Xiao Yanyan

Names
	Family name:Xiāo (Tiêu); Khitan name:Yanyan (YếnYến ); Chinese name:Xiāo Chuò (TiêuXước)
Regnal name
	Empress Dowager Ruìdé Shénlüè Yìngyùn QĬhuà Chéngtiān (DuệĐứcThầnLượcỨngVậnKhảiHóaThừaThiênHoàng thái hậu)
Posthumous name
	Empress Shèngshén Xuānxiàn (ThánhThầnTuyênHiếnHoàng hậu); Empress Ruìzhì (DuệTríHoàng hậu)

Xiao Yanyan
Xiao Yanyan
Empress Dowager Chengtian of Liao
	from one 1892 print of the novelLegends of Generals of the Yang Family(《 dương gia tương truyện 》)
Regent of theLiao dynasty
Regency	13 October 982 – 23 December 1009
Monarch	Emperor Shengzong(son)
Born	953
Died	December 29, 1009
Spouse	Yelü Xian (Emperor Jingzong)
Issue	Yelü Longxu (Emperor Shengzong), son; Yelü Longqing ( gia luật long khánh ), son; Yelü Longyou ( gia luật long hữu ), son; Yelü Guanyinnü ( gia luật quan âm nữ ), daughter; Yelü Changshounü ( gia luật trường thọ nữ ), daughter; Yelü Yanshounü ( gia luật diên thọ nữ ), daughter;
Names
Names
	Family name:Xiāo (Tiêu); Khitan name:Yanyan (YếnYến ); Chinese name:Xiāo Chuò (TiêuXước)
Regnal name
	Empress Dowager Ruìdé Shénlüè Yìngyùn QĬhuà Chéngtiān (DuệĐứcThầnLượcỨngVậnKhảiHóaThừaThiênHoàng thái hậu)
Posthumous name
	Empress Shèngshén Xuānxiàn (ThánhThầnTuyênHiếnHoàng hậu); Empress Ruìzhì (DuệTríHoàng hậu)
Father	Xiao Siwen( tiêu tư ôn )
Mother	Yelü Lübugu( gia luật lữ bất cổ )

Xiao Chuo,nicknameYanyan(Chinese:Tiêu yến yến;^[1]953 – 29 December 1009^[2]), also known asEmpress Dowager Chengtian( thừa thiên hoàng thái hậu ) was aKhitan empressand military leader ofimperial China'sLiao dynasty.^[3]^[4]She was regent on behalf of her son from 982.^[3]

History

Xiao Yanyan was the 3rd child of Xiao Siwen ( tiêu tư ôn ), Liao'schancellor.^[5]Also referred to by the name Xiao Chuo, Xiao's original Khitan family name was Bali ( bạt lí thị ).^[6]She was the youngest of the Xiao sisters, along withXiao HunianandLady Xiao.^[3]

Xiao later marriedEmperor Jingzong of Liaoand would go on to bear the crown PrinceYelü Longxu.^[7]^[5]Being granted the title of Empress, Xiao was influential during her husband's reign.^[8]^[4]

She would go on to become regent for her son in 982 when he ascended the Liao throne asEmperor Shengzongat 12 years old after the untimely death ofEmperor Jingzong of Liaowho died while returning from a hunting trip.^[4]^[9]^[10]

In Khitan culture, it was acceptable for women to take part in military action, and indeed to be military commanders: Xiao became a military commander of great renown.^[11]In 986, the Liao Empire was invaded by theSong dynastyto the south under the leadership ofEmperor Taizong of Song,but was defeated by Liao forces under Xiao's command; she is said to have commanded the troops herself on the front line of the battle.^[7]They routed the Song soldiers and captured thousands, who, as it was her birthday, Xiao pardoned.^[4]A further invasion by the Song would ensue in 989 only to be defeated once again by Liao forces resulting in the death ofYang Ye.

