Life

Yelü Xian succeeded Emperor Muzong in 969 after the latter was murdered by his servants during a hunting trip. He had support from both the Khitan and Han Chinese ruling elites.

Emperor Jingzong made several important contributions to the Liao dynasty. He employed Han Chinese officials in his government, appointing one as the Minister of Southern Affairs and the Duke of Qin. This allowed the government to run more efficiently and sped up the transformation of Khitan society into a feudal society. He cracked down on corruption in the government, firing those who were bribed or incompetent. Emperor Jingzong also accepted criticisms willingly. He stopped hunting frequently after an official made a connection between hunting and Emperor Muzong's death, and Emperor Jingzong began to prepare war against his southern neighbours.

Emperor Jingzong's first conflict with the Northern Song dynasty came with the Song invasion of the Northern Han dynasty. However, the Liao reinforcements were destroyed by a Song army, and Song later destroyed Northern Han. The Song army followed up the victory with an attack on Beijing, the Liao dynasty's southern capital. However, the Liao army completely routed the Song army, with Emperor Taizong of Song fleeing the battlefield. Several battles followed, with a stalemate between the Liao and Song dynasties.

Emperor Jingzong's body is weak, many diseases, sometimes unable to stand up to the court, the great national story is mostly handled by his wife Xiao Yanyan.

On 13 October, 982, Emperor Jingzong died on his way back from a hunting trip. He was succeeded by his son Emperor Shengzong, and his wife Xiao Yanyan served as regent.

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Xiao Chuo (萧绰; 953–1009), Jingzong's second cousin, honoured as Empress Ruizhi (睿智皇后)

　• Eldest daughter Yelü Guanyinnü (耶律观音女; 969–1045), the Princess of Qi (齐国公主)

　　• Married Xiao Jixian (萧继先), a cousin of Xiao Chuo, and had issue (one son, two daughters)

　• Eldest son Yelü Longxu (耶律隆绪; 972–1031), later Emperor Shengzong of Liao

　• Second son Yelü Longqing (耶律隆庆; 973–1016), honoured as Crown Prince Xiaozhen (孝贞皇太叔)

　• Second daughter Yelü Changshounü (耶律长寿女; 975–1017), the Princess of Wei (卫国公主)

　　• Married Xiao Paiya (萧排押; d. 1023), and had issue (one daughter)

　• Third daughter Yelü Yanshounü (耶律延寿女; 976–996), the Princess of Yue (越国公主)

　　• Married Xiao Hengde (萧恒德; d. 996) in 983, and had issue (one son)

　• Third son Yelü Longyou (耶律隆佑; 979–1012), honoured as Prince Xiaojing of Chu (楚孝靖王)

　• Fourth son Yelü Zhengge (耶律郑哥)

• Consort, of Bohai (渤海妃)

　• Fourth daughter Yelü Shuge (耶律淑哥)

　　• Married Lu Jun (卢俊) in 980, divorced in 983

　　• Married Xiao Shennu (萧神奴) in 983

• Lady Mou (某氏)

　• Yelü Yaoshinu (耶律药师奴) – died early

• Hu Nian (胡辇) – disputed.

　• She was the concubine of his son, Emperor Shengzong of Liao.

Ancestry

In popular culture

• Portrayed by Jing Chao in the 2020 Chinese TV series The Legend of Xiao Chuo.

Sources

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生平

在遼世宗在位時的政變中，耶律賢險而被殺，後來得人所救。951年，其父遼世宗被刺身亡，堂叔耶律璟即位，是為遼穆宗。969年3月12日，堂叔遼穆宗被弒，次日，耶律賢被推舉為帝，尊號天贊皇帝，改元為保寧。

耶律賢從小驚嚇過度，體弱多病，皇后蕭綽（953年－1009年，小字燕燕，原姓拔里氏）則成了遼國政治軍事的參與者。景宗在位時復回登聞鼓院，令百姓有申冤之地，又寬減刑法，對百姓加以安撫。

後來，景宗於乾亨四年九月廿四日（即982年10月13日）死於現今的山西省大同市，享年三十五歲，葬於乾陵，位於今遼寧省北鎮市。

后妃子女

• 皇后蕭綽生四子三女：

　• 第一子，遼聖宗耶律隆緒

　• 第二子，梁王耶律隆慶

　• 第三子，楚王耶律隆佑

　• 第四子，耶律鄭哥，八月早夭，《遼史》未載，見于《續資治通鑑長編》。《遼史》所記景宗第四子藥師奴亦為早夭，但生母不詳。

　• 第一女，《遼史》記名為「觀音女」，另說為「燕哥」，封齊國公主，嫁蕭綽堂弟蕭繼先

　• 第二女，《遼史》記名為「長壽女」，另說為「長壽奴」，其女墓誌則稱其小字為「長壽奴」，封衛國公主，嫁蕭排押

　• 第三女，《遼史》記名為「延壽女」，另說為「延壽奴」，封越國公主，嫁蕭排押弟蕭恆德

• 渤海妃

　• 耶律淑哥，第四女，無封號

• 某氏

　• 耶律藥師奴，早夭，葬王子院。

• 胡輦，其子遼聖宗時的皇太妃，是否為其妃嬪待考

評價

• 元朝官修正史《遼史》脫脫等的評價是：「遼興六十餘年，神冊、會同之間，日不暇給；天祿、應歷之君，不令其終；保寧而來，人人望治。以景宗之資，任人不疑，信賞必罰，若可與有為也。而竭國之力以助河東，破軍殺將，無救滅亡。雖一取償于宋，得不償失。知匡嗣之罪，數而不罰；善郭襲之諫，納而不用；沙門昭敏以左道亂德，寵以侍中。不亦惑乎！」

相關影視作品及演員

• 2020年《燕雲台》：經超飾演

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