectations of widows. In traditional Khitan society, women were expected to sacrifice themselves. Obviously, she did not do that, providing an example
268:(臭泊), decided to raid the Khitan headquarters. She heard of their plans, however, and put her army on an ambush posture, crushing them upon their arrival. Her reputation among the nomadic people thereafter became prominent. It was said that she refused to bow to her mother and her
445:
In fact, Empress
Dowager Shulü's will would soon be challenged. She had intended that Emperor Taizong be succeeded by Yelü Lihu. However, the Khitan chieftains, remembering how she had slaughtered many upon Emperor Taizu's death, decided to support Yelü Bei's son
408:
Shi
Jingtang honoured Emperor Taizong and Empress Dowager Shulü faithfully and often offered them gifts, and in fact referred to himself as "Son Emperor" and Emperor Taizong as "Father Emperor." However, after Shi Jingtang's death and succession by his nephew
420:
with an army to attack Liao, with the intent to recapture the territory Shi Jingtang previously ceded to Liao. Emperor Taizong, however, was able to have Du's army surrounded, and Du surrendered. He then attacked south toward Later Jin's capital
428:
Soon, however, faced with many rebellions against Liao rule in the former Later Jin lands, Emperor Taizong decided to return north to Liao proper. However, he became ill on the way and died near Heng Prefecture (恆州, in modern
256:, and created Shulü Ping empress. As empress, she was described as brave, resolute, and full of strategies, often participating in Emperor Taizu's military decisions. There was one time when Emperor Taizu were attacking the
437:). Upon receiving his casket, Empress Dowager Shulü did not weep. Instead, she, apparently sensing that her power would be challenged, stated, "When all of the tribes are peaceful, I will then bury you."
378:. She also allowed the Later Tang emissary Yao Kun (姚坤), whom Emperor Taizu had detained, to return to Later Tang, and sent an emissary herself to Later Tang to report Emperor Taizu's death.
232:, Yelü Yundeshi (耶律勻德實)—which would make her and Yelü Abaoji cousins. Eventually, she married Yelü Abaoji as his wife, but it is not known when that occurred. She bore Yelü Abaoji three sons—
1183:
606:
gave an account where it was Yelü Bei who voluntarily yielded the throne to Emperor Taizong, but that would appear to be inconsistent with his subsequent actions. See
295:, who had defected from Jin to Khitan, urged Emperor Taizu to attack Jin. About the same time, two coups occurred within the domains of Jin allies
1163:
455:, a son of Emperor Taizong's. Both Shizong and Muzong resented her for supporting Lihu, so neither lifted her house arrest, nor honored her as
228:
Yaonian (遙輦) clan. Her mother was said to be a daughter of "King Yundejia" (勻德恝王)—apparently the grandfather of her eventual husband
953:
1280:
1199:
1171:
1167:
252:
In 916, Yelü Abaoji, having consolidated the power over the Khitan tribes into his hands, declared himself emperor of a new
208:
until her death in 953. She was directly involved in two imperial successions and is credited with changing expectations of
1290:
1159:
1270:
1245:
1265:
1260:
834:
830:
826:
822:
818:
814:
810:
806:
722:
706:
687:
671:
655:
639:
623:
590:
563:
547:
1255:
1155:
770:
269:
1240:
288:, he sought an alliance with the Khitan, and he honoured Emperor Taizu as an uncle and Empress Shulü as an aunt.
1195:
1147:
1069:
375:
166:
1285:
158:
20:
946:
296:
285:
224:
extraction. Her father was named Shulü Pogu (述律婆姑), who also had the name of Yuewan (月碗), served under the
996:
272:, but rather received their bows, stating, "I only bow to Heaven, not to people." As, at that time, the
394:
277:
260:
through the desert. He left Empress Shulü in charge of the headquarters. Hearing that he was away, two
1250:
905:
1139:
762:
757:
362:, and it was said that she made the key decisions for the state. She also had him marry her niece (
1211:
1207:
1203:
1191:
1187:
1179:
1143:
939:
794:
738:
529:
513:
447:
237:
81:
1175:
1151:
452:
397:, subservient to the Liao. When one of the Later Tang generals that Emperor Taizong captured,
456:
229:
220:
Shulü Ping was born in 879. Her great-great-grandfather Shulü Nuosi (述律糯思) was said to be of
178:
64:
8:
1235:
1230:
308:
1275:
766:
71:
1122:
1059:
916:
389:, with military assistance from Emperor Taizong, overthrew then-Later Tang emperor
363:
142:
789:
508:
359:
331:
205:
182:
111:
1097:
931:
920:
801:
542:
343:
1224:
261:
225:
197:
19:"Empress Shulü" redirects here. For other empresses from the same clan, see
1114:
1051:
1034:
1016:
1001:
978:
963:
909:
884:
849:
430:
410:
386:
253:
201:
241:
85:
1127:
1089:
1079:
1074:
1026:
1011:
1006:
476:
417:
367:
316:
312:
106:
Empress Dowager Guangdi Zhiren Zhaoli Chongjiang Yingtian (廣德至仁昭烈崇簡應天皇太后)
233:
76:
440:
398:
371:
468:
for other women, at least within the elite strata, of Khitan society.
