Western Xia (西夏 pinyin Xi Xia), was the kingdom of the Tibetan-speaking Tanguts tribes that was established in the 11th century and flourished through the early 13th century until it was conquered by the Mongols of the Yuan dynasty. It was located in what are now the northwestern Chinese provinces of Kansu (Gansu) and Shensi (Shaanxi).
Occupying the area along the trade route between Central Asia and the West, the Tangut were formally a tributary state of first the Song and then the Jin. In actuality, they were defacto independent, and the interaction between the Jin, the Song, and the Western Xia is of interest to historians of diplomacy because they are an example of diplomatic relations between states of defacto equal power but within a diplomatic framework in which one state was formally superior.
Western Xia has its own written language which disappears after the kingdom was annihilated by the Mongols.
Temple Names ( Miao Hao 廟號 miao4 hao4) | Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號 ) | Personal Names | Period of Reigns | Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years |
---|---|---|---|---|
Convention: "Western Xia" + temple name | ||||
Jing Zong (景宗 jing3 zong1) | Wu Lie Di (武烈帝 wu3 lie4 di4) | Li Yuan Hao|李元昊 li3 yuan2 hao4 | 1032-1048 | Xiandao (顯道 xian3 dao4) 1032-1034Kaiyun (開運 kai1 yun4) 1034 |
Yi Zong (毅宗 yi4 zong1) | Zhao Ying Di (昭英帝 zhao1 ying1 di4) | Li Liang Zuo|李諒祚 li3 liang4 zuo4 | 1048-1067 | Yansiningguo (延嗣寧國 yan2 si4 ning2 guo2) 1048-1049Tianyousuisheng (天祐垂聖 tian1 you4 chui2 sheng4) 1050-1052 |
Hui Zong (惠宗 hui4 zong1) | Kang Jing Di (康靖帝 kang1 jing4 di4) | Li Bing Chang|李秉常 li3 bing3 chang2 | 1067-1086 | Qiandao (乾道 qian2 dao4) 1067-1069Tiancilishengguoqing (天賜禮盛國慶 tian1 ci4 li3 sheng4 guo2 qing4) 1070-1074 |
Chong Zong (崇宗 chong2 zong1) | Sheng Wen Di (聖文帝 sheng4 wen2 di4) | Li Qian Shun|李乾順 li3 qian2 shun4 | 1086-1139 | Tianyizhiping (天儀治平 tian1 yi2 shi4 ping2) 1086-1089Tianyouminan (天祐民安 tian1 you4 min2 an1) 1090-1097 |
Ren Zong (仁宗 ren2 zong1) | Sheng Zhen Di (聖禎帝 sheng4 zhen1 di4) | Li Ren Xiao|李仁孝 li3 ren2 xiao4 | 1139-1193 | Daqing (大慶 da4 qing4) 1139-1143Renqing (人慶 ren2 qing4) 1144-1148 |
Huan Zong (桓宗 huan2 zong1) | Zhao Jian Di (昭簡帝 zhao1 jian3 di4) | Li Chun You|李純佑 li3 chun2 you4 | 1193-1206 | Tianqing (天慶 tian1 qing4) 1193-1206 |
Xiang Zong (襄宗 xiang1 zong1) | Jing Wu Di (景武帝 jing3 wu3 di4) | Li An Quan|李安全 li3 an1 quan2 | 1206-1211 | Qingtian (慶天 qing4 tian1) 1206-1209Huangjian (皇建 huang2 jian4) 1210-1211 |
Shen Zong (神宗 shen2 zong1) | Ying Wen Di (英文帝 ying1 wen2 di4) | Li Zun Xu|李遵頊 li3 zun1 xu4 | 1211-1223 | Guangding (光定 guang1 ding4) 1211-1223 |
Xian Zong (獻宗 xian4 zong1) | Did not exist | Li De Wang|李德旺 li3 de2 wang4 | 1223-1226 | Qianding (乾定 qian2 ding4) 1223-1226 |
Mo Zhu |末主 mo4 zhu3 | Did not exist | Li Xian|李晛 li3 xian4 | 1226-1227 | Baoyi (寶義 bao3 yi4) 1226-1227 |