Xiao Talin (蕭撻凜) | 24 Histories

Overview

The translated histories identify Xiao Talin as an aristocrat, general, military officer, and official. This record brings together 23 passages from 5 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Xiao Talin	蕭撻凜	Xiāo Tàlǐn
Given	Talin	撻凜	Talin
Courtesy name	Tuoning	駝寧	Tuoning
Surname	Xiao	蕭	Xiao
Personal	Xiao Tadin	蕭撻凜	Xiāo Tàlǐn
Personal name	Xiao Talin	蕭撻凜	Xiao Talin
Personal	Xiao Talin	蕭撻凜	Xiao Talin

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · liaoshi:014:s0057, liaoshi:083:s0092
Sex: male
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0002, liaoshi:104:s0025

Roles

Aristocrat
General
Military Officer
Official

Life and dates

Death

Cause: crossbow-bolt · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 統和22年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 22 · Western Year: AD 1004
Explicit · liaoshi:014:s0133
Manner: killed by a concealed crossbow / 中伏弩 · Place: Chanyuan / 澶淵 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 進至澶淵 · Western Year: AD 1004
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0020

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 十一年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 11 · Western Year: AD 993
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:085:s0010
Source Date: Text: 十二年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 12 · Western Year: AD 994
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:085:s0012, liaoshi:085:s0013, liaoshi:085:s0014
Source Date: Text: 十五年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 15 · Western Year: AD 997
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:085:s0015, liaoshi:085:s0016, liaoshi:085:s0017
Source Date: Text: 二十年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 20 · Western Year: AD 1002
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:085:s0019
Source Date: Text: 統和20年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 20 · Western Year: AD 1002
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:014:s0057
Source Date: Text: 統和21年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 21 · Western Year: AD 1003
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:014:s0077
Source Date: Text: 統和22年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 22 · Western Year: AD 1004
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:014:s0120, liaoshi:014:s0133
Source Date: Text: 統和二十二年前後 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 22 · Western Year: AD 1004
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:088:s0068
Source Date: Text: 統和四年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 4 · Western Year: AD 986
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:083:s0082, liaoshi:083:s0092, liaoshi:085:s0006, liaoshi:085:s0007
Source Date: Text: 六年秋 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 6 · Western Year: AD 988
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:085:s0008
Source Date: Text: 統和中 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Western Interval: Start: AD 983 · End: AD 1012
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:104:s0025
Source Date: Text: 保寧初 · Western Year: AD 969
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:085:s0005
Source Date: Text: 明年 · Western Year: AD 989
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:085:s0009
Source Date: Text: 進至澶淵 · Western Year: AD 1004
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:085:s0020, liaoshi:085:s0021

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Child of Shululie (術魯列)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kin of Siwen (思溫)
Kinship Term: second cousin once removed / 再從侄 · Subject Role: second-cousin-once-removed · Object Role: kinsman
Parent of Zaogu (慥古)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son

Career and standing

Label: Chief Commander of the Zubu / 阻卜都詳穩 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十二年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 12 · Western Year: AD 994
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0012
Label: Vice Grand Councilor / 兼侍中 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十二年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 12 · Western Year: AD 994
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0014
Label: Chief Supervisor of the Southern Chancellery / 南院都監 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 六年秋 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 6 · Western Year: AD 988
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0008
Label: Commissioner for Subjugation of the Northwestern Circuit / 西北路招討使 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 統和中 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Western Interval: Start: AD 983 · End: AD 1012
Explicit · liaoshi:104:s0025
Label: palace duty officer / 宿直官 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 保寧初 · Western Year: AD 969
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0005
Label: General-in-Chief of the Right Gate Guards / 右監門衛上將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 明年 · Western Year: AD 989
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0009
Label: Military Commissioner of Zhangde Army / 彰德軍節度使 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 明年 · Western Year: AD 989
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0009
Label: Commander-in-Chief of the Southern Capital / 南京統軍使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0018
Label: deputy commander of the combined armies / 諸軍副部署 · Action: held · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 統和四年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 4 · Western Year: AD 986
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0007
Title: Prince of Lanling / 蘭陵郡王 · Action: enfeoffed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十二年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 12 · Western Year: AD 994
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0014
Label: Honorary Grand Preceptor / 檢校太師 · Action: granted · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 明年 · Western Year: AD 989
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0009