401:
the military governor of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern
390:
292:
257:
782:
Notable Women of China: Shang Dynasty to the Early Twentieth Century
991:
895:
281:
422:
402:
339:
320:
300:
327:
273:
209:
196:(淳欽皇后, "the pure and honoured empress") was an empress of the
434:
304:
221:
204:
of China. After Emperor Taizu's death in 926, she served as
315:
seized control of the domain, and Yiwu's military governor
265:
416:
In 946, Shi Chonggui commissioned the Later Jin general
471:
441:
During Emperor Shizong's and Emperor Muzong's reigns
330:, conquering it. He converted it to a kingdom named
346:) with Yelü Bei, escorting Emperor Taizu's casket.
192:(貞烈皇后, "the virtuous and achieving empress") then
961:
353:
326:In 926, Emperor Taizu launched a major attack on
1222:
779:
247:
299:and Yiwu Circuit (義武, headquartered in modern
947:
149:; 19 October 879 – 1 August 953), nickname
954:
940:
754:
698:
696:
462:
582:
580:
578:
576:
574:
572:
358:Emperor Taizong honored Empress Shulü as
284:, was locked in a war against archrival
712:
693:
677:
661:
1223:
645:
629:
613:
569:
553:
535:
503:
501:
499:
497:
495:
493:
311:was assassinated and his adoptive son
177:(地皇后) during the reign of her husband
16:Liao dynasty empress dowager (879-953)
935:
459:. She was buried with Emperor Taizu.
104:Empress Yingtian Daiming Di (應天大明地皇后)
728:
519:
490:
319:was overthrown by his adoptive son
13:
748:
264:tribes, the Huangtou (黃頭) and the
14:
1302:
780:Bennet Peterson, Barbara (2000).
472:Differences from Han counterparts
393:and established a new state of
385:In 936, the Later Tang general
1281:10th-century empresses consort
596:
354:During Emperor Taizong's reign
170:
162:
1:
1184:5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms
215:
21:Empress Xiao (disambiguation)
248:During Emperor Taizu's reign
7:
1291:Mothers of Chinese emperors
885:Empress of the Liao dynasty
10:
1307:
1271:10th-century Khitan people
1246:10th-century women regents
18:
1266:10th-century Khitan women
1261:9th-century Khitan people
1136:
1113:
1106:
1088:
1050:
1043:
1025:
977:
970:
914:
902:
891:
882:
876:
871:
843:
146:
128:
117:
110:
101:
96:
92:
70:
60:
48:
33:
28:
1256:9th-century Khitan women
763:Harvard University Press
758:Imperial China: 900-1800
483:
1108:Grand empresses dowager
463:Important contributions
82:Emperor Taizong of Liao
79:, Emperor Wenxian Qinyi
1241:Liao dynasty empresses
120:Empress Chunqin (淳欽皇后)
118:Empress Zhenlie (貞烈皇后)
457:grand empress dowager
179:Emperor Taizu of Liao
65:Emperor Taizu of Liao
1286:10th-century regents
1070:Empress Dowager Xiao
291:In 921, the general
784:. M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
755:Mote, F.W. (1999).
307:)—as Zhao's prince
212:in Khitan society.
167:traditional Chinese
765:. pp. 49–52.
