The Jurchen-Invasion refers to a series of military campaigns conducted by the Jurchen tribes, a Tungusic people from the regions of what are now northeastern China, Russia, and North Korea, against various East Asian states during the 12th century. The most significant of these invasions were directed at the Song Dynasty and the Khitan Liao Dynasty.
Context and Causes
The Jurchens, initially a semi-nomadic people, were united under the leadership of Aguda, who founded the Jin Dynasty in 1115. This unification was partly fueled by:
- The desire to gain autonomy from the Liao Dynasty, which had imposed heavy tributes and control over Jurchen territories.
- The opportunity to expand and establish a new empire, leveraging the weakening state of the Liao Dynasty due to internal strife and external pressures.
- Support from the Song Dynasty, which sought to use the Jurchens to weaken the Liao, thereby reducing the threat on its northern borders.
Major Campaigns
The Jurchen-Invasion can be segmented into several key phases:
Against the Liao Dynasty
- 1114-1125: The Jurchens, under Aguda, launched a series of attacks against the Liao Dynasty, culminating in the fall of the Liao capital, Yanjing (modern-day Beijing), in 1122.
- The Liao Dynasty was eventually overthrown, with the last emperor, Tianzuodi, fleeing westward, where he established the Western Liao in Central Asia.
Against the Song Dynasty
- 1125-1127: After defeating the Liao, the Jin Dynasty turned its attention to the Song Dynasty. Initially, there was a treaty between Song and Jin to partition the Liao territories, but tensions soon arose due to territorial disputes and broken promises.
- 1125: The Jin launched a full-scale invasion known as the Jingkang Incident, where they captured the Song capitals of Kaifeng and Bianjing, capturing the Song emperor and his family, effectively ending the Northern Song.
- This led to the establishment of the Southern Song Dynasty, which retreated south of the Huai River, marking the beginning of a period of Song-Jin rivalry.
Consequences
The Jurchen-Invasion had profound impacts:
- Political Reconfiguration: It led to the fall of the Liao Dynasty and the establishment of the Jin Dynasty, altering the power dynamics in East Asia.
- Territorial Changes: The Song Dynasty lost its northern territories, which were annexed by the Jin, significantly reducing Song's territorial integrity.
- Cultural and Ethnic Mixing: The Jurchens brought their culture into the newly conquered territories, leading to cultural exchanges and ethnic integration, although often under Jurchen dominance.
- Economic Impact: The invasions disrupted trade routes and caused economic strain on both the Liao and Song, affecting their economies for decades.
References
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