Emperor Chongzong of Western Xia

Emperor Xixia Chongzong of Western Xia (西夏崇宗) (1084–1139), or Li Qianshun (李乾順)1, was a Tangut emperor of Western Xia (one of the four kingdoms that made up China, along with Song dynasty, Liao dynasty and Jin Empire) from 1086 until 11392. Where Chongzong is his temple name and Li Qianshun his living name, Shèngwéndì (聖文帝) is his posthumous name. His reign began at the age of three, when his father died. He remained under the regency of the Empress Madame Liang3 until she was poisoned in 1099 by a Liao envoy.

Li's reign included further sinification and removed the power of some significant Tangut clans, which had remained a powerful political force—appointing tribal leaders as kings, forcing them under his power and influence. His reign saw incursions by the surrounding Liao- and Song-ruled nations, and a series of military defeats from 1114. He established Confucianist-led administration for several political quarters including civil and military, centralising his power. Buddhism was prevalent during his reign, and the scriptures were translated to the Tangut language.

His era names were:

  • Tiānyízhìpíng (天儀治平) 1086–1089
  • Tiānyòumín'ān (天祐民安) 1090–1097
  • Yǒng'ān (永安) 1098–1100
  • Zhēnguān (貞觀) 1101–1113
  • Yōngníng (雍寧) 1114–1118
  • Yuándé (元德) 1119–1127
  • Zhèngdé (正德) 1127–1134
  • Dàdé (大德) 1135–1139
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Emperor Huìzōng
Emperor of the Western Xia Dynasty
1086–1139
Succeeded by
Emperor Rénzōng
List of Emperors of the Western Xia
  • Jingzong 景宗
  • Yizong 毅宗
  • Huizong 惠宗
  • Chongzong 崇宗
  • Renzong 仁宗
  • Huanzong 桓宗
  • Xiangzong 襄宗
  • Shenzong 神宗
  • Xianzong 獻宗
  • Mozhu 末主

Famous quotes containing the words emperor and/or western:

    We have resolved to endure the unendurable and suffer what is unsufferable.
    Hirohito, Emperor Of Japan (1901–1989)

    The visual is sorely undervalued in modern scholarship. Art history has attained only a fraction of the conceptual sophistication of literary criticism.... Drunk with self-love, criticism has hugely overestimated the centrality of language to western culture. It has failed to see the electrifying sign language of images.
    Camille Paglia (b. 1947)