釋氏稽古略 3.366

3.366

鮮卑山之遺種在商。高宗之伐鬼方者是也。自梁末帝貞明二年太祖阿保機稱帝建國立年。傳嗣凡九主在位首末二百一十五年。實歷二百單九年（遼志）。太祖皇帝諱億番。名阿保機。乃斡里小子也。父斡里為夷离巾。猶中國刺史也。先是契丹部落分而為八。各有大人相與推約一人為王。建旗鼓以號令諸部。每三年則以次相代。及阿保機為王尤雄。勇恃其彊不肯受代。五姓奚及七姓室韋咸服屬之。擊黃頭室韋還七部劫之於境上求如約。阿保機曰。我為王九年。得漢人多請師種落居古漢城。與漢人守之自為一部。七部許之古漢城者拓跋魏之滑鹽縣也。地宜五穀。有鹽池之利。其後阿保機擊滅七部併為一國。又北伐室韋女真。西取突厥故地。擊奚滅之。復立奚王使契丹監其兵。東北諸夷皆畏服之。初唐懿宗咸通末年有習爾者為王。土宇始大。其後欽德為王。乘中原多故時人侵邊。燕帝劉守光末年衰困。遣參軍韓延徽求援於契丹。契丹主怒其不拜。留之久乃禮而用之。延徽始教契丹。建牙開府。築城廓立市里。以處漢人。使各有配耦墾蓻荒田。契丹由此威盛彊大。至是貞明二年。阿保機始自稱皇帝。國號大契丹。年曰神冊。國人謂之天皇王。姓耶律氏。以妻述律氏為皇后。置百官。治國十一年。卒於夫餘城。諡曰太祖。

The surviving stock of Mount Xianbei; during the Shang dynasty, they were those subdued when Gaozong campaigned against the Guifang. From the second year of Zhenming of the Last Emperor of Liang, when Taizu Abaoji proclaimed himself emperor, established the state, and initiated reign eras, nine rulers in all succeeded to the throne, spanning 215 years from beginning to end, actually lasting 209 years (according to the Records of Liao). Emperor Taizu's taboo personal name was Yifan, and his name was Abaoji, being the youngest son of Woli. His father Woli was an yilaohan, equivalent to a commandery prefect in the central lands. Prior to this, the Khitan tribes were divided into eight. Each had a chieftain, and they jointly agreed to recommend one person as king, erecting banners and drums to issue commands to all the tribes, replacing each other in succession every three years. When Abaoji became king, he was exceptionally heroic and brave, and relying on his strength, he refused to step down. The Xi of the five surnames and the Shiwei of the seven surnames all submitted to him. Returning from attacking the Yellow-Headed Shiwei, the seven tribes intercepted him at the border, demanding compliance with the agreement. Abaoji said: "I have been king for nine years and have acquired many Han people; I request to lead my tribe to dwell in the ancient Han City, to guard it together with the Han people and form our own tribe." The seven tribes agreed. The ancient Han City was Huayan County of the Tuoba Wei; the land was suitable for the five grains and possessed the benefits of salt pools. Later, Abaoji attacked and destroyed the seven tribes, merging them into one state. He also campaigned north against the Shiwei and Jurchen, seized the old lands of the Turks in the west, and attacked and destroyed the Xi. He again set up a king of the Xi and sent Khitans to supervise their army. The barbarian tribes of the northeast all feared and submitted to him. Initially, in the late Xiantong era of Emperor Yizong of Tang, there was one named Xi'er who became king, and their territory began to expand. Later, Qinde became king, and taking advantage of the many crises in the central plains, they raided the borders. In the final years of Emperor Liu Shouguang of Yan, when he was weakened and destitute, he dispatched Military Advisor Han Yanhui to seek aid from the Khitans. The Khitan ruler was enraged that he did not bow, detained him for a long time, and then treated him courteously and employed him. Yanhui first taught the Khitans to establish banners and set up an administration, build walls, and lay out markets and wards to house the Han people, causing each to have spouses and cultivate the fallow fields. From this, the prestige and power of the Khitans flourished. Reaching this point, in the second year of Zhenming, Abaoji first claimed the title of Emperor, naming the state the Great Khitan and the reign era Shence. The people of the state called him the Heavenly Emperor-King. His surname was Yelü. He took his wife, Lady Shulü, as Empress and established official posts. He ruled the state for eleven years and died in the city of Fuyu. He was posthumously titled Taizu.