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○義宗倍 〈（子平王隆先晉王道隱）〉 章肅皇帝李胡 〈（子宋王喜隱）〉 順宗濬晉王敖盧斡
Yizong Bei (Sons: Prince of Ping Longxian and Prince of Jin Daoyin)〉 Emperor Zhangsu Li Hu (Son: Prince of Song Xiyin)〉 Shunzong Jun and Prince of Jin Aolugan
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義宗，名倍，小字圖欲，太祖長子，母淳欽皇后蕭氏。 幼聰敏好學，外寬內摯。 神冊元年春，立為皇太子。 時太祖問侍臣曰：「受命之君，當事天敬神。 有大功德者，朕欲祀之，何先？」 皆以佛對。 太祖曰：「佛非中國教。」 倍曰：「孔子大聖，萬世所尊，宜先。」 太祖大悅，即建孔子廟，詔皇太子春秋釋奠。
Yizong, whose personal name was Bei and childhood name Tuyu, was Taizu's eldest son; his mother was Empress Chunqin of the Xiao clan. As a boy he was quick-witted and studious, mild in manner yet ardent at heart. In the spring of Shence year 1 (916) he was made crown prince. Once Taizu asked his ministers, "A ruler who has received Heaven's mandate ought to honor Heaven and the spirits. Among the figures of greatest merit, whom should I worship first? They all named the Buddha. Taizu said, "Buddhism is not a teaching native to China. Bei replied, "Confucius is the supreme sage, revered through the ages—he should come first. Taizu was delighted, had a Confucian temple built at once, and ordered the crown prince to conduct the spring and autumn rites of sacrifice.
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未幾，諸部多叛，大元帥討平之。 太祖訃至，倍即日奔赴山陵。 倍知皇太后意欲立德光，乃謂公卿曰：「大元帥功德及人神，中外攸屬，宜主社稷。」 乃與群臣請於太后而讓位焉。 於是大元帥即皇帝位，是為太宗。 太宗既立，見疑，以東平為南京，徙倍居之，盡遷其民。 又置衛士陰伺動靜。 倍既歸國，命王繼遠撰《建南京碑》，起書樓於西宮，作《樂田園詩》。 唐明宗聞之，遣人跨海持書密召倍。 倍因畋海上。 使再至，倍謂左右曰：「我以天下讓主上，今反見疑； 不如適他國，以成吳太伯之名。」 立木海上，刻詩曰：「小山壓大山，大山全無力。 羞見故鄉人，從此投外國。」 攜高美人，載書浮海而去。
Before long many tribes rebelled; the Great Marshal put them down. When word of Taizu's death arrived, Bei set out the same day for the imperial tomb. Knowing the Empress Dowager meant to elevate Deguang, Bei told the chief ministers, "The Great Marshal's achievements touch both men and spirits; court and country alike look to him—he ought to rule the realm. He and the officials petitioned the Empress Dowager, and he yielded the throne. The Great Marshal then took the throne as Emperor Taizong. After Taizong's accession Bei fell under suspicion; Dongping was made the Southern Capital, Bei was relocated there, and the entire population was moved away. Guards were also set to spy on his movements in secret. Once back in his domain, Bei had Wang Jiyuan draft the "Stele on Building the Southern Capital," built a book tower in the Western Palace, and composed "Joy in the Garden." When Tang Emperor Mingzong heard of it, he sent envoys across the sea with a secret letter inviting Bei. Bei happened to be hunting at sea. When the envoys came again, Bei told his attendants, "I gave the empire to our sovereign, yet now I am distrusted; better to go abroad and earn a name like Wu Taibo's. He erected a post on the sea and carved a poem: "A little hill weighs on the great hill—the great hill has no strength at all. Too ashamed to face the folk of home—from this I go to a foreign land. Taking Lady Gao with him, he loaded his books and sailed away across the sea.
