The Khitans: A Nightmare of the Northern Song Dynasty
The Khitan people were a headache in the Northern Song Dynasty and were active in the upper reaches of the Liao River. At first, they were nomadic tribes, but after five dynasties and ten kingdoms, they gradually unified, and established the Khitan state in 916. In many wars with the Northern Song Dynasty, the Khitan State rose to prominence, and even occupied part of the Central Plains, becoming the founder of the Great Liao Dynasty. During this period, the Khitan became a nightmare for the Northern Song Dynasty with its strong military strength and invasion of the Central Plains.
The Yang family will fight a bitter battle with the Northern Song Dynasty
The Northern Song Dynasty's efforts against the Liao State repeatedly ended in failure, especially in the many wars of aggression launched by the Liao State. One of the most famous battles was in 1004, when the Liao State organized an expeditionary force of 200,000 to attack the Northern Song Dynasty. Against the backdrop of Song Zhengzong's personal conquest, residents from all over the Northern Song Dynasty rose up to resist and successfully delayed the advance of the Liao army. However, in the case of insufficient supplies in the rear, the deeper the battle line went, the front line lost one after another. Eventually, the two sides withdrew their troops under a peace treaty, beginning a period of relative peace that lasted for more than 100 years.
The fall of the Liao State and the disappearance of the Khitan
During this period of relatively peaceful history, the Northern Song Dynasty gradually shifted from military development to literary development, while the Liao State fell into the predicament of weakened national power and corrupt regime. The frequent conquests of the Liao State led to the intensification of domestic contradictions and the people's misery. At the same time, there were also divisions within the Khitans, with some opposing the signing of a peace agreement with the Northern Song Dynasty and eager to occupy the Central Plains. This led to the defeat of the Liao state, mainly due to political corruption, perennial warfare, and internal contradictions.
The rise of the Jurchens and the whereabouts of the Khitans
After the fall of the Liao State, the surviving Khitans established a new regime, the Western Liao. However, Western Liao only existed for 87 years before it perished under the attack of Genghis Khan's Mongol army. Part of the Khitan became subjects of the Jin dynasty, and the other part established the Later Western Liao regime in the Coleman region. During this period, the existence of the Khitan people was not completely annihilated, but continued in different forms.
The integration and continuation of the Khitan
Historians' research shows that the Khitan did not completely disappear in the process of integration into other ethnic groups. The discovery of the blood relationship between the Daur and the Khitan, as well as the continuation of the Khitan tradition in the Daur culture and fighting methods, all show that the Khitan continue in a new form. Relevant experts pointed out that the characteristics of the Khitan people can still be found in the modern Daur people, and this is a continuation of the Khitan people in the long history.
Conclusion: The strength and integration of the Khitan people
The Khitan people, once a powerful force in the Northern Song Dynasty, continue their existence in different forms. Although its glorious history is short, it has left a deep imprint on the Central Plains. Although the Khitan people have disappeared in the long river of history, their blood and culture have continued among other ethnic minorities and have become a place where history and culture blend. This Khitan tribe, which once caused headaches in the Northern Song Dynasty, although it has not reappeared in modern times, has a unique and powerful existence in the memory of history.