From Nomadic Tribes to Imperial Ambitions
In the windswept grasslands north of China’s Central Plain, the Khitan people emerged as a formidable equestrian culture during the twilight of the Tang Dynasty. Born in 872 into the aristocratic Yelü clan of the Diela tribe, Yelü Abaoji entered a world where his people balanced between tribal traditions and growing exposure to Chinese civilization. The Khitans traced their lineage to the Donghu people, who had retreated to the fertile lands between the Huang (modern Xar Moron) and Tu (modern Laoha) rivers after their 4th century defeat by Northern Wei forces.
Young Abaoji grew up witnessing how Chinese refugees fleeing Tang collapse brought advanced metallurgy, agriculture, and construction techniques to his homeland. These technological transfers transformed the Diela into the most powerful Khitan tribe. By age 31, through a combination of military brilliance and political maneuvering, Abaoji consolidated control as both Yiliji (supreme military commander) and Yuè (chief administrator), effectively ruling the Khitan confederation despite its nominal khan.
The Making of a Conqueror
Abaoji’s military campaigns between 901-906 reshaped Northeast Asia’s political landscape. His forces subjugated the Shiwei tribes, conquered nine cities in Dai Prefecture (taking 100,000 captives), and crushed Tang border forces at the Battle of Peach Mountain. This 904 victory against Tang general Zhao Ba showcased Abaoji’s tactical genius – luring enemy troops into an ambush using false guides. By 905, even powerful warlords like Li Keyong sought alliances with the rising Khitan leader.
When Khagan Kundege died in 906, the Khitan nobility reluctantly accepted Abaoji as their new leader. The warrior-statesman immediately began transforming the tribal confederation into a centralized state. He abolished the traditional three-year rotational khanship, established a permanent capital at Linhuang (modern Balin Left Banner), and created a personal guard force called the “Heart Army.” These reforms sparked resistance from traditionalists, including three rebellions by his own brothers between 911-915.
Blood and Reform: The Birth of the Liao Dynasty
Abaoji’s 916 coup at the Salt Lake Banquet became legendary. Inviting rebellious tribal leaders to a feast, his warriors massacred them all, eliminating opposition. That year, he declared himself emperor of the Khitan state (later renamed Liao). His administration blended steppe traditions with Chinese models – dividing the powerful Diela tribe, creating northern and southern administrative circuits, and establishing legal codes like the “Judgment Law.”
The emperor’s cultural reforms proved equally transformative. With Chinese advisor Han Yanhui’s help, Khitan scribes developed a writing system ending their reliance on knot-tying records. Abaoji built Confucian temples alongside Buddhist monasteries, and his capital’s population became one-third Han Chinese. These policies accelerated Khitan society’s transition from pastoral nomadism to settled civilization.
The Legacy of a Northern Empire
Abaoji’s death in 926 during a campaign against Balhae marked the end of an era, but his empire endured. The Liao Dynasty would dominate northern China for two centuries, forcing the Song Dynasty to pay tribute. So profound was Khitan influence that “Cathay” became medieval Europe’s name for China, derived from “Khitan.” Modern DNA studies suggest the Daur people of Inner Mongolia may be direct descendants of Abaoji’s subjects.
Beyond military conquests, Abaoji’s true achievement lay in synthesizing steppe and Chinese governance. His hybrid administration inspired later dynasties like the Jin and Yuan. Today, as archaeologists uncover Liao cities with unique circular layouts blending nomadic and Chinese urban designs, we rediscover a pivotal moment when a tribal chieftain forged an empire that reshaped Asia’s destiny.