Research On National Policies Of The Fourth Emperor Of Jin Dynasty

The early of 12th centuries, there is a clan named Jurden living between Changbai mountain and Heilong river, they rose and established the formidable Jin Dynasty. Jin Dynasty is a country in which there are many different nations, they were the Han,Jurchen, Khitan, Xi, Bohai and many other nationalities. Undoubtedly , Jin Dynasty's national policy is an important topic in our study of the Jin's history. As the fourth emperor of the Jin Dynasty, WanYanliang reigned Jin 12 years (1149-1161). Although the period is not very long,he had the least national prejudice in nine emperors of Jin Dynasty. WanYanliang efforted to reduce national discrimination and prejudice during his reign. To consolidate his rule, he encouraged Jurchen to sinicize and recruited large numbers of multi-ethnic's intellects in central organ, he also tried to temper justice with mercy among ethnic groups. These national policies had made a great impact on the process o Jin's development among the whole history being. But at present, there is no special article to systematically expound WanYanliang's national policies. Making an intensive and in-depth study of WanYanliang's national policies, which not only involves the sphere of inter-ethnic relations, but also involves political, economic, cultural and many other fields, and many important issues of Jin Dynasty. This article attempts to discuss some shallow views about WanYanliang's national policies. The article must have a lot of mistakes and flaws. I gratefully welcome coorections from my teachers and friends.In the early years of the Jin Dynasty, because of the Jin rulers was busy with Jin-Liao and Jin-Song wars, and reforming the internal affairs. The Jin rulers and Khitan, the Han, Jurchen's internal contradictions and conflicts became more prominent. To resolve these nationalities'contradictory, three Emperors of the early years of the Jin Dynasty adopted the national policies of"temper justice with mercy"and "divide and rule" among national groups, which had eliminated some national contradictions. To a certain extent, these national policies maintained rules of the early of Jin Dynasty. But then, the rulers were facing internal problems, foreign invasion and many other issues of national policy-making which was far from perfect. National issues, such as national discrimination and prejudice, still existed in a great extent.In 1149, WanYanliang killed XiZong and acceded to the throne. He changed HuangTong to TianDe right now. WanYanliang used non-legitimate means to win the throne, which inevitably would lead the internal contradictions of the ruling class more intensification. Moreover, because in the early years of the Jin, the rulers were busy with extinguishing Liao and attacking Song. At that time the conflicts between the rulers and other races still existed in a large extent. XiZong also did not deal with the ploblem satisfactorily. In such a situation, how to consolidate WanYanliang's ruling, correctly deal with the national relationship and obtains all nation's support are more important to the emperor. How to deal with the national relationship reflected in the implementation of national policies.When WanYanliang ascended the throne, the threat still came from reactionary Jurchen aristocrat and so on. In order to consolidate his dominant status, He followed XiZong's footsteps, continuing to repress Jurchen's dissidents. Simultaneously in order to enhance Jurchen's self- reliance, he followed XiZong's footsteps, continuing to encourage Jurchen to sinicize.WanYanliang continued to use the original tribes, groups of animal husbandry and Jin's MengAnMouKe system for ruling Khitan. For winning Khitan's support, he got a number of Khitan in the central organ. These Khitan had also made a huge contribution to the development of Jin Dynasty. The Xi stem from DongHu and Khitan stem from DongHu too, but heterogeneous. Therefore, the Xi had the same treatment with Khitan in Liao Dnasty. The royal family of Xi and Khitan is related through exogamous, so Xi and Khitan's national intercourse is extremely close. It is for this reason that Xi and Khitan had the same treatment in Jin Dynasty. Xi and Khitan national policy is also consistent in WanYanliang's dynasty, they continued to retain Xi's management pattern which his predecessors did. At the same tme, he gave favored treatment to Xi and got a number of Xi's aristocracies in the central organ. Because"the Bohai and Jurchen were homology", in a relatively law-abiding in Jin Dynasty, in addition ,WanYanliang's mother was the Bohai. WanYanliang ascended the throne, so he continued to adopt the policies of winning and using Bohai. WanYanliang imitated the Han's Privy Council system to continue direct rule of the Han nationality. Simultaneously he took a series of measures, which efforted to reduce inequality and ethnic antagonism. WanYanliang also used a lot of high-level Han officers, ,which not only promoted the integration between Han and Jurchen,but also these Han officers made contributions to the development in various aspects of Jin Dynasty.Under the policy of encourage Jurchen to sinicize, it makes all ethnic groups in China, including the Jurchen, they quickly absorbed in the advanced culture of Yellow River. So the Jin Dynasty's establishment in the politics, economic, culture and other aspects were rapid development and progress. WanYanliang's sinicizing policy weakened the antagonism between the different nationalities and adapted the pattern which the nationalities lived together at that time. In Jurchen's sinicizing process which increased common traits between nationalities, and also urged race culture level of development lower Jurchen, the processes of closing up to the high level Han's culture of Khitan and other tribes greatly promoted the economic and social development and cultural exchanges with the Han people, and speeded up step which the nationalities integration. WanYanliang's policy of learning the advanced culture of Han, in line with the requirements of the times. The emperor of ShiZong inherited WanYanliang's some national policies. ShiZong continue to encourage Jurchen study Han's advanced culture. To safeguard the rule,ShiZong continue to use various races official in the central organ.In short, the enhancement of Jurchen's capacity self- reliance and well handling the relationship among ethnic groups, and maintaining the rule were the prime objective of WanYanliang. In order to enhance Jurchen's capacity self- reliance, his resolute implement Jurchen to sinicize, which not only promoted the political, economic and cultural development of Jurchen society, but also promoted national integration. In order to eliminate the national contradiction and conflict and under the guidance of WanYanliang's thinking of"national equality",they all efforted to reduce national discrimination and the prejudice. Meanwhile , WanYanliang used various races official in the central organ, which supplied ideas for society's development, for WanYanliang's dominant status consolidated, for improving the state institution consummation and also, for formulating the decrees and regulations system, the policy made a great contribution. WanYanliang also implemented the policy of"temper justice with mercy"to appease and win over the people of all nationalities. For maintained his rule and improved social progress, when there were some unrests, he wouldn't be indulgent towards the rebellion But as a minority ruler, WanYanliang's national policies were the will of the ruling class, inevitably they had the certain limitation. Generally speaking, WanYanliang's policies of reducing national discrimination, prejudice and using various races official in the central organ and so on, which are all very invaluable. Some national policies were imitated by the later generation. WanYanliang's policies for social development and national integration had played"the past and the future"historic role.