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倍初市書至萬卷，藏於醫巫閭絕頂之望海堂。 通陰陽，知音律，精醫藥、砭焫之術。 工遼、漢文章，嘗譯《陰符經》。 善畫本國人物，如《射騎》、《獵雪騎》、《千鹿圖》，皆入宋秘府。 然性刻急好殺，婢妾微過，常加刲灼。 夏氏懼而求削髮為尼。 五子：長世宗，次婁國、稍、隆先、道隱，各有傳。
Bei had once bought books until his collection reached ten thousand scrolls, which he kept in the Wanghai Hall on the summit of Mount Yiwulü. He understood yin and yang, knew music and pitch, and was skilled in medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion. He wrote well in both Khitan and Chinese and once translated the "Classic of the Hidden Talisman." He excelled at painting Khitan subjects; works such as "Mounted Archers," "Hunting Snow Cavalry," and "A Thousand Deer" all entered the Song imperial collection. Yet he was harsh and quick-tempered and prone to cruelty; for the slightest slip by maids or concubines he often branded or cauterized them. Lady Xia, terrified, begged to shave her head and take vows as a nun. He had five sons: the eldest was Shizong, followed by Louguo, Shao, Longxian, and Daoyin—each treated in his own biography.
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論曰：自古新造之國，一傳而太子讓，豈易得哉？ 遼之義宗，可謂盛矣！ 然讓而見疑，豈不兆於建元稱制之際乎？ 斯則一時君臣昧於禮制之過也。 束書浮海，寄跡他國，思親不忘，問安不絕，其心甚有足諒者焉。 觀其始慕泰伯之賢而為遠適之謀，終疾陳恒之惡而有請討之舉，誌趣之卓，蓋已見於早歲先祀孔子之言歟。 善不令終，天道難詰，得非性卞嗜殺之所致也？ 雖然，終遼之代，賢聖繼統，皆其子孫。 至德之報，昭然在茲矣。
Commentary: In newly founded states since antiquity, how rare it is for a crown prince to yield the throne in the very first succession! Liao's Yizong stands among the finest examples! Yet once he had yielded he was distrusted—was that not already foreshadowed when he adopted an era name and ruled in his own right? That was a lapse of ruler and ministers alike, who failed to grasp proper ritual and institutions. He packed his books and crossed the sea to live abroad, yet never forgot his family and kept sending greetings home—there is much in his heart that deserves understanding. See how early on he admired Taibo's virtue and planned exile abroad, and in the end loathed Chen Heng's crime and urged his ruler to punish it—his high purpose was already plain in youth, when he argued to honor Confucius first. Virtue did not win him a gentle end; Heaven's ways are hard to fathom—was it not his harsh, bloodthirsty temper that brought it about? Even so, through the entire Liao dynasty the worthy and sage who held the throne were all his descendants. The reward of supreme virtue shines plainly in this.
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章肅皇帝，小字李胡，一名洪古，字奚隱，太祖第三子，母淳欽皇后蕭氏。 少勇悍多力，而性殘酷，小怒輒黥人面，或投水火中。 太祖嘗觀諸子寢，李胡縮項臥內，曰：「是必在諸子下。」 又嘗大寒，命三子采薪。 太宗不擇而取，最先至； 人皇王取其乾者束而歸，後至； 李胡取少而棄多，既至，袖手而立。 太祖曰：「長巧而次成，少不及矣。」 而母篤愛李胡。
Emperor Zhangsu, childhood name Li Hu, also called Honggu, style Xiyin, was Taizu's third son; his mother was Empress Chunqin of the Xiao clan. As a youth he was fierce and powerful, but cruel by nature; the least provocation could bring facial tattooing or being thrown into water or fire. Taizu once watched his sons sleep. Li Hu lay curled up with his neck drawn in, and Taizu said, "This one will surely rank below his brothers. On another bitterly cold day he ordered the three sons to gather firewood. Taizong gathered without picking and came back first; the Human Emperor King chose the dry wood, bound it into a bundle, and returned later; Li Hu took little and threw away much; when he arrived he stood with empty hands in his sleeves. Taizu said, "The eldest is clever, the second gets things done; the youngest falls short. Yet his mother doted on Li Hu.