159:simplified Chinese
88:, Emperor Zhangsui
1218:
1217:
1045:Empresses dowager
972:Empresses consort
962:Empresses of the
930:
929:
892:Succeeded by
136:
135:
124:
123:
1298:
1251:Chinese amputees
1123:Yaonian Yanmujin
1060:Yaonian Yanmujin
956:
949:
942:
933:
932:
917:Emperor of China
903:Preceded by
877:Preceded by
867:
860:
841:
840:
785:
776:
742:
732:
726:
716:
710:
700:
691:
681:
675:
665:
659:
649:
643:
633:
627:
617:
611:
600:
594:
584:
567:
557:
551:
539:
533:
523:
517:
505:
173:) also known as
172:
164:
155:Empress Yingtian
153:(月里朵), formally
148:
102:Empress Di (地皇后)
94:
93:
55:
43:
41:
26:
25:
1306:
1305:
1301:
1300:
1299:
1297:
1296:
1295:
1221:
1220:
1219:
1214:
1132:
1109:
1102:
1084:
1046:
1039:
1021:
973:
966:
960:
925:
912:
898:
888:
880:
879:Dynasty Created
861:
855:
854:
846:
790:History of Liao
773:
751:
749:Work referenced
746:
745:
735:History of Liao
733:
729:
717:
713:
701:
694:
682:
678:
666:
662:
650:
646:
634:
630:
618:
614:
608:History of Liao
604:History of Liao
601:
597:
585:
570:
558:
554:
540:
536:
526:History of Liao
524:
520:
509:History of Liao
506:
491:
486:
474:
465:
443:
360:empress dowager
356:
250:
218:
206:empress dowager
194:Empress Chunqin
183:posthumous name
181:(Yelü Abaoji),
119:
112:Posthumous name
105:
103:
84:
80:
53:
39:
37:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1304:
1294:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1238:
1233:
1216:
1215:
1137:
1134:
1133:
1131:
1130:
1125:
1119:
1117:
1111:
1110:
1107:
1104:
1103:
1101:
1100:
1094:
1092:
1086:
1085:
1083:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1056:
1054:
1048:
1047:
1044:
1041:
1040:
1038:
1037:
1031:
1029:
1023:
1022:
1020:
1019:
1014:
1009:
1004:
999:
994:
989:
983:
981:
975:
974:
971:
968:
967:
959:
958:
951:
944:
936:
928:
927:
921:Inner Mongolia
913:
904:
900:
899:
893:
890:
881:
878:
874:
873:
872:Regnal titles
869:
868:
847:
844:
839:
838:
802:Zizhi Tongjian
798:
786:
777:
771:
750:
747:
744:
743:
727:
719:Zizhi Tongjian
711:
703:Zizhi Tongjian
692:
684:Zizhi Tongjian
676:
668:Zizhi Tongjian
660:
652:Zizhi Tongjian
644:
636:Zizhi Tongjian
628:
620:Zizhi Tongjian
612:
595:
587:Zizhi Tongjian
568:
560:Zizhi Tongjian
552:
543:Zizhi Tongjian
534:
518:
488:
487:
485:
482:
473:
470:
464:
461:
453:Emperor Muzong
442:
439:
355:
352:
344:Inner Mongolia
249:
246:
217:
214:
134:
133:
130:
126:
125:
122:
121:
115:
114:
108:
107:
99:
98:
90:
89:
74:
68:
67:
62:
58:
57:
56:(aged 73)
50:
46:
45:
44:19 October 879
35:
31:
30:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1303:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1228:
1226:
1213:
1209:
1205:
1201:
1197:
1193:
1189:
1185:
1181:
1177:
1173:
1169:
1165:
1161:
1157:
1153:
1149:
1145:
1141:
1135:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1120:
1118:
1116:
1112:
1105:
1099:
1096:
1095:
1093:
1091:
1087:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1057:
1055:
1053:
1049:
1042:
1036:
1033:
1032:
1030:
1028:
1024:
1018:
1015:
1013:
1010:
1008:
1005:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
993:
990:
988:
985:
984:
982:
980:
976:
969:
965:
957:
952:
950:
945:
943:
938:
937:
934:
924:
922:
918:
911:
907:
901:
897:
887:
886:
875:
870:
865:
858:
853:
851:
850:House of Yelü
842:
836:
832:
828:
824:
820:
816:
812:
808:
804:
803:
799:
796:
792:
791:
787:
783:
778:
774:
772:0-674-01212-7
768:
764:
760:
759:
753:
752:
740:
736:
731:
724:
720:
715:
708:
704:
699:
697:
689:
685:
680:
673:
669:
664:
657:
653:
648:
641:
637:
632:
625:
621:
616:
609:
605:
599:
592:
588:
583:
581:
579:
577:
