Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A major imperial dynasty of China: The Liao Dynasty was a Khitan-led dynasty that ruled over extensive territories in Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China.
   • A historical period: It refers to the period from 947 to 1125 CE when this dynasty held power, known for its unique dual-administration system governing both nomadic and sedentary populations.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Liao Dynasty established its capital at Shangjing (modern-day Baarin Left Banner, Inner Mongolia).
  • Archaeologists have found many artifacts from the Liao Dynasty period.
  • The Song Dynasty paid tribute to the Liao Dynasty to maintain peace along the northern border.

Advanced Usage

• "The Liao": Often used as a shortened form to refer to the dynasty or its empire.

  • The Liao were formidable rivals to the Song Chinese to the south.

• "Liao period" / "Liao era": Used to describe the time when the dynasty was in power.

  • Buddhist art flourished during the Liao period.

Variants and Related Words

• Khitan: (noun) The ethnic group that founded and ruled the Liao Dynasty.

  • The Khitan rulers adopted many Chinese bureaucratic practices.

• Western Liao: (proper noun) Also known as the Kara-Khitan Khanate, a successor state established after the fall of the original Liao Dynasty.

  • The Western Liao controlled Central Asia for nearly a century.

Synonyms

• Khitan Empire: Another name for the Liao Dynasty, emphasizing its ethnic rulers.
• Liao Empire: A synonym highlighting its imperial and territorial scope.

Related Phrases

• "Liao Dynasty architecture": A phrase describing the distinctive architectural style, particularly of pagodas and tombs, from that era.

  • The wooden pagoda in Yingxian is a masterpiece of Liao Dynasty architecture.

• "Fall of the Liao": A phrase referring to the dynasty's collapse in 1125 after invasions by the Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty.

  • The fall of the Liao reshaped the political landscape of East Asia.

Noun

1. the dynasty that ruled much of Manchuria and northeastern China from 947 to 1125