Places and affiliations

Polity Id: liao · Relation: served
Explicit · liaoshi:014:s0057, liaoshi:014:s0077, liaoshi:014:s0120, liaoshi:014:s0133, liaoshi:085:s0002, liaoshi:104:s0025

Learning and skills

Skill: astronomy / 天文 · Level: versed
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0004

Works and attributed material

Kind: memorial · Role: author · Summary: requested building three fortified towns
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0017
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Yelü Zhao (耶律昭)
Explicit · liaoshi:104:s0027, liaoshi:104:s0028, liaoshi:104:s0029

Events and relationships

Kind: consultation · Role: questioner · Action: asked Zhao for plan against Zubu · Other Person Id: Yelü Zhao (耶律昭)
Explicit · liaoshi:104:s0027, liaoshi:104:s0029
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: campaigned-against · Place: Goryeo / 高麗 · Other Person Id: Xiao Hengde (蕭恒德) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 十一年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 11 · Western Year: AD 993
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0010
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: captured · Other Person Id: Wang Xianzhi (王先知) · Place: Suicheng / 遂城 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 二十年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 20 · Western Year: AD 1002
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0019
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated-song-at-suicheng
Explicit · liaoshi:014:s0120
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: defeated-song-at-taizhou
Explicit · liaoshi:014:s0057
Kind: military · Role: deputy-commander · Action: defeated · Other Person Id: Yang Jiye (楊繼業) · Place: Shuozhou / 朔州 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 統和四年 · Reign Id: liao-tonghe · Regnal Year: 4 · Western Year: AD 986
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0007
Relation: patron-of · Person Id: Yelü Zhao (耶律昭)
Explicit · liaoshi:104:s0025

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: deeply impressed by Zhao's letter · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · liaoshi:104:s0054
Assessment: earnest, steady, gifted with strategic ability · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · liaoshi:085:s0004

Source notes

Historicity: historical
Explicit · liaoshi:014:s0057, liaoshi:014:s0077, liaoshi:014:s0120, liaoshi:014:s0133

References in the histories

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

History of Liao, Chapter 14Volume 14 Annals 14: Shengzong 5 · 4 passages

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甲戌，南京統軍使蕭撻凜破宋軍於泰州。 On jiaxu day Nanjing army commander Xiao Talin routed Song forces at Taizhou.

是月，耶律奴瓜、蕭撻凜獲宋將王繼忠於望都。 That month Yelü Nugua and Xiao Talin captured Song general Wang Jizhong at Wangdu.

丁卯，蕭撻凜與宋軍戰於遂城，敗之。 On dingmao day Xiao Talin fought the Song army at Suicheng and defeated it.

蕭撻凜中伏弩死。 Xiao Talin was struck by a hidden crossbow bolt and died.

History of Liao, Chapter 83Volume 83 Biographies 13: Yelu Xiuge, Yelu Xiezhen, Yelu Xidi, Yelu Xuegu · 1 passage

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斜軫聞繼業出兵，令蕭撻凜伏兵於路。 When Xiezhen heard that Ye was marching out, he ordered Xiao Tadin to set an ambush along the road.

History of Liao, Chapter 85Volume 85 Biographies 15: Xiao Talin, Xiao Guanyinnu, Yelu Tizi, Yelu Xieli, Yelu Nugua, Xiao Liu, Gao Xun, Xi Heshuonu, Xiao Taliege, Yelu Sahe · 13 passages

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蕭撻凜蕭觀音奴耶律題子耶律諧理耶律奴瓜蕭柳高勛奚和朔奴蕭塔列葛耶律撒合 Xiao Talin, Xiao Guanyinnu, Yelu Tizi, Yelu Xieli, Yelu Nugua, Xiao Liu, Gao Xun, Xi Heshuonu, Xiao Taliege, and Yelu Sahe.

