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The Tangut Empire (Chinese: 西夏; pinyin: Xī Xià; lit. 'Western Xia') was a state that existed from 1032 up to 1227 in what are now the northwestern Chinese provinces of Gansu, Shaanxi, and Ningxia. It was established in the 11th century by Tangut tribes who spoke Tangut. Occupying the area along the trade route between Central Asia and the West, the Tangut were neighbors to Northern China, controlled by Song China and, later on, the Jurchen Empire.

Name

The Tanguts called their own state "phiow¹-bjij²-lhjij-lhjij²" which translates as "The Great State of the White and the Lofty". Since it was located in the west, the Chinese name is Xi-Xia (西夏), literally "Western Xia", and thus that name is often used in Sinological literature. The English name "Tangut" comes from the Mongolian name for the country Tangγud.

Foundations

After coming under military pressure from the Tibetan Empire some Tangut tribes submitted to Tang China under Emperor Dezong in 799. The Tanguts who submitted were moved to the Ordos region near Ningxia, whereas those who stayed, accepted Tibetan political dominance, and became known in Chinese as Mi-yao.

The Tanguts remained loyal to the Tang during the revolt of Huang Chao, but established de-facto independence when Tang fell in 906. They retained their de-facto independence throughout the Five Dynasties period. During this period, their chieftain had the title of Dingnan Jiedushi and nominally remained under the Five Dynasties. Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang made an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Dingnan in 932 after believing incorrectly that Dingnan was about to enter an alliance with Liao.

The foundation of a Tangut state as such goes back to the year 982 under Li Deming (李德明). However, it would not be until 1038 that the Tangut chieftain Li Yuanhao (李元昊), Li Deming's son, who also ordered the creation of a Tangut writing system and the translation of Chinese classics into Tangut, named himself emperor, and demanded of Song emperor the recognition as an equal. The Song court accepted the recognition of Li Yuanhao as 'governor', but not like 'emperor', that title considered exclusive to the Song emperor. After intense diplomatic contacts, in 1043 the Tangut state accepted the recognition of the Song emperor as emperor in exchange for an annual tribute, which supposed a tacit recognition on the part of the Song of the military power of Tangut.

The Tanguts and the Mongols

The Mongol Empire campaigned six times against the Tanguts (1202, 1207, 1209-10, 1211-13, 1214-19, 1225-26).

In 1207 Li An-ch'uan submitted to the Mongols, and gave his daughter to Činggis Qaɣan (commonly known as Genghis Khan) in marriage. Li An-ch'uan abdicated, and then died, in 1211.

The Mongols asked their allies and tributaries for military aid in the campaign against the Islamic countries, although the Tangut emperor Li Zunxu was willing, his court and in particular his general Aša-gambu recommended against it. When Činggis Qaɣa returned from his campaign the new emperor Li Dewang pled with him, but the general Aša-gambu challenged Činggis. The emperor Dewang died during the fighting and was succeeded by Li Xian, the last of the Tangut rulers. Li Xian sued for peace, which was accepted, but he was then executed by Tolui the son of Činggis, and the Tangut state was fully incorporated into Mongolian administration. (cf. Kwanten 1974)

Rulers of the Tangut Empire

References

Kwanten, Luc. "Chingis Kan's Conquest of Tibet, Myth or Reality". Journal of Asian History 8.1 (1974): 17-23.

See also

• History of China
• Ethnic groups in Chinese history

• Former countries in Chinese history