In her personal life, Empress Dowager Chengtian was reported to have an accepted, spouse-like relationship with her advisor - and commanded of the Northern Chancellery - Han Derang.^[12]^[13]

As Empress Dowager Chengtian, Xiao commanded her own army of 10,000 cavalry and would personally lead the Liao army in battle against the Song in 1005, despite being over 50 years old by that point.^[4]

Known for her great skills in civil administration, Empress Dowager Chengtian retained great influence until her death at age 57 in 1009.^[14]^[4]Chinese chronicles, such asThe History of the Liao,credit most of the success of Emperor Shengzong's reign to his mother, Chengtian.^[13]^[15]

She was also instrumental in arranging a marriage between her son and her court lady,Xiao Noujin.^{[citation needed]}However, she had a poor relationship with her two older sisters, and she eventually poisoned or murdered both of them.^{[citation needed]}

Modern references

Film and television

Portrayed by Mu Qing in the 1995 Chinese movieGreat Liao's Empress Dowager.
Portrayed byShim Hye-jinin the 2009 Korean TV seriesEmpress Cheonchu.
Portrayed by Mei Lier in the 2019 Chinese movieBattle Between Song and Liao Dynasties( đại phá thiên môn trận ).^[16]
Portrayed byTiffany Tangin the 2020 Chinese TV seriesThe Legend of Xiao Chuo.

Literature

She is also portrayed as anantagonistin manyGenerals of the Yang Familyadaptations.

Notes

^Essentially the same novel, with slight modifications by publishers and editors, as the second half of theRecords of the Two Songs, South and North(《 lưỡng tống nam bắc chí truyện 》) written by Xiong Damu ( hùng đại mộc ) in the late 16th century.

References

Citations

^( cảnh tông duệ trí hoàng hậu tiêu thị, húy xước, tiểu tự yến yến,...)Liao Shi,vol.71
^([ thống hòa nhị thập thất niên thập nhị nguyệt ] tân mão, hoàng thái hậu băng vu hành cung.)Liao Shi,vol.14
^^a ^b ^cSnodgrass, Mary Ellen (2023-12-20).Women Warriors in History: 1,622 Biographies Worldwide from the Bronze Age to the Present.McFarland.ISBN 978-1-4766-5032-6.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^fLee, Lily Xiao Hong; Wiles, Sue (2015-01-28).Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644.Routledge.ISBN 978-1-317-51562-3.
^^a ^bShang, Xizhi; Liang, Liangxing (1994).Tales of Empresses and Imperial Consorts in China.Hai Feng Publishing Company.ISBN 978-962-238-218-3.
^Liêu sử. Quyển thất thập nhất. Hậu phi truyện: "Hậu tộc duy ất thất, bạt lí thị, nhi thế nhậm kỳ quốc sự. Thái tổ mộ hán cao hoàng đế, cố gia luật kiêm xưng lưu thị; dĩ ất thất, bạt lí bỉ tiêu tương quốc, toại vi tiêu thị.... Cảnh tông duệ trí hoàng hậu tiêu thị, húy xước, tiểu tự yến yến, bắc phủ tể tương tư ôn nữ."
^^a ^bZhu, Ruixi; Zhang, Bangwei; Liu, Fusheng; Cai, Chongbang; Wang, Zengyu (2016-12-22).A Social History of Medieval China.Cambridge University Press.ISBN 978-1-107-16786-5.
^The Chalice and the Blade in Chinese Culture: Gender Relations and Social Models.China Social Sciences Publishing House. 1995.ISBN 978-7-5004-1741-5.
^SK, Lim (2018-11-12).Chinese Imperial Women (2010 Edition - EPUB).Asiapac Books Pte Ltd.ISBN 978-981-229-994-9.
^Zhang, Shiwei (2021-11-16).The Logical Deduction of Chinese Traditional Political Philosophy.Springer Nature.ISBN 978-981-16-4376-7.
^Hinsch, Bret (2020-12-16).Women in Song and Yuan China.Rowman & Littlefield.ISBN 978-1-5381-4492-3.
^Wanton Women in Late-Imperial Chinese Literature: Models, Genres, Subversions and Traditions.BRILL. 2017-04-18.ISBN 978-90-04-34062-6.
^^a ^bMcMahon, Keith (2013-06-06).Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao.Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.ISBN 978-1-4422-2290-8.
^"Women in power 750-1000"from Guide2womenleaders.com, last accessed January 13, 2007
^Kuhn, Dieter (2011-10-15).The Age of Confucian Rule.Harvard University Press.ISBN 978-0-674-24434-4.
^chinesemov."Battle Between Song and Liao Dynasties (2019)".

