The Research On The Nanjing Region Marine Of Liao Dynasty

The Liao dynasty, 907-1125, also known as Khitan Empire, has five capitals, including Liao Nanjing, Liao Shangjing, Liao Dongjing, Liao Zhongjing and Liao Xijing. Liao Nanjing is localized in the south part of Great Liao and is the largest metropolitan area of Liao dynasty. Its east part is on the coast of Bohai Sea and the major ports include Tangshan, Qinhuangdao and part of Tianjin.As the majority of the historic research of Liao dynasty is focused on the mainland of Great Liao, Liao Empire was identified as a landlocked country. Actually, the Liao Nanjing is a littoral city with a great history. The ability to access to the sea is generally a great influence to a nation. In this study, the research is focused on the political, military aspects and seaborne trade of Liao Nanjing:First of all, since the rise of Liao Empire, Liao Nanjing is always the pivotal military target of the neighbor countries, such as the Five Dynasty, which ruled northern China in succession from 907 to 960, and the Song Dynasty, which succeeded the Later Zhou Dynasty in 960. After the Treaty of Chan Yuan was worked out in January of 1005, Liao Nanjing was identified as part of the Great Liao.Secondly, there were as least three ports in Liao Nanjing area: Pingzhou port, Lutaijun port and Junliangcheng port. Several shipping lines linking these three ports made a very important contribution to the economy of Liao Dynasty.Thirdly, as the Great Song has a very powerful navy and the continued Liao occupation of the Sixteen Prefectures and other issues caused relations between the Liao and the Song to sour, the court of Liao strengthened their defenses at Liao Nanjing area for naval warfare, such as conventional military, special armed military, army and navy.Finally, the Liao Empire took great advantages from the sea resource such as fishing and sea salt. There were departments governed by the court which response for the production, marketing and taxation of the sea salt. The great Liao not only supplied the salt to the internal mainland but also exported it to the neighbor countries. Therefore, the Salt industry played a very important role in the economy of Liao Empire.Based on the studies of the political, military aspect and international trade of Liao Nanjing, the south coast of Liao Empire is further understood.