Chinese History.7: History of the Liao Dynasty

Author: Li Xihou
Publisher:
Publishing Time: Not available
Features: This book covers the history of the Khitan, the rise and fall of the Liao Dynasty, the socio-economic structure, key economic sectors, culture, and social life. Although it is a historical book, it intersperses many historical stories. It has strong narrative quality, plot, interest, and readability. The Liao Dynasty was a ruling dynasty established by the Khitan people in Chinese history, lasting from the 10th century to the early 13th century. It stood in opposition to the Northern Song Dynasty, forming another period of in Chinese history. The Liao and Song dynasties existed separately for over 300 years, each following its own political system and governance model, and both made significant contributions to the development of Chinese and historical culture. After the Liao and Song dynasties, the Yuan Dynasty twice discussed the compilation of three histories—the Song, Liao, and Jin dynasties. However, due to the unresolved issue of "who was the legitimate ruler," the project took over 80 years to complete. In the end, they had to "grant legitimacy to each dynasty and list their era names separately" to compile the histories of the Song, Liao, and Jin dynasties. Although the Liao Shi (History of the Liao Dynasty) is incomplete at both ends and lacks comprehensive records, it remains a fundamental historical source for modern research on this period. Professor Li Xihou has dedicated over 30 years to the study of Liao history, achieving remarkable results and being widely recognized as a leading expert in the field. This book is the culmination of his lifelong research. The manuscript consists of 7 chapters, 29 sections, an introduction, a bibliography of cited works, and an index. It covers the establishment, rise, and fall of the Liao Dynasty, as well as its institutional systems, socio-economic structure, and social and cultural life, in varying lengths. The author's deep research into Liao history has led to original insights in the study of the "headman system," the "north-south face system," and the "nabu system," forming his own unique perspectives. The manuscript consists of 7 chapters, 29 sections, an introduction, a bibliography of cited works, and an index. It covers the establishment, rise, and fall of the Liao Dynasty, as well as its institutional systems, socio-economic structure, and social and cultural life.