Sources

Toqto'a;et al. (1344).《 liêu sử 》[History of Liao] (in Literary Chinese).
Hao, Fu (2002). "Biographical Sketches".Chinese Studies in History.35(2): 11–93.doi:10.2753/CSH0009-4633350211.S2CID 219308181.
"Women in power 750-1000" from Guide2womenleaders.com, last accessed January 13, 2007

[1] Essentially the same novel, with slight modifications by publishers and editors, as the second half of theRecords of the Two Songs, South and North(《 lưỡng tống nam bắc chí truyện 》) written by Xiong Damu ( hùng đại mộc ) in the late 16th century.

[2] ( cảnh tông duệ trí hoàng hậu tiêu thị, húy xước, tiểu tự yến yến,...)Liao Shi,vol.71

[3] ([ thống hòa nhị thập thất niên thập nhị nguyệt ] tân mão, hoàng thái hậu băng vu hành cung.)Liao Shi,vol.14

[:1-4] Snodgrass, Mary Ellen (2023-12-20).Women Warriors in History: 1,622 Biographies Worldwide from the Bronze Age to the Present.McFarland.ISBN 978-1-4766-5032-6.

[:0-5] Lee, Lily Xiao Hong; Wiles, Sue (2015-01-28).Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644.Routledge.ISBN 978-1-317-51562-3.

[:2-6] Shang, Xizhi; Liang, Liangxing (1994).Tales of Empresses and Imperial Consorts in China.Hai Feng Publishing Company.ISBN 978-962-238-218-3.

[7] Liêu sử. Quyển thất thập nhất. Hậu phi truyện: "Hậu tộc duy ất thất, bạt lí thị, nhi thế nhậm kỳ quốc sự. Thái tổ mộ hán cao hoàng đế, cố gia luật kiêm xưng lưu thị; dĩ ất thất, bạt lí bỉ tiêu tương quốc, toại vi tiêu thị.... Cảnh tông duệ trí hoàng hậu tiêu thị, húy xước, tiểu tự yến yến, bắc phủ tể tương tư ôn nữ."

[:3-8] Zhu, Ruixi; Zhang, Bangwei; Liu, Fusheng; Cai, Chongbang; Wang, Zengyu (2016-12-22).A Social History of Medieval China.Cambridge University Press.ISBN 978-1-107-16786-5.

[9] The Chalice and the Blade in Chinese Culture: Gender Relations and Social Models.China Social Sciences Publishing House. 1995.ISBN 978-7-5004-1741-5.

[10] SK, Lim (2018-11-12).Chinese Imperial Women (2010 Edition - EPUB).Asiapac Books Pte Ltd.ISBN 978-981-229-994-9.

[11] Zhang, Shiwei (2021-11-16).The Logical Deduction of Chinese Traditional Political Philosophy.Springer Nature.ISBN 978-981-16-4376-7.

[12] Hinsch, Bret (2020-12-16).Women in Song and Yuan China.Rowman & Littlefield.ISBN 978-1-5381-4492-3.

[13] Wanton Women in Late-Imperial Chinese Literature: Models, Genres, Subversions and Traditions.BRILL. 2017-04-18.ISBN 978-90-04-34062-6.

[:4-14] McMahon, Keith (2013-06-06).Women Shall Not Rule: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Han to Liao.Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.ISBN 978-1-4422-2290-8.

[15] "Women in power 750-1000"from Guide2womenleaders.com, last accessed January 13, 2007

[16] Kuhn, Dieter (2011-10-15).The Age of Confucian Rule.Harvard University Press.ISBN 978-0-674-24434-4.

[17] semov."Battle Between Song and Liao Dynasties (2019)".

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v t e Empresses of theLiao dynasty
Empresses consort
Liao	Shulü Ping Xiao Wen Empress Zhen Xiao Sagezhi Xiao Yanyan Xiao Noujin Xiao Guanyin
Western Liao	Xiao Tabuyan
Empresses dowager
Liao	Yaonian Yanmujin Shulü Ping Empress Dowager Xiao Xiao Yanyan Xiao Noujin
Western Liao	Yelü Pusuwan
Grand empresses dowager
Liao	Yaonian Yanmujin Xiao Noujin
Xia →Shang→Zhou→Qin→Han→3 Kingdoms→Jìn/16 Kingdoms→S. Dynasties/N. Dynasties→Sui→Tang→5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms→Liao/Song/W. Xia/Jīn→Yuan→Ming→Qing

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