The Birth of a Rebel Leader

On July 1, 1068, a piercing cry echoed along the banks of the Mudan River in the heart of the Wanyan tribe. The newborn, later known as Wanyan Aguda, entered the world with a vigor that foretold his destiny—a warrior who would lead his people from subjugation to sovereignty. Legends swirled around his birth: months earlier, multicolored clouds had lingered over the Liao capital, prompting a court astrologer to whisper ominously, “Heaven signals great change.” Yet the Liao emperor,沉迷于狩猎, dismissed such warnings.

The Insult That Sparked a Revolution

The turning point came in 1112 at the annual Touyu Feast, a grand Liao celebration where tributary tribes paid homage. Drunk on power and wine, Emperor Tianzuo of Liao commanded the Jurchen chieftains—including Aguda—to dance for his amusement. While others complied, Aguda remained seated. “I don’t dance,” he declared, his voice cutting through the revelry. The emperor, enraged, nearly ordered his execution but was dissuaded by advisors who dismissed the Jurchens as “insignificant.”

That night, Aguda mocked the Liao’s weakness to his allies: “They couldn’t even quell Xiao Haili’s rebellion without our help. They lack the courage to touch me.” His defiance was no impulsive act but a calculated challenge to a decaying empire.

From Tribal Unity to Open Rebellion

Aguda’s early life was marked by battles to unify the Jurchen tribes against Liao oppression. By 1114, with Liao defenses weakened by corruption, he rallied 2,500 warriors at the Lishui River. Their first target: Ningjiangzhou. Against a Liao force of 7,000, Aguda’s tactical brilliance shone. He personally slew the Liao general Yelü Xieshi, and his troops, inspired, routed the enemy.

Victory fueled momentum. At the Battle of Chuhedian, Aguda exploited a sandstorm to ambush Liao troops, cementing his reputation. “If the Jurchens field 10,000 men, none can withstand them,” Liao soldiers whispered in dread.

The Rise of the Jin Dynasty

On New Year’s Day 1115, Aguda proclaimed the Jin Dynasty, declaring, “Liao tyranny ends today.” His reforms were transformative:
– Military: The Meng’an-Mouke system organized 300 households into a Mouke (company), ten of which formed a Meng’an (battalion).
– Culture: He commissioned the creation of Jurchen script, blending Khitan and Chinese characters.
– Diplomacy: He exploited Liao’s ethnic tensions, offering渤海 and Xi tribes autonomy under Jin rule.

The Fall of the Liao and a Fateful Alliance

By 1120, the Liao capital fell, and Aguda turned his gaze south—to the Song Dynasty. The Sea Alliance of 1120 promised joint conquest of Liao, with Song paying annual tributes. But Song’s military incompetence became stark during their botched invasion of Yanjing (Beijing). When Jin troops effortlessly took the city, they demanded a staggering 1 million taels of silver to “return” it—a hollow victory for the Song.

Aguda’s death in 1123 spared him the aftermath: Jin’s betrayal of the Song, culminating in the 1127 Jingkang Incident, where the Song emperors were captured, and north China fell.

Legacy: The Eagle’s Shadow

Aguda’s陵 in modern Harbini stands as a testament to his audacity. He transformed the Jurchens from a tributary people into empire-builders, exploiting the腐朽 of two dynasties. His story is a masterclass in seizing opportunity—and a warning about the perils of underestimating the “insignificant.”

As the彩云 of his birth foretold, the world did change. The头鱼宴’s刺 became the spear that toppled an empire.