Li Jiqian
Encyclopedia
Li Jiqian (963–1004) resisted the Song empire
and organized a rebellion in 984. He created a successful alliance with the Liao empire
for military support. Li Jiqian arranged a peace agreement with the Song emperor, but violated the treaty himself. To avoid costly military campaigns, Emperor Zhenzong of the Song dynasty granted Li Jiqian the jiedushi
position over Dingnan, and recognized Li Jiqian's new empire of Xia
. He supported the construction of irrigation canals
that were crucial for the development of agriculture
in the arid areas of Xia, especially around the capital Xingqing 興慶 (modern Yinchuan 銀川).
Li Jiqian was father of Li Deming
(Chinese:
李德明), and grandfather of Li Yuanhao (Chinese:
李元昊), the first emperor of the Western Xia
Empire, and so was posthumously recognized as 'grand ancestor' (taizu 太祖) of the Western Xia royal family.
Song Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
and organized a rebellion in 984. He created a successful alliance with the Liao empire
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
for military support. Li Jiqian arranged a peace agreement with the Song emperor, but violated the treaty himself. To avoid costly military campaigns, Emperor Zhenzong of the Song dynasty granted Li Jiqian the jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
position over Dingnan, and recognized Li Jiqian's new empire of Xia
Sixteen Kingdoms
The Sixteen Kingdoms, or less commonly the Sixteen States, were a collection of numerous short-lived sovereign states in China proper and its neighboring areas from 304 to 439 AD after the retreat of the Jin Dynasty to South China and before the establishment of the Northern Dynasties...
. He supported the construction of irrigation canals
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
that were crucial for the development of agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in the arid areas of Xia, especially around the capital Xingqing 興慶 (modern Yinchuan 銀川).
Li Jiqian was father of Li Deming
Li Deming
Li Deming was the eldest son of Li Jiqian, the founder of the Western Xia dynasty. When his father died in battle in 1004, Li Deming became leader of the Tangut people, and over the next twenty years he considerably expanded the territory controlled by the Tanguts. In 1028 he named his son Li...
(Chinese:
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
李德明), and grandfather of Li Yuanhao (Chinese:
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
李元昊), the first emperor of the Western Xia
Western Xia
The Western Xia Dynasty or the Tangut Empire, was known to the Tanguts and the Tibetans as Minyak.The state existed from 1038 to 1227 AD in what are now the northwestern Chinese provinces of Ningxia, Gansu, eastern Qinghai, northern Shaanxi, northeastern Xinjiang, southwest Inner Mongolia, and...
Empire, and so was posthumously recognized as 'grand ancestor' (taizu 太祖) of the Western Xia royal family.