蕭撻凜，字駝寧，思溫之再從侄。 Xiao Talin, whose style name was Tuoning, was a second cousin once removed of Xiao Siwen.

撻凜幼敦厚，有才略，通天文。 From youth Talin was earnest and steady, gifted with strategic ability, and versed in astronomy.

撻凜以諸軍副部署，從樞密使耶律斜軫敗之，擒繼業於朔州。 Talin served as deputy commander of the combined armies and, under Grand Councilor Yelu Xiezhen, routed the Song force and took Yang Ye prisoner at Shuozhou.

十二年，夏人梗邊，皇太妃受命總烏古及永興宮分軍討之，撻凜為阻卜都詳穩。 In the twelfth year the Tangut raided the borderlands. The Imperial Consort was entrusted with the Ugu and Yongxing Palace forces to suppress them, and Talin was made Chief Commander of the Zubu tribes.

凡軍中號令，太妃並委撻凜。 The Imperial Consort placed all military orders in Talin's hands.

十五年，敵烈部人殺詳穩而叛，遁於西北荒，撻凜將輕騎逐之，因討阻卜之未服者，諸蕃歲貢方物充於國，自後往來若一家焉。 In the fifteenth year the Dilie tribe murdered their commander and rebelled, fleeing into the far northwest. Talin led light cavalry in pursuit and, in the same campaign, subdued recalcitrant Zubu groups. Thereafter the frontier tribes sent annual tribute that filled the royal stores, and their relations with the court became as close as a single household.

撻凜以諸部叛服不常，上表乞建三城以絕邊患，從之。 Because frontier tribes shifted unpredictably between rebellion and submission, Talin memorialized asking to build three fortified towns to end border unrest, and the court agreed.

進至澶淵，宋主軍於城隍間，未接戰，撻凜按視地形，取宋之羊觀、鹽堆、鳧雁，中伏弩，卒。 The army pressed on to Chanyuan, where the Song emperor had drawn up his forces between the city walls and moat. Before battle was joined, Talin reconnoitered the ground and seized the Song outposts at Yangguan, Yandui, and Fuyan, but was killed by a concealed crossbow.

及伐宋，與蕭撻凜為先鋒，降祁州，下德清軍，上加優賞。 On the campaign against Song he and Xiao Talin led the vanguard, compelled the surrender of Qizhou, and captured Deqing Army; the emperor granted him exceptional rewards.

是年冬，復與蕭撻凜由東路擊宋，俘獲甚眾。 That winter he again joined Xiao Talin on the eastern route against Song and took a great number of prisoners.

最後以蕭撻凜為統軍，直抵澶淵。 In the end Xiao Talin was made supreme commander and drove the army straight to Chanyuan.

將與宋戰，撻凜中弩，我兵失倚，和議始定。 Just as battle with Song was about to begin, Talin was struck down by a crossbow bolt. The Liao army lost its pillar of command, and the peace settlement followed.

History of Liao, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 18: Xiao Dilie, Yelu Pennu, Xiao Paiya, Yelu Zizhong, Yelu Yaozhi, Yelu Honggu, Gao Zheng, Yelu Delu, Da Kangyi · 1 passage

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後蕭撻凜卒，專任南面事。 After Xiao Talin died, he was entrusted alone with southern affairs.

History of Liao, Chapter 104Volume 104 Biographies 34: Literature 2 · 4 passages

Open chapter

會蕭撻凜為西北路招討使，愛之，奏免其役，禮致門下。 When Xiao Talin became Commissioner for Subjugation of the Northwestern Circuit, he took a liking to Zhao, memorialized to free him from corvée, and received him with full courtesy at his gate.

欲召用，以疾辭。 When Talin wished to summon him to office, he declined on grounds of illness.

撻凜問曰：「今軍旅甫罷，三邊宴然，惟阻卜伺隙而動。 Talin asked him, "Campaigns have only just ended and the three frontiers are quiet, yet the Zubu alone watch for openings and stir.

撻凜然之。 Talin was deeply impressed.