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天顯五年，遣徇地代北，攻寰州，多俘而還，遂立為皇太弟，兼天下兵馬大元帥。 太宗親征，常留守京師。 世宗即位鎮陽，太后怒，遣李胡將兵擊之。 至泰德泉，為安端、留哥所敗。 太后與世宗隔潢河而陣，各言舉兵意。 耶律屋質入諫太后曰：「主上已立，宜許之。」 時李胡在側，作色曰：「我在，兀欲安得立？」 屋質曰：「奈公酷暴失人心何！」 太后顧李胡曰：「昔我與太祖愛汝異於諸子，諺云：『偏憐之子不保業，難得之婦不主家。』 我非不欲立汝，汝自不能矣。」 及會議，世宗使解劍而言。 和約既定，趨上京。 會有告李胡與太后謀廢立者，徙李胡祖州，禁其出入。 穆宗時，其子喜隱謀反，辭逮李胡，囚之，死獄中，年五十，葬玉峰山西谷。 統和中，追謚欽順皇帝。 重熙二十一年，更謚章肅，后曰和敬。 二子：宋王喜隱、衛王宛。
In Tianxian year 5 he was sent to campaign in the Dai north, attacked Huan Prefecture, returned with many captives, and was made Imperial Younger Brother Heir while also serving as commander-in-chief of all forces. Whenever Taizong led campaigns in person, Li Hu usually stayed behind as regent in the capital. When Shizong assumed the throne at Zhenyang, the Empress Dowager in anger sent Li Hu with an army against him. At Taidé Spring he was defeated by Anduan and Liuge. The Empress Dowager and Shizong drew up on opposite banks of the Huang River and each explained why he had taken up arms. Yelü Wuzhi went in and urged the Empress Dowager, "The emperor is already enthroned—you ought to accept him. Li Hu stood at her side, flushed with anger, and said, "As long as I live, how can Wuyue take the throne? Wuzhi replied, "What can be done when you are cruel and violent and have lost the people's hearts? The Empress Dowager turned to Li Hu and said, "Taizu and I once loved you more than your brothers. As the proverb runs, 'The child too fondly indulged cannot keep the estate; the wife too hard won cannot keep the house. It is not that I would not make you emperor—you simply could not hold it. At the council Shizong had his sword taken before he addressed them. Once peace was agreed, they hurried to the Upper Capital. When word came that Li Hu and the Empress Dowager were plotting to depose the emperor, Li Hu was exiled to Zuzhou and forbidden to leave. Under Muzong his son Xiyin rebelled; testimony implicated Li Hu, who was imprisoned and died in jail at fifty, and was buried in the western valley of Mount Yufeng. In the Tonghe era he was posthumously styled Emperor Qinshun. In Chongxi year 21 his title was changed to Zhangsu; his consort was styled Hejing. He had two sons: Prince of Song Xiyin and Prince of Wei Wan.
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論曰：李胡殘酷驕盈，太祖知其不才而不能教，太后不知其惡而溺愛之。 初以屋質之言定立世宗，而復謀廢立。 子孫繼以逆誅，並及其身，可哀也已。 夫自太祖之世，剌葛、安端首倡禍亂，太祖既不之誅，又復用之，固為有君人之量，然惟太祖之才足以駕馭，庶乎其可也。 李胡而下，宗王反側，無代無之，遼之內難，與國始終。 厥後嗣君，雖嚴法以繩之，卒不可止。 烏乎，創業垂統之主，所以貽厥孫謀者，可不審歟！
Commentary: Li Hu was cruel and arrogant. Taizu knew he lacked talent but could not teach him; the Empress Dowager did not see his wickedness and spoiled him. At first Wuzhi's counsel secured Shizong's enthronement, yet mother and son plotted deposition again. Descendants were executed one after another for treason, and ruin reached him as well—a lamentable end. From Taizu's reign Cige and Anduan were the first to stir rebellion; Taizu neither executed them outright nor cast them off permanently, which showed true magnanimity as a ruler—yet only Taizu's ability could keep them in hand, and even that was barely enough. From Li Hu onward, imperial princes were forever restless; no reign was free of it—Liao's internal strife dogged the dynasty from start to finish. Later emperors bound them with harsh law, yet still could not stop it. Alas! Founders who establish a dynasty and pass it on—what they leave their heirs demands the utmost care!
