Khitan Liao dynasty

Liao dynasty Great Liao
契丹國 大遼
907–1125
Liao dynasty at its greatest extent, c. 1000
Five circuits of Liao in 1111 AD
Capital		Shangjing (Linhuang)1
Languages		Khitan, Middle Chinese
Religion		Buddhism Khitan traditional animism Influences from: Taoism Zodiac Zoroastrianism
Government		Monarchy
Emperor
•	907–926	Taizu (Abaoji)
•	926–947	Taizong
•	947–951	Shizong
•	951–969	Muzong
•	969–982	Jingzong
•	982–1031	Shengzong
•	1031–1055	Xingzong
•	1055–1101	Daozong
•	1101–1125	Tianzuo
History
•	Abaoji begins military campaigns	901
•	Abaoji becomes the Great Khan of Khitan	907
•	Abaoji assumes the title of Celestial Emperor	916
•	"Greater Liao" adopted as a dynastic name	947
•	Liao and Song Dynasties sign the Chanyuan Treaty	1005
•	Emergence of Jin dynasty	1114–1115
•	Emperor Tianzuo captured by Jin	1125
•	Qara Khitai established	1124
Area
•	947 est.	2,600,000 km2 (1,000,000 sq mi)
•	1111 est.	4,000,000 km2 (1,500,000 sq mi)
Currency		Mostly barter in the nomadic areas, and cash coins in the southern circuit. (See: Liao dynasty coinage)
Preceded by Succeeded by Khitan people Tang dynasty Uyghur Khaganate Later Jìn Kumo Xi Shiwei Balhae Zubu Karluks Jīn dynasty Northern Liao Western Xia Qara Khitai Khamag Mongol Kingdom of Qocho
Today part of		China (PRC), Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Russia, North Korea
1. Shangjing (Linhuang) was ranked first of five capitals that were established by Liao, all of which served concurrently as regional capitals of a circuit. The other four capitals included Nanjing (Xijin, today's Beijing), Dongjing (Liaoyang), Xijing (Datong) and Zhongjing (Dading, today's Ningcheng).

The Liao dynasty (Khitan: Mos Jælud; simplified Chinese: 辽朝; traditional Chinese: 遼朝; pinyin: Liáo cháo), also known as the Liao Empire (officially the Great Liao (Chinese: 大遼; pinyin: Dà Liáo)), or the Khitan Empire (Khitan: Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur; Chinese: 契丹国; pinyin: Qìdān guó), was an empire in East Asia that ruled from 907 to 1125 over present-day Mongolia and portions of the Russian Far East, northern Korea, and northern China. The empire was founded by Abaoji, Khagan of the Khitan people around the time of the collapse of Tang China and was the first state to control all of Manchuria.

Almost immediately after its founding, the Khitan Empire began a process of territorial expansion, with Abaoji leading a successful conquest of Balhae. Later emperors would gain the Sixteen Prefectures by fueling a proxy war that led to the collapse of the Later Tang (923–936) and would establish tributary relationships with Goryeo and Song China after failing to conquer Goryeo.