A Brief History of Liao and Jin Dynasties

Author: Li Guizhi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-04-01
Features: In recent years, research on the Liao and Jin dynasties has yielded fruitful results, achieving significant progress and new insights on many issues. Li Guizhi, while dedicating herself to teaching, has diligently studied the social organizations of northern ethnic groups, making notable contributions. She has conducted detailed and in-depth investigations into the tribal organizations, marriage and family structures, customs, and surnames and titles of the Khitan and Jurchen peoples. Particularly, she has published two influential articles on the tribal alliances of the ancient eight divisions of the Khitan, the Dahai clan, and the Yoona clan: "My Views on the Ancient Eight Divisions of the Khitan" and "The Tribal Organization of the Khitan Dahai and Yoona Alliances—A Study of the Liao Shi·Yingwei Zhi." Although her perspectives differ from those of predecessors and some contemporary experts, her arguments are well-founded and logically coherent, establishing her as a distinctive voice in the field.
Taking advantage of her regular lectures on the Liao and Jin dynasties, Li Guizhi has meticulously compiled A Concise History of the Liao and Jin Dynasties, a concise yet comprehensive monograph in the genre of dynastic history. She has referenced extensive historical records from both the Liao and Jin periods, archaeological findings, and field research, while also drawing upon the latest domestic and international research achievements in the study of these dynasties. The book strives to fully and specifically reflect the current state of the art in Liao and Jin studies.
This Concise History provides a comprehensive and systematic account of the overall situations of the two dynasties from political, economic, military, cultural, and customary perspectives, with particular emphasis on the unique characteristics of the political governance of the Khitan and Jurchen peoples in the Liao and Jin dynasties, as well as their distinct contributions to the civilization of the Chinese nation. For example, it discusses the Naba (summer palaces), the five capitals, and the Wuluodu of the Liao dynasty, as well as the tribal and prefectural systems. It also examines the Bole system, the Meng'an-Mulun system, and the historical process of the Jin dynasty's transition toward feudal centralized rule. Furthermore, it compares the development and characteristics of the economies of the two dynasties, including land ownership, modes of production, economic systems, and class structures, providing a comprehensive description of their general and unique economic conditions. The book highlights the expansion and development of China's northern frontier, as well as economic exchanges and political ties among northern ethnic groups. It also emphasizes the increasing interaction and mutual influence in political and cultural spheres between the Liao and Jin dynasties and the Northern Song dynasty, illustrating their significant contributions to the consolidation and strengthening of China's unified multi-ethnic state.