575:
573:
565:
561:
556:
549:
545:
544:
538:
531:
527:
522:
515:
511:
510:
504:
502:
500:
498:
496:
494:
489:
481:
478:
469:
460:
458:
454:
449:
438:
436:
432:
426:
424:
419:
414:
412:
406:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
383:
379:
377:
373:
369:
365:
361:
351:
347:
345:
341:
335:
333:
329:
324:
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
289:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
270:mother-in-law
267:
263:
259:
255:
245:
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
223:
213:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
188:
184:
180:
176:
168:
160:
156:
152:
144:
140:
131:
127:
116:
113:
109:
100:
95:
91:
87:
83:
78:
75:
73:
69:
66:
63:
59:
51:
47:
36:
32:
27:
22:
1172:N. Dynasties
1168:S. Dynasties
1098:Yelü Pusuwan
1090:Western Liao
1064:
1035:Xiao Tabuyan
1027:Western Liao
1017:Xiao Guanyin
1002:Xiao Sagezhi
997:Empress Zhen
986:
964:Liao dynasty
915:
910:Tang dynasty
883:
863:
856:
848:
800:
788:
781:
756:
734:
730:
718:
714:
702:
683:
679:
667:
663:
651:
647:
635:
631:
619:
615:
607:
603:
598:
586:
559:
555:
541:
537:
525:
521:
507:
475:
466:
444:
431:Shijiazhuang
427:
415:
411:Shi Chonggui
407:
387:Shi Jingtang
384:
380:
357:
348:
336:
325:
290:
254:Liao dynasty
251:
238:Yelü Deguang
219:
202:Liao dynasty
193:
189:
186:
174:
154:
150:
138:
137:
52:1 August 953
1164:16 Kingdoms
1128:Xiao Noujin
1080:Xiao Noujin
1075:Xiao Yanyan
1012:Xiao Noujin
1007:Xiao Yanyan
845:Shulü Ping
317:Wang Chuzhi
313:Zhang Wenli
286:Later Liang
230:Yelü Abaoji
54:(953-08-01)
1236:953 deaths
1231:879 births
1225:Categories
1156:3 Kingdoms
1065:Shulü Ping
987:Shulü Ping
906:Empress He
852:(916–1125)
610:, vol. 72.
477:Ethnic Han
399:Zhao Dejun
376:chancellor
372:Han Yanhui
368:ethnic Han
276:prince of
216:Background
185:initially
175:Empress Di
139:Shulü Ping
132:Shulü Pogu
29:Shulü Ping
1276:Xiao clan
919:(Eastern
448:Yelü Ruan
395:Later Jin
391:Li Congke
370:official
309:Wang Rong
293:Lu Wenjin
258:Dangxiang
242:Yelü Lihu
86:Yelü Lihu
40:879-10-19
992:Xiao Wen
926:916–926
896:Xiao Wen
894:Empress
889:916–926
805:, vols.
723:vol. 287
707:vol. 286
688:vol. 285
672:vol. 284
656:vol. 283
640:vol. 281
624:vol. 280
591:vol. 275
564:vol. 271
548:vol. 269
364:Xiao Wen
282:Li Cunxu
234:Yelü Bei
151:Yueliduo
77:Yelü Bei
908:of the
795:vol. 71
739:vol. 72
530:vol. 64
514:vol. 71
423:Kaifeng
403:Beijing
340:Chifeng
332:Dongdan
321:Wang Du
301:Baoding
190:Zhenlie
187:Empress
143:Chinese
1196:W. Xia
1138:Xia →
862:
769:
418:Du Wei
328:Balhae
274:Shatuo
266:Choubo
262:Shiwei
240:, and
226:Khitan
210:widows
198:Khitan
169::
161::
145::
129:Father
61:Spouse
1140:Shang
864:Died:
857:Born:
484:Notes
435:Hebei
374:as a
305:Hebei
222:Huigu
200:-led
97:Names
72:Issue
1212:Qing
1208:Ming
1204:Yuan
1192:Song
1188:Liao
1180:Tang
1144:Zhou
1115:Liao
1052:Liao
979:Liao
767:ISBN
602:The
297:Zhao
171:應天皇后
163:应天皇后
49:Died
34:Born
1200:Jīn
1176:Sui
1160:Jìn
1152:Han
1148:Qin
866:953
859:879
835:287
831:286
827:284
823:281
819:280
815:275
811:271
807:269
278:Jin
147:述律平
1227::
1210:→
1206:→
1202:→
1198:/
1194:/
1190:/
1186:→
1182:→
1178:→
1174:→
1170:/
1166:→
1162:/
1158:→
1154:→
1150:→
1146:→
1142:→
923:)
833:,
829:,
825:,
821:,
817:,
813:,
809:,
793:,
761:.
737:,
721:,
705:,
695:^
686:,
670:,
654:,
638:,
622:,
589:,
571:^
562:,
546:,
528:,
512:,
492:^
433:,
342:,
303:,
280:,
244:.
236:,
165:;
955:e
948:t
941:v
837:.
797:.
775:.
741:.
725:.
709:.
690:.
674:.
658:.
642:.
626:.
593:.
566:.
550:.
532:.
516:.
157:(
141:(
42:)
38:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.