遼五京の外交的機能

Abstract

The Liao dynasty had the three capitals system at first, Shangjing 上京 as the main capital, Dongjing 東京 as the capital of the residential section of the Bohai 渤海 people and Nanjing 南京 as the capital of that of the Han race. They were originally established to control the residents, but Dongjing was also served as a base for the negotiations with the Koryo 高麗 dynasty, and Nanjing with the Five dynasties and the Song dynasty. After that, Zhongjing 中京 was established when the Liao dynasty formed closer connection with the Song dynasty by the Treaty of Chanyuan 澶淵, and Xijing 西京 when it got into dispute with the Xixia 西夏 dynasty. Thus, it is supposed that Zhongjing and Xijing were established to carry out the foreign policy rather than domestic one. The five capitals system of the Liao dynasty was formally under the influence of the Chinese dynasties, but in respect of such diplomatic functions as a base for the negotiations with foreign countries at peace or war respectively, it was the same as that of the Bohai dynasty.