In the imperial era, the Central Plains culture had a strong attraction to the surrounding foreign races, and the latter naturally developed a strong interest in China (note that "China" at this time mostly refers to the Central Plains) out of cultural worship, and even wanted to live in China, or begged for the next life to be born in China. There are not a few foreigners who are super obsessed with China, the most famous of which is the Liao Daoist Yelü Hongji.
Yelü Hongji was the eighth emperor of the Liao Dynasty, the eldest son of Emperor Yelüzong of Liaoxingzong, who ascended the throne in August of the twenty-fourth year of Chongxi (1055), when the reigning emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty was Emperor Renzong of Song. Although Emperor Daozong of Liao was calm and quiet by nature, strict and resolute ("Imperial calmness, strict perseverance, every dynasty, Emperor Xingzong for the sake of tolerance." See "Liao Shi, Vol. 21, Benji 21"), but his inner literary and artistic style is full of style, and he greatly admires the culture of the Central Plains.
Liao Daozong was unusually fascinated by the culture of the Central Plains
Although Liao Daozong was a Khitan man, he was not only proficient in musical rhythms, but also good at calligraphy, painting, and poetry, and often met with Han Wenchen Yiwen. Not only that, Empress Xiao Guanyin was also a well-known talented woman at home and abroad, proficient in poetry and song, music and calligraphy, etc., and had written many popular works, so she was called "the talented woman among women" by The Liao Daozong. Emperors and empresses are all fans of Central Plains culture, and the followers can imagine their imitation.
It was precisely because the Liao Daoist Sect admired the culture of the Central Plains, and heard that Song Renzong was generous and loved by the people, so it was natural to worship him. In the autumn of the second year of Jiayou (1057), Emperor Daozong of Liao wanted to know what the "idol" looked like, so he sent emissaries to the Northern Song Dynasty to ask for the imperial appearance (emperor portrait) of Emperor Renzong of Song. In this regard, the ministers of Zaifu believed that the real purpose of the Liao state in seeking the portrait might be to curse the emperor with the art of victory, so they persuaded Emperor Renzong to refuse.
Empress Xiao Guanyin was also fascinated by the culture of the Central Plains
Emperor Renzong smiled slightly after hearing this, and then said to them: "Shuo Tui is pure in the belly of the prisoners, and always treats them sincerely, presumably the emperor of the Northern Dynasty will not do so (the Song Dynasty called the Liao State 'Northern Dynasty'). Subsequently, Emperor Renzong of Song sent Yushi Zhongzhong (御史中丞) Zhang Fu (張昪) as an envoy to the Liao State and presented yurong to Emperor Daozong of Liao. After the Song envoys arrived in the Liao Kingdom, Emperor Daozong of Liao led a group of courtiers to greet them and welcomed Song Renzong's imperial appearance into the palace with an extremely solemn ceremony.
When he opened the scroll and saw the appearance of Song Renzong, Liao Daozong's face was both surprised and serious, and he bowed to Yu Rong, and then said to the courtiers: "The emperor of the Southern Dynasty looks heroic and extraordinary (the Liao State calls the Song Dynasty 'Southern Dynasty'), he is really a god and a man, and if he is born in China, he is just the Duyu Hou who leads a horse and holds a whip around him!" After that, Emperor Daozong of Liao became more fearful and respectful of Emperor Renzong of Song.
Song Renzong was worshipped as an "idol" by Liao Daozong
In the autumn of the second year of Jiayou, Beiyu asked Emperor Ren for imperial honor, and the deliberators were worried about the art of victory, and the emperor said: "I will not be able to treat you thickly." "Sending Yu Shi zhong to Zhang Fu's legacy." The lord Sheng Yiwei personally greeted him, and when he saw it, he was shocked and prayed again. The following words are: "True Lord, if I am born in China, but with him I will hold the lid, and I will wait for all of them." "Its fear is so. See Shaw's After-Hearing, Volume I.
Six years later (1063), Emperor Renzong of Song died, and when the obituary reached the Liao State, Emperor Daozong of Liao wept bitterly, grabbed the hand of the Song emissary and cried bitterly: "Blessed by the emperor of the Southern Dynasty, the northern and southern dynasties have not fought for 42 years." With such deep grace, he wanted to build him a crown tomb so that he could always mourn. Not only that, Emperor Daozong of Liao also buried the imperial robes given by Emperor Renzong of Song, and then instructed his descendants to regard their crown tombs as the tombs of their ancestors, and held solemn sacrifices every year.
Emperor Ren collapsed and sent envoys to the Khitans, and the people of yan were all weeping near and far. The messenger of the Lord of The Raiders mourned: "Forty-two years I have not known the soldiers. "Later, the Imperial Robes given by Emperor Ren of the Northern Dynasty were as strict as the tomb clouds of his ancestors. Ibid.
After the death of Emperor Renzong of Song, Emperor Daozong of Liao was extremely sad
It is precisely because Liao Daozong admired the culture of the Central Plains and greatly admired Song Renzong that he naturally developed a deep fascination with China and very much hoped to live there for a long time. Of course, Emperor Daozong of Liao knew very well that since he was the Khitan Emperor, he could not realize this wish in this life and this life, and only by hoping that he would be born in China in the next life could he realize his wish.
Therefore, in order to realize this wish, the Liao Daoist Sect often prayed to the Buddha with fasts and begged the Buddha to bless him to fulfill his wish. Not only that, the Liao Daoist Sect also cast two Buddha statues out of hundreds of taels of platinum, and then engraved an inscription on their backs: "May the future generations be born in China", which shows the sincerity of his intentions ("Rizhai did not forget, tasted hundreds of platinum, cast two Buddha statues, and inscribed on their backs: 'May the future generations be born in China.'" See Songshan Anthology, Vol. II, Shuo Questions").
Emperor Daozong of Liao was buried in Qingling after his death
In the first month of the seventh year of Shouchang (1101), Emperor Daozong of Liao, who reigned for 46 years, died at the age of 70, and was buried in Qingling (in present-day Balinzuoqi, Chifeng, Inner Mongolia) together with Empress Xiao Guanyin. Before Emperor Daozong died, emperor Sun and King Yelü Yanxi of Yan ascended the throne, who was emperor tianzuo emperor of the Liao state. With the death of Liao Daozong, the legendary story that belonged to him came to an end.