Western Xia: Difference between revisions

The Western Xia Dynasty (Chinese: 西夏; pinyin: Xī Xià; lit. 'Western Xia') or the Tangut Empire was a state that existed from 1032 up to 1227 in what are now the northwestern Chinese provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, and Ningxia. It was established in the 11th century by Tangut tribes who spoke Tangut. Occupying the area along the trade route between Central Asia and the West, the Tangut were neighbors to Northern China, controlled by Song China and, later on, the Jurchen Empire.

Name

The Tanguts called their own state "phiow¹-bjij²-lhjij-lhjij²" which translates as "The Great State of the White and the Lofty" (大白高國). Since it was located in the west, the Chinese name is Xi-Xia (西夏), literally "Western Xia", and thus that name is often used in Sinological literature. The English name "Tangut" comes from the Mongolian name for the country Tangγud.

Foundations

Song China, Jin Empire, Dali and Western Xia in 1142.

After coming under military pressure from the Tibetan Empire some Tangut tribes submitted to Tang China under Emperor Dezong in 799. The Tanguts who submitted were moved to the Ordos region near Ningxia, whereas those who stayed accepted Tibetan political dominance and became known in Chinese as Mi-yao.

The Tanguts remained loyal to the Tang during the revolt of Huang Chao but established de-facto independence when Tang fell in 906. They retained their de-facto independence throughout the Five Dynasties period. During this period, their chieftain had the title of Dingnan Jiedushi and nominally remained under the Five Dynasties. Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang made an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Dingnan in 932 after believing incorrectly that Dingnan was about to enter an alliance with Liao.

The foundation of a Tangut state as such goes back to the year 982 under Li Deming (李德明). However, it would not be until 1038 that the Tangut chieftain Li Yuanhao (李元昊), Li Deming's son, who also ordered the creation of a Tangut writing system and the translation of Chinese classics into Tangut, named himself emperor of Da Xia, and demanded of the Song emperor recognition as an equal. The Song court accepted the recognition of Li Yuanhao as 'governor', but not 'emperor', a title considered exclusive to the Song emperor. After intense diplomatic contacts, in 1043 the Tangut state accepted the recognition of the Song emperor as emperor in exchange for annual tribute, which implied tacit recognition on the part of the Song of the military power of the Tangut.

Early History

After Jingzong's death, Yizong became the emperor at the age of two. His mother became the regent and during Yizong's reign, Liao Dynasty launched an invasion of Western Xia, causing Western Xia to submit to Liao Dynasty as a vassal state. After Yizong's death, Huizong was put under house arrest by his mother, and she attacked Song Dynasty. The attack was a failure, and Huizong took back power from his mother. After Chongzong became emperor, his grandmother (Huizong's mother) became regent again and launched invasion of Liao Dynasty and Song Dynasty. Again, both campaigns ended in defeat and Chongzong took direct control of Western Xia. He ended wars with both Liao and Song and focused on domestic reform.

In 1115, Jurchen Jin Dynasty was set up and Liao emperor fled to Western Xia in 1123. Chongzong submitted to the Jin demand of the Liao emperor and Western Xia became a vassal state of Jin. After Jin Dynasty destroyed Northern Song Dynasty, Western Xia attacked and took several thousands square miles of land from Nothern Song. Immediately following Renzong's coronation, many natural disasters occurred and Renzong worked to stablize the economy.

The Tanguts and the Mongols

After Renzong's death, Huanzong came into power and Western Xia's power began to fail. Corruption was widespread and the economy began to falter. Western Xia also began to come under attack by Mongol Empire.

The Mongol Empire campaigned six times against the Tanguts (1202, 1207, 1209-10, 1211-13, 1214-19, 1225-26).

In 1206, Xiangzong (Li An-chuan) initiated a coup d'etat against Huanzong and killed him, installing himself as emperor. In 1207 Li An-ch'uan submitted to the Mongols, and gave his daughter to Činggis Qaɣan (commonly known as Genghis Khan) in marriage. Xiangzong then began a decade-long campaign against Jin Empire, significantly weakening both empires. Also during Xiangzong's reign, corruption rose to new heights, and normal peasants were very poor. The Western Xia army was also untrained and ill-equipped. Xiangzong abdicated after Shenzong started a coup d'etat and seized power, and Xiangzong died in the same year, 1211.

The Mongols asked their allies and tributaries for military aid in the campaign against the Islamic countries in 1216, although the Tangut emperor Shenzong was willing, his court and in particular his general Aša-gambu recommended against it. When Genghis Khan returned from his campaign the new emperor Xianzong pled with him, but the general Aša-gambu challenged Genghis Khan. The emperor Xianzong died during the fighting and was succeeded by Modi (Li Xian), the last of the Tangut rulers. Modi sued for peace, which was accepted, but he was then executed by Tolui the son of Genghis, and the Tangut state was fully incorporated into Mongolian administration. (cf. Kwanten 1974)

Rulers of Western Xia

Temple Name	Posthumous Name	Personal Name	Reign Dates
Jǐngzōng 景宗	Wǔlièdì 武烈帝	Lǐ Yuánhào 李元昊	1038-1048
Yìzōng 毅宗	Zhāoyīngdì 昭英帝	Lǐ Liàngzuò 李諒祚	1048-1067
Huìzōng 惠宗	Kāngjìngdì 康靖帝	Lǐ Bǐngcháng 李秉常	1067-1086
Chóngzōng 崇宗	Shèngwéndì 聖文帝	Lǐ Qiánshùn 李乾順	1086-1139
Rénzōng 仁宗	Shèngzhēndì 聖禎帝	Lǐ Rénxiào 李仁孝	1139-1193
Huánzōng 桓宗	Zhāojiǎndì 昭簡帝	Lǐ Chúnyòu 李純佑	1193-1206
Xiāngzōng 襄宗	Jìngmùdì 敬穆帝	Lǐ Ānquán 李安全	1206-1211
Shénzōng 神宗	Yīngwéndì 英文帝	Lǐ Zūnxū 李遵頊	1211--1223
Xiànzōng 獻宗	none	Lǐ Déwàng 李德旺	1223--1226
Mòdi 末主	none	Lǐ Xiàn 李晛	1226-1227

References

• Kwanten, Luc. "Chingis Kan's Conquest of Tibet, Myth or Reality". Journal of Asian History 8.1 (1974): 17-23.

See also

• History of China
• Ethnic groups in Chinese history