Kithan's Invasion and Domination of North China in the mid-10th Century

Abstract

Late Tang Shi Jing-tang called on Kithan to aid after the rebellion. As a result, Kithan dispatched troops to destroy Late Tang and help Shi Jing-tang to establish Late Jin. Shi Jing-tang gave Yan-yun-shi-liu-zhou to Kithan in return for this support and paid a huge regular payment of property every year. Shi Jing-tang devoted himself to Kithan's Tai-zong through his reign; the provision of supplies was also faithful. Due to this attitude of Shi Jing-tang, no problems occurred between Kithan and Late Jin during his reign. However, change occurred in 942 when Shi Jing-tang died. Late Jin refused to call himself a servant to Kithan. Kithan then angered and decided on the policy of the invasion of Late Jin. Kithan began the invasion in 946 and destroyed Late Jin. In 947, Tai-zong of Kithan entered Kaifeng, the capital of Late Jin. Since then, Tai-zong has also tried to stabilize order immediately. Tai-zong, after stabilizing Kaifeng's situation, performed a ceremony to be crowned emperor. His emperor's ceremony followed thoroughly Chinese conventions. The country's name was also changed to Liao. Tai-zong hoped to be accepted as a Chinese monarch by the people of North China. He was directed toward Chinese domination and Chinese monarchy, but lacked understanding of the principles of Chinese administrative organizations, and thus the domination of Liao caused resentment of the people in various places. In this situation, in March 947, Tai-zong of Kithan abandoned direct rule of North China and returned to the north. The withdrawal of Tai-zong was apparently an arbitrage of failures over North China's rule.