Yelu Hezhu (耶律合住)

Overview

The translated histories identify Yelu Hezhu as an aristocrat, diplomat, and general. This record brings together 7 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Yelu Hezhu	耶律合住	Yēlǜ Hézhù
Given	Hezhu	合住	Hézhù
Courtesy name	Niangun	粘袞	Niángǔn
Surname	Yelu	耶律	Yēlǜ
Personal name	Yelu Hezhu	耶律合住	Yēlǜ Hézhù

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · liaoshi:086:s0005

Roles

Aristocrat
Diplomat
General

Life and dates

Death

Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0015

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 保寧初 · Western Year: AD 969
Explicit event contextual date · liaoshi:086:s0008

Family

Descendant of Yelü Diela (迭剌)
Kinship Term: grandson / 孫 · Generation Distance: 2 · Line: paternal

Career and standing

Label: General-in-Chief of the Right Dragon-Tiger Guards / 右龍虎衛上將軍 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 保寧初 · Western Year: AD 969
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0008
Label: General-in-Chief of the Left Golden Crow Guards / 左金吾衛上將軍 · Action: appointed
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0014
Label: prefect of Zhuo / 涿州刺史 · Action: appointed
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0009
Label: Southwest Military Commissioner / 西南兵馬都監 · Action: appointed
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0009
Label: titular Military Commissioner of Zhenguo / 遙攝鎮國軍節度使 · Action: appointed
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0015
Label: Merit Subject of Loyalty and Service to the State / 推忠奉國功臣 · Action: granted
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0009

Places and affiliations

Polity Id: liao · Relation: served
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0007, liaoshi:086:s0008
Place: Fanyang / 范陽 · Relation: posted-to
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0017
Place: Zhuo / 涿州 · Relation: posted-to
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0009

Learning and skills

Skill: military administration / 戎政 · Level: thorough
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0016

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0017

Events and relationships

Kind: diplomatic · Role: envoy · Action: parley at Xiong Prefecture north gate
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0017
Kind: diplomatic · Role: mediator · Action: reported Song peace overtures
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0012

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: one speech worth more than several hundred thousand soldiers · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0020
Assessment: secured the frontier and sought peace with far-reaching foresight · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0185
Kind: character · Statement: from childhood did not care for play; bright and keen in affairs; skilled in discourse
Explicit · liaoshi:086:s0006

References in the histories

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

History of Liao, Chapter 86Volume 86 Biographies 16: Yelu Hezhu, Liu Jing, Liu Liufu, Ye Luniaolu, Niu Wenshu, Du Fang, Xiao Heshang, Yelu Helizhi, Yelu Pode · 7 passages

Open chapter

耶律合住劉景劉六符耶律甗履牛溫舒杜防蕭和尚 Yelu Hezhu, Liu Jing, Liu Liufu, Yelu Lü, Niu Wenshu, Du Fang, and Xiao Heshang

耶律合住，字粘袞，太祖弟叠剌之孫。 Yelu Hezhu, whose style name was Niangun, was a grandson of Diela, a younger brother of Taizu.

合住久任邊防，雖有克獲功，然務鎮靜，不妄生事以邀近功。 Hezhu served long on the frontier. Though he won his share of victories, he kept the border calm and would not stir up trouble merely to win quick acclaim.

宋數遣人結歡，冀達和意，合住表聞其事，帝許議和。 The Song court repeatedly sent envoys to open friendly contact in hope of peace; Hezhu reported this to the throne, and the emperor agreed to negotiate.

合住智而有文，曉暢戎政。 Hezhu was both clever and learned, with a thorough grasp of frontier affairs.

識者以謂合住一言，賢於數十萬兵。 Men of judgment held that a single speech by Hezhu was worth more than an army of hundreds of thousands.

論曰：耶律合住安邊講好，養兵息民，其慮深遠矣。 The historians comment: Yelu Hezhu secured the frontier and pursued peace, kept the army in readiness while giving the people rest—his foresight ran deep.