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及母后被害，太子有憂色。 耶律乙辛為北院樞密使，常不自安。 會護衛蕭忽古謀害乙辛，事覺，下獄。 副點檢蕭十三謂乙辛曰：「臣民心屬太子，公非閥閱，一日若立，吾輩措身何地！」 乃與同知北院宣徽事蕭特裏特謀構陷太子，陰令右護衛太保耶律查剌誣告都宮使耶律撒剌、知院蕭速撒、護衛蕭忽古謀廢立。 詔案無跡，不治。 乙辛復令牌印郎君蕭訛都斡等言：「查剌前告非妄，臣實與謀，欲殺耶律乙辛等，然後立太子。 臣若不言，恐事發連坐。」 帝信之，幽太子於別室，以耶律燕哥鞫案。 太子具陳枉狀曰：「吾為儲副，尚何所求。 公當為我辨之。」 燕哥乃乙辛之黨，易其言為款伏。 上大怒，廢太子為庶人。 將出，曰：「我何罪至是！」 十三叱登車，遣衛士闔其扉。 徙於上京，囚圜堵中。 乙辛尋遣達魯古、撒八往害之，太子年方二十，上京留守蕭撻得紿以疾薨聞。 上哀之，命有司葬龍門山。 欲召其妃，乙辛陰遣人殺之。 帝後知其冤，悔恨無及，謚曰昭懷太子，以天子禮改葬玉峰山。 乾統初，追尊大孝順聖皇帝，廟號順宗，妃蕭氏貞順皇后。 一子，延禧，即天祚皇帝。
When the empress mother was killed, the crown prince's face showed deep worry. Yelü Yixin, Northern Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was constantly uneasy. When guard Xiao Hugu plotted to kill Yixin, the plot was exposed and he was thrown into prison. Deputy Inspector Xiao Shisan told Yixin, "Officials and commoners alike look to the crown prince. You are not of high birth—once he reigns, where will men like us stand? He and Associate Commissioner of the Northern Bureau of Palace Attendants Xiao Telite then plotted to frame the crown prince, secretly ordering Right Guard Commissioner Yelü Chala to accuse Palace Director Yelü Sala, Commissioner Xiao Susa, and guard Xiao Hugu of plotting a coup. An imperial inquiry found no evidence, and the case was dropped. Yixin then had Seal and Insignia Attendant Xiao Eduogan and others declare, "Chala's first report was true—I was in the plot to kill Yelü Yixin and his faction, then put the crown prince on the throne. If I do not confess now, I fear I will be punished when the plot is uncovered. The emperor believed them, confined the crown prince in a separate room, and put Yelü Yange in charge of the investigation. The crown prince laid out the injustice of the charge: "I am heir apparent—what more could I want? You must speak for me. Yange was Yixin's man and twisted his words into a confession. The emperor flew into a rage and deposed the crown prince to commoner status. As he was led out he cried, "What crime have I committed to deserve this! Shisan shouted at him to get in the carriage and had guards slam the doors shut. He was exiled to the Upper Capital and held in a round-walled cell. Yixin soon sent Dalugu and Saba to kill him. The crown prince was only twenty; Upper Capital regent Xiao Tade was tricked with a report that he had died of illness. The emperor grieved and ordered an official burial at Longmen Mountain. When he wished to summon the crown prince's consort, Yixin secretly had her murdered. When the emperor later learned of the injustice, remorse came too late. He posthumously styled him Crown Prince Zhaohuai and reburied him on Mount Yufeng with imperial rites. At the start of the Qian Tong era he was posthumously elevated to Emperor the Great Filial and Shun the Sage, with temple name Shunzong; his consort of the Xiao clan was styled Empress Zhenshun. He had one son, Yanxi, who became Emperor Tianzuo.
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論曰：道宗知太子之賢，而不能辨乙辛之詐，竟絕父子之親，為萬世惜。 乙辛知為一身之計，不知有君臣之義，豈復知有太子乎！ 奸邪之臣亂人家國如此，可不戒哉！ 可不戒哉！
Commentary: Daozong knew his son's worth yet could not see through Yixin's deceit, and in the end destroyed the bond between father and son—a loss the ages lament. Yixin cared only for himself and knew nothing of the duty between ruler and minister—how could he spare a thought for the crown prince! When treacherous ministers can overturn a household and a realm like this, who would not take warning! Who would not take warning!
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論曰：天祚不君，臣下謀立其子，適以殺之。 敖盧斡重君父之命，不亡而死，申生其恭矣乎！
Commentary: Tianzuo failed as a ruler; his ministers plotted to put his son on the throne—and thereby brought about the son's death. Aolugan honored his sovereign and father, refusing flight though it meant death—was he not as dutiful as Prince Sheng of Jin!