33 Facts About Shi Jingtang

Shi Jingtang, known by his temple name as the Emperor Gaozu of Later Jin, was the founding emperor of the Later Jin dynasty of China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, reigning from 936 until his death.

Shi Jingtang enlisted the help of the Khitan-led Liao dynasty in his struggle against the Later Tang dynasty.

Under the Old History of the Five Dynasties account, his great-great-grandfather, whose name was given as Shi Jingtang Jing, followed the Shatuo chieftain Zhuye Zhiyi in submitting to Tang, and was settled, along with the rest of the Shatuo people under Zhuye, in Tang territory.

Shi Jingtang's father Nieliji, who was referred to by the Han Chinese name Shi Shaoyong, was said to be a successful general under Zhuye Zhiyi's grandson Li Keyong, who was an important late-Tang warlord, and Li Keyong's son Li Cunxu, who ruled the independent state of Jin after Tang's fall.

Shi Jingtang was born in 892, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, in Taiyuan.

Shi Jingtang's mother was stated to be a Lady He, and it was not stated whether she was Shi Shaoyong's wife or concubine.

Shi Jingtang studied the military strategies and particularly tried to take after Li Mu and Zhou Yafu.

Shi Jingtang subsequently served under Li Siyuan in campaigns, becoming one of the two prominent officers under Li Siyuan due to his battlefield accomplishments.

Li Jiji's subordinate Ren Huan took over command of the remaining army and rendezvoused with Shi Jingtang, signaling support for Li Siyuan.

When Li Siyuan subsequently sent An to the front to monitor the campaign, Shi Jingtang took the opportunity to write to Li Siyuan, explaining his misgivings from the campaign, and Li Siyuan began to be convinced.

Shi Jingtang was given the military governorship of Heyang Circuit.

Shi Jingtang's relationship with Li Congrong was a tense one, as Li Congrong, viewing himself as the natural heir, was arrogant and violent.

Further, Li Congrong and Shi Jingtang's wife, who at this point carried the title of Princess Yongning, were born of different mothers and long despised each other.

Shi Jingtang thus did not want to remain under Li Congrong for long, and repeatedly requested to resign.

Shi Jingtang was given the greater honorary chancellor designation of Shizhong.

Shi Jingtang entrusted much of the affairs of the circuit to two officers, Liu Zhiyuan and Zhou Gui, putting Liu in charge of military matters and Zhou in charge of financial matters.

Meanwhile, Shi Jingtang was on the way from Taiyuan to Luoyang to pay homage to Li Conghou.

Shi Jingtang then sent an emissary to force Li Conghou to commit suicide; when Li Conghou refused, he was strangled to death.

Shi Jingtang remained at Luoyang for the funeral of his father-in-law Li Siyuan, and after the funeral, did not dare to personally bring up the idea of returning to Hedong.

Shi Jingtang became fearful, and under the advice of his staff member Duan Xiyao, had Liu Zhiyuan behead 36 of the soldiers leading the chant, to try to alleviate the suspicion might be cast on him, but that did not stop Li Congke from suspecting him of having greater ambitions upon receiving the report from the imperial envoy.

Shi Jingtang arrested Shi's sons, as well as his younger brother Shi Jingde, and put them to death.

Shi Jingtang quickly engaged Zhang's Later Tang imperial army, defeating Zhang.

Shi Jingtang secretly negotiated with Emperor Taizong, offering that, if Emperor Taizong would support him as the emperor of China, he would allow Shi to retain Hedong.

Shi Jingtang subsequently entered Luoyang and assumed control over the Later Tang realm.

Shi Jingtang mobilized his army against Fan, with the main armies under Yang Guangyuan and Shi Jingtang's brother-in-law Du Chongwei.

In fall 938, Shi Jingtang agreed to accept Fan's surrender, and Fan subsequently did, ending the rebellion.

In summer 940, when Shi Jingtang tried to have Li Jinquan the military governor of Anyuan Circuit replaced by the general Ma Quanjie, Li rebelled and submitted to Later Jin's southeastern neighbor Southern Tang.

Li Bian subsequently wrote Shi Jingtang, explaining that Li Chengyu had disobeyed orders.

Shi Jingtang entered into an alliance with An Congjin the military governor of Shannan East Circuit, who was similarly considering to rebel.

Shi Jingtang continuously provoked Liao by intercepting its emissaries and killing them.

In winter 941, hearing that Shi Jingtang had left Daliang for Yedu, An Congjin rebelled.

Shi Conggui immediately, under authority previously given to him by Shi Jingtang, commissioned the general Gao Xingzhou to assume overall command against An Congjin.

Shi Jingtang entrusted his young and only surviving son Shi Chongrui to Feng Dao, wanting Feng to support Shi Chongrui in succeeding to the throne.