遼・西夏閒の外交を巡って --婚姻の側面から見た--

Abstract

In order to clarify the actual state of diplomatic policy regarding the marriage by the Liao dynasty, this paper analyzes the frequent marriages between imperial princesses of the Liao and kings of the Western Xia. The marriage of Princess Yicheng 義成 to Li Jiqian 李繼遷 brought remarkable political and economic benefit to the Liao. By giving sanction to Li Jiqian's proposal of marriage to the imperial princess, the Liao were able to consistently take the initiative in the marriage. At the same time, the Liao expanded the power of Li Jiqian in giving sanction to his marriage to a princess, and were also able to restrain the Northern Song. After allowing the princess to marry, those in neighboring countries who showed hostility toward the Liao disappeared, and the Liao were able to display their majesty. The Liao successfully constructed a self-centered international order at that time by the marriage of the princess to Li Jiqian. In comparison with the earlier marriage of Princess Yicheng to Li Jiqian, the marriage of Princess Xingping 興平 to Li Yuanhao 李元昊 did not necessarily deepen the friendship between the two countries in terms of diplomatic relations. At that time, the Liao who had failed to capture Ganzhou and who additionally faced an emergency with the death of Emperor Shengzong, were weary of the rising power of the Western Xia, and thus had the real princess marry. Although the couple did not get along, when the relationship with Northern Song is also considered, one sees that the Liao were able to gain a dominant position in international relations at that time by utilizing the marriage of the princess to maximum effect. The marriage of Princess Cheng'an 成安 to Li Qianshun 李乾順 led to unprecedentedly larger influence of the Liao to the Western Xia due to the birth of the crown prince. Thereafter, relations between the two countries grew stronger, and on the pretense of the marriage of the princess, the Liao would interfere in the relations between the Northern Song and the Western Xia more than before. Furthermore, the Western Xia reacted positively by sending reinforcements to the Liao when the latter were attacked by the Jin. In short, the policy of marrying princesses fully demonstrated a coordinated effect on international society. Diplomatic policy based on marriage was an important measure that effectively functioned and sustained the international relations in eastern Eurasia under the leadershipof the Liao.