A Study On Khitan Witchcraft And The Politics Of Liao Dyansty

Witchcraft is a form of culture built in the early stage of human society. It was important in promoting the development of social culture and the management of public affairs,and finally led to the birth of nation.Witchcraft seemed to be present all the time in the development process of Khitan nationality. "The legend of three Khans" reflected the instable " Witch-King system”, when the national community had not matured; In Sui and early Tang Dynasty the Khitans gradually got unified as one political community, the Daheshi confederacy. In Yaonianshi period the Khitan state apparatus was improved further and several Khans consolidated their power by instituting rites,which also indicated the coming of the Khitan empire.Liao Taizu Emperor Yelv Abaoji integrated the tribes in a militant way and extended Khitan territory by wars. At that Time witchcraft helped Taizu badly to get the support from people home and abroad, and create a Charisma image to form a new tradition of Khitan empire.It appeared to be a dual political structure of the emperor and the empress dowager in Taizong Emperor's time,both of whom tried to use and control the witchcraft.Witchcraft participated not only in Khitan internal affairs,but also in the peace and war with the Central Plain.Liao Shizong made himself emperor and came into power successfully after reaching a compromise with Shulv Empress Dowager in Hengdu treaty. During that process he took sticks as a token, which was based on the worship of miraculous things in witchcraft. Muzong emperor was fatuous and conservative,so he worshiped witchcraft more severely in order to stabilize his turbulent reign.Witchcraft functioned incisively and vividly turning from peace to war and from war to peace between Liao and Song in Jingzong and Shengzong's time, which enhanced troop morale and blessed to eliminate the evil in wartime, and expressed sincerity for peace through its holy rites after Chanyuan treaty. When Xingzong and Daozong were on the throne, witchcraft was active in court struggles rather than in open political occasions, and many events were closely connected with it. Decaying most typically, it went to its destiny during Tianzuo Emperor'reign.Generally speaking,witchcraft fitted the society with a low civilization.As the the Khitans got more and more civilized,it was increasingly hard to meet their needs. The influence of foreign cultures continued to grow,and Confucianism and Buddism contributed to the decadence of witchcraft. However,its shortcoming prevented itself from meeting the challenges effectively,finally leading to a pure form without the value of belief. Some kinds of witchcraft even died out. Nevertheless,there were still important values of Khitan witchcraft. It was the prime achievement of the Khitans' social culture as well as the base and starting point for further development,which affected Khitan history deeply.