Song, Liao, and Jin · Jurchen Leader

Ashu 阿疏

Āshū

Attested AD 1111 - AD 1116

Passages: 14
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

The translated histories identify Ashu as a military officer, named individual, rebel, and tribal leader. This record brings together 14 passages from 3 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Ashu	阿疏	Āshū
Personal name	Ashu	阿疏
Personal name	Ashu	阿疏	Āshū

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · liaoshi:027:s0215, liaoshi:028:s0002, liaoshi:101:s0037
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · liaoshi:027:s0219

Roles

Military Officer
Named Individual
Rebel
Tribal Leader

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 五年 · Western Year: AD 1115
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:028:s0002, liaoshi:028:s0028
Source Date: Text: 天慶六年 · Western Year: AD 1116
Explicit · liaoshi:101:s0048
Source Date: Text: 天慶初 · Western Year: AD 1111
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:101:s0036, liaoshi:101:s0037
Source Date: Text: 天慶四年 · Western Year: AD 1114
Explicit · liaoshi:027:s0215
Source Date: Text: 秋七月 · Western Year: AD 1114
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:027:s0219

Family

Sibling of Dibao (狄故保)
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: younger

Origins and identity

Ethnicity: Jurchen / 女直
Explicit · liaoshi:027:s0219, liaoshi:027:s0220
Label: Jurchen / 女直 · Note: Hesilie division
Explicit · liaoshi:027:s0215

Career and standing

Status: rebel · Action: held
Explicit · liaoshi:028:s0002
Status: held-by-Liao · Action: not-handed-over
Explicit · liaoshi:027:s0219, liaoshi:027:s0220

Places and affiliations

Polity Id: liao · Relation: served
Explicit · liaoshi:101:s0048

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: campaigned-east-against-Zhangnu · Counterpart Person Id: Yelü Zhangnu (耶律章奴) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天慶六年 · Western Year: AD 1116
Explicit · liaoshi:101:s0048, liaoshi:101:s0049
Kind: defeat · Role: defeated-party · Action: defeated
Explicit · liaoshi:101:s0056
Kind: flight · Role: refugee · Action: fled-to-Liao
Explicit · liaoshi:027:s0216
Kind: diplomatic-demand · Role: subject-of-demand · Action: Jin-demanded-return
Explicit · liaoshi:101:s0037
Kind: diplomatic · Role: demanded-person · Action: Jurchen envoys again demanded Ashu; Liao did not hand him over · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 秋七月 · Western Year: AD 1114
Explicit · liaoshi:027:s0219, liaoshi:027:s0220
Kind: rebellion · Role: rebel-leader · Action: rebelled
Explicit · liaoshi:101:s0052
Relation: old-associate-of · Person Id: Yelu Axibao (耶律阿息保)
Explicit · liaoshi:101:s0053

Assessments and attributes

Kind: character · Statement: inclined to slaughter
Explicit · liaoshi:101:s0054

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · liaoshi:027:s0215

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

History of Liao, Chapter 27Volume 27 Annals 27: Emperor Tianzuo 1 · 4 passages

初，女直起兵，以紇石烈部人阿疏不從，遣其部撒改討之。 Initially when Jurchen raised troops, because Ashu of the Hesilie division did not follow, they sent Sagai of their division to attack him.

阿疏弟狄故保來告，詔諭使勿討，不聽，阿疏來奔。 Ashu's younger brother Dibao came to report; an edict admonished that he not be attacked; they did not listen; Ashu came to flee.

秋七月，女直復遣使取阿疏，不發，乃遣侍御阿息保問境上多建城堡之故。 In the seventh autumn month Jurchen again sent envoys to take Ashu; he was not handed over; Attendant-in-Waiting Axi Bao was then sent to ask the reason for many castles built on the border.

女直以慢語答曰：「若還阿疏，朝貢如故； Jurchen answered in insolent words, "If Ashu is returned, tribute as before;

History of Liao, Chapter 28Volume 28 Annals 28: Emperor Tianzuo 2 · 2 passages

阿骨打遣賽剌復書，<一>若歸叛人阿疏，遷黃龍府於別地，然後議之。 Aguda sent Saisi with a reply: [1] if the rebel Ashu is returned and Huanglong Prefecture is moved to another site, then matters may be discussed.

辭剌還，女直復遣賽剌以書來報：若歸我叛人阿疏等，即當班師。 Cici returned; the Jurchen again sent Saisi with a letter reporting that if our rebels Ashu and others were returned they would withdraw the army.

History of Liao, Chapter 101Volume 101 Biographies 31: Xiao Taosuwo, Yelu Axibao, Xiao Yixue, Xiao Hudu · 8 passages

金人起兵，城境上，遣阿息保問之，金人曰：「若歸阿疏，敢不聽命。」 When the Jin took up arms and fortified the frontier, Axibao was dispatched to inquire; the Jin replied, "If you hand back Ashu, we would not dare refuse your command."

六年，從阿疏討耶律章奴，加領軍衛大將軍。 In the sixth year he followed Ashu against Yelu Zhangnu and was additionally made general-in-chief of the Army Guard.

阿疏將兵而東，阿息保送至軍，乃還。 Ashu marched east with his army; Axibao escorted him to the encampment and then turned back.

後阿疏反，阿息保以偏師進擊，臨陣墜馬，被擒。 When Ashu later rebelled, Axibao led a detached column against him, was thrown from his horse in battle, and taken captive.

因阿疏有舊得免。 Thanks to his old friendship with Ashu he was spared.

時阿疏頗好殺，阿息保謂曰：「欲舉大事，何以殺為！」 Ashu was then inclined to slaughter; Axibao told him, "If you mean to accomplish a great undertaking, why make killing your way!"

會阿疏敗，乃還。 When Ashu was defeated, he made his way back.

阿息保不死阿疏之難，乙薛甘忍盧彥倫之執，大節已失矣，他有所長，亦奚足取。 Axibao did not perish in Ashu's disaster, and Yixue submitted to Lu Yanlun's capture—their paramount integrity was already gone; whatever other talents they possessed, what is there to esteem?