Yingtian - Khitan warrior empressShulü Ping (878-953), formally empress Yingtian, was an empress of

Yingtian - Khitan warrior empressShulü Ping (878-953), formally empress Yingtian, was an empress of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty of China. She distinguished herself through her political and military acumen. Yingtian was born in Khitan territory and her father was an official of the Yaonian tribe. She married emperor Abaoji before 907 and her family was thus integrated to the Liao territory and ennobled with the surname Xiao. She gave birth to three of the emperor’s five children. Described as “austere and imposing, resolute and decisive, and a brave strategist”, Yingtian helped her husband in dealing with his opponents. Abaoji followed her advice and invited his rivals to a banquet. After the guest were drunk, he summoned his soldiers and had them killed. Yingtian also selected well trained men for her army. While the emperor was away, she realized that two clans were planning a revolt. According to the Liaoshi she “therefore held back a part of the army, and when the rebellion took place, she led out the troops against these rebels and put down the rebellion”.Abaoji always asked for her advice on military matters. Yingtian also accompanied him on his campaigns. She was also involved in cultural matters and was present when her husband received ambassadors.After her husband died, Yingtian took control of the army and of the succession. According to Khitan customs, a widow was either supposed to sacrifice herself and follow her husband in death or to marry a relative of her husband. Yingtian did neither, according to the Liaoshi, she “cut off her right hand to place in the coffin” and afterward “ruled the country in both civil and military matters”.Her second son thus became emperor. She stayed involved in the state affairs during his reign. After his death, she wanted her third son to succeed him, even though a successor (Emperor Shizong) had already been named. She sent an army against Emperor Shizong, but was defeated. A peaceful solution was nonetheless found and the new emperor promised to let go the dowager and her son. Yingtian died in 953, at the age of 74. She was given military funerals and buried near her husband’s tomb. Women of her family showed the same military bravery. Yingtian’s niece, empress Jing’an (d.935), was also a warrior woman and accompanied the emperor in battle and on the hunt.Bibliography:Cooke Johnson Linda, Women of the conquest dynastiesMcMahon Keith, Women shall not rule, Imperial wives and concubines in China from Han to Liao -- source link

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