554 liao
Imperial Regalia Office, and 10 able-bodied soldiers. Shao never saw
China again (Chiu Wu-tai shih 99:4a; Liao shih 4:14a, 14b).
On Feb.24, 947, T’ai-tsung named his state the Great Liao (Liao
shih 4:15a).^41
On Mar.10, 947, the Military Commissioner Liu Chih-yüan
proclaimed himself emperor in T’ai-yüan, founding the Later Han
Dynasty. This was Emperor Kao-tsu^42 (Chiu Wu-tai shih 99:4b; Liao
shih 4:15a).
On Apr.10, 947, T’ai-tsung emptied the imperial palace in Pien of
personnel and paraphernalia and sent them to his Supreme Capital
north of the Shira Muren. On Apr.24, he departed from Pien himself,
abandoning north China to the Later Han. While still in Ho-pei, he
died on May 15, aged 46. On May 16, his nephew, the eldest son of
T’u-yü, ascended the throne. This was Emperor Shih-tsung. He sent
envoys to announce T’ai-tsung’s death to the Later Han (Liao shih 4:
15a, 16a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 345:18b).
On Mar.10, 948, Emperor Kao-tsu of Later Han also died, aged 54.
On Mar.14, he was succeeded by his second son. This was Emperor
Yin (Chiu Wu-tai shih 100:10a; 101:10b; Liao shih 5:2a).
On May 12, 948, envoys from the Southern T’ang to the Liao court
congratulated on the ascension of Shih-tsung. They also presented a
letter in a ball of wax which recommended a joint attack on the Later
Han (Liao shih 5:2a).
Om Mar.21, 950, Southern T’ang envoys to the Liao court con-
gratulated Shih-tsung on a successful raid against Later Han (Liao
shih 5:2b).
On Dec.28, 950, Emperor Yin of Later Han was murdered. On
Feb.13, 951, the general Kuo Wei ascended the throne and founded
the Later Chou Dynasty. This was Emperor T’ai-tsu.^43 However, his
aspirations were rejected by Liu Ch’ung, a brother of Kao-tsu of
Later Han, who proclaimed himself emperor in T’ai-yüan. This was
Emperor Shih-tsu. His state comprised the northern part of Shan-hsi
and is known as Northern or Eastern Han (Chiu Wu-tai shih 103:8b,
13b;Liao shih 5:3a).
(^41) The date is in doubt. On this and the name of the dynasty see Cambridge History
of China, vol.6, p.60 note 14.
(^42) Not to be confused with Kao-tsu of Later Chin.
(^43) Not to be confused with T’ai-tsu (A-pao-chi) of the Khitan and T’ai-tsu of
Later Liang.