釋氏稽古略 4.271

4.271

The Jurchens are the Jin. Their lineage was originally from Silla, bearing the clan name Wanyan. "Wanyan" is equivalent to the Chinese "Wang" (King). For generations they were tribal chieftains, subjugated to the Great Liao for two hundred years, holding hereditary military commissionerships. Coming down four generations from Kanfu, he married a Jurchen woman who bore two sons, the elder named Hulai. Hulai had three sons: the eldest was Helibo, the next was Polashu, and the youngest was Yangge. Yangge had three sons: the eldest was Aguda, the next was Wuqimai, and the youngest was Sigai. Sigai fathered Nianhan. Not until Grand Preceptor Yangge did the Jurchens become powerful over the various tribes. In the bingzi year, Xiao Jieli gathered a band of outlaws; when the Liao pursued him, he fled to the territory of the Jurchens (seen below under the yihai year of Shouchang). The Liao ordered Yangge to deal with him. Yangge merely beheaded Jieli and sent his eldest son Aguda to present the head to the Liao. From this time on, Yangge internally relied on this merit and secretly harboured treacherous ambitions. When Yangge died, it was the time of Aguda. It happened that the Liao sovereign Tianzuo was fond of extortion, and superiors and inferiors alike were profligate. His ministers Li Yan and Xiao Fengxian were mediocre, petty, and rapacious. Aguda, inheriting the residual wealth and abundance of his father Yangge, with strong troops and sturdy horses, possessed the strength to harbour ambitions of revolt. Prior to this, the Jurchen territory bordered the Five Nations to the northeast, and the east of the Five Nations bordered the great sea, which produced renowned falcons; those that came from east of the sea were called haidongqing (Gyrfalcons). Small and nimble, they could capture geese and wild ducks, and those with white claws were considered especially extraordinary. The Liao people loved them passionately. When Tianzuo ascended the throne, he demanded tributes even more harshly, forcing the people of that country to go to extremes to capture and present them. The Jurchens had to battle with the Five Nations before obtaining them, which caused the Jurchens great suffering. Furthermore, the commanders along the borders extorted bribes without a single day of rest, causing unbearable distress. The various tribes resented and rebelled against the Liao, secretly allying with Aguda to raise troops and plot rebellion. Arriving at this jiawu year, in the autumn, the eighth month, Aguda began his rebellion. He employed Nianhan and Hushe as chief strategists, and Yinmugu, Yilie, Lousu, Shemu, and others as generals. With two thousand armoured cavalry, they invaded Ningjiang Prefecture to the east of the Hundong River. Tianzuo dispatched troops to resist them, but they were all defeated, and Ningjiang Prefecture was lost. Aguda led his troops forward, fighting from place to place. In the yiwei year, in the autumn, the eighth month, the Liao sovereign Tianzuo issued an edict to personally campaign against the Jurchens, taking the route through Changchun. One night, a glow appeared upon the weapons and armour in the army. The Liao minister Zhang Lin said: "When Emperor Zhuangzong of the Tang attacked Liang, the spears and halberds shone at night; Guo Chongtao said this was an omen of fire emerging and troops entering to crush the enemy." Tianzuo was delighted and believed him. In the eleventh month, they advanced to battle and their troops collapsed. Tianzuo fled five hundred li in a single day and night, retreating to defend Changchun. Taking advantage of their victory, the Jurchens annexed fifty-four prefectures including Bohai and Liaoyang. (Liao zhi). Mount Changbai and the Hundong River are both in present-day Xianping Prefecture, Kaiyuan Circuit, Liaoyang.