Li Sizhong
Encyclopedia
Li Sizhong né Wamosi (嗢沒斯), formally the Prince of Huaihua (懷化王), was a general of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
of Huigu ancestry, who submitted to Emperor Wuzong
after the collapse of the Huigu Khanate in 840 and subsequently served the Tang imperial government.
's Emperor Wuzong
. That year, Xiajiasi forces, under the Xiajiasi khan Are (阿熱), defeated and killed Huigu's khan Yaoluoge Hesa (藥羅葛闔馺) and chancellor Jueluowu (掘羅勿). The Huigu people scattered; some fled to the Geluolu (葛邏祿) tribes; some fled to Tufan; and some fled to Anxi (安西, in modern Aksu Prefecture
, Xinjiang
). Some of the Huigu people, led by Wamosi — who was said to be a brother of a khan (and the modern historian Bo Yang
believed that he was Yaoluoge Hesa's brother), along with the chancellors Chixin (赤心), Pugu (僕固), and the noble Najiachuo (那頡啜), arrived at the Tang border city of Tiande (天德軍, in modern Bayan Nur
, Inner Mongolia
). They traded for food with other non-Han
tribesmen, while seeking protection from Tang.
, pointing out that Wamosi had fled to Tang borders long before Wujie Khan claimed the khan title, argued that Wamosi was not a rebel. He advocated accepting Wamosi's submission. Emperor Wuzong, while not immediately doing so, ordered Tian not to provoke the Huigu, while ordering the armies of Hedong (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
, Shanxi
) and Zhenwu (振武, headquartered in modern Hohhot
, Inner Mongolia
, which Tiande was part of) Circuits to mobilize to prepare to respond if the Huigu army attacked.
Meanwhile, in spring 842, Wamosi believed that Chixin would not be obedient to him, and therefore falsely informed Tian that Chixin was planning to attack Tiande. Tian responded by luring Chixin and Pugu into a trap and killing them. Najiachuo took some of the Huigu remnants and fled east. In the aftermaths, with various Huigu remnant groups, including the group under Wujie Khan, pillaging the northern Tang regions, Li Deyu advocated accepting Wamosi's submission, in order to encourage other Huigu nobles to submit. As a result, in summer 842, Wamosi was allowed to submit along with 2,200 other nobles. Wamosi was given a general title and was created the Prince of Huaihua.
to pay homage to Emperor Wuzong. Thereafter, Emperor Wuzong gave his army the name of Guiyi Army (歸義軍, i.e., "the army that submitted to righteousness") and made him the commander of the Guiyi Army. Apparently to further assure Emperor Wuzong of his faithfulness, Wamosi requested that his family members be kept at Hedong's capital Taiyuan Municipality and that he and his brothers be posted to the borders to help defend Tang. Emperor Wuzong ordered that the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Hedong, Liu Mian (劉沔), to treat Wamosi's family with kindness. He also bestowed the Tang imperial clan name of Li on Wamosi and changed his name to Li Sizhong. (Wamosi's brothers Alizhi (阿歷支), Xiwuchuo (習勿啜), and Wuluosi (烏羅思) were given the names of Li Sizhen (李思貞), Li Siyi (李思義), and Li Sili (李思禮), respectively.)
In fall 842, with Wujie Khan and other Huigu remnants still posing threats, Emperor Wuzong ordered Liu, Li Sizhong, and Zhang Zhongwu
the military governor of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
), to rendezvous at Taiyuan to prepare for further operations. Li Sizhong subsequently volunteered to fight the Huigu remnants along with soldiers from the Qibi (契苾), Shatuo
, and Tuyuhun tribesmen; in response, Emperor Wuzong ordered two prefects, He Qingchao (何清朝) and Qibi Tong (契苾通), to report to him. When, subsequently, in winter 842, Liu and Zhang requested a delay in the operations, but Li Zhongshun (李忠順) the military governor of Zhenwu requested that Li Sizhong attack the Huigu with him, Emperor Wuzong sent Li Sizhong to prepare for such an operation. (It is unclear, however, whether such an operation was actually ever launched.)
In spring 843, Li Sizhong went to Chang'an to again pay homage to Emperor Wuzong. Believing that the Tang border generals were suspicious of him, he requested that he, his brothers, as well as his ally, the noble Ai Hongshun (愛弘順), all be transferred to Chang'an. Emperor Wuzong agreed. Subsequently, the Guiyi Army was disbanded, with the Huigu soldiers being dispersed to various circuits. That was the last reference to Li Sizhong in Chinese historical records, and it is not known when he died.
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
of Huigu ancestry, who submitted to Emperor Wuzong
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
after the collapse of the Huigu Khanate in 840 and subsequently served the Tang imperial government.
Background
Little is known about Wamosi's early years, and it is not known when he was born. The first reference to him in Chinese historical sources, chronologically, was in 840, during the reign of Tang DynastyTang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
's Emperor Wuzong
Emperor Wuzong of Tang
Emperor Wuzong of Tang , né Li Chan , later changed to Li Yan just before his death, was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, reigning from 840 to 846. Emperor Wuzong is mainly known in modern times for the religious persecution that occurred during his reign...
. That year, Xiajiasi forces, under the Xiajiasi khan Are (阿熱), defeated and killed Huigu's khan Yaoluoge Hesa (藥羅葛闔馺) and chancellor Jueluowu (掘羅勿). The Huigu people scattered; some fled to the Geluolu (葛邏祿) tribes; some fled to Tufan; and some fled to Anxi (安西, in modern Aksu Prefecture
Aksu Prefecture
Aksu Prefecture is located in mid-western Xinjiang, China. It has an area of 132,500 km² and 2.19 million inhabitants .The name Aksu is Turkic for 'white water'.-Geography:...
, Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
). Some of the Huigu people, led by Wamosi — who was said to be a brother of a khan (and the modern historian Bo Yang
Bo Yang
This article is about the Chinese writer. His name in Western languages is homonymic with Bó Yáng .Boyang , also sometimes called Baiyang, was a Chinese language writer based in Taiwan...
believed that he was Yaoluoge Hesa's brother), along with the chancellors Chixin (赤心), Pugu (僕固), and the noble Najiachuo (那頡啜), arrived at the Tang border city of Tiande (天德軍, in modern Bayan Nur
Bayan Nur
Bayannur is a prefecture-level city in western Inner Mongolia. Until December 1, 2003, the area was called the Bayannur league.Bayannur city has an area of 65,788 km². It borders Mongolia to the north, Alxa to the west, Ordos to the south and Baotou to the east...
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
). They traded for food with other non-Han
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
tribesmen, while seeking protection from Tang.
Submission to Tang
In spring 841, another group of Huigu remnants had supported another noble, Yaoluoge Wuxi (藥羅葛烏希), to be the new khan (as Wujie Khan). The defender of Tiande, Tian Mou (田牟) and eunuch monitor Wei Zhongping (韋仲平), wanting to crush Wamosi's group of Huigu in order to claim it as their achievement, thus claimed that Wamosi was a Huigu rebel and, based on the past alliance between Tang and Huigu, should be attacked. Most imperial officials agreed, but the lead chancellor, Li DeyuLi Deyu
Li Deyu , courtesy name Wenrao , formally the Duke of Wei , was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of brothers Emperor Wenzong and Emperor Wuzong and their uncle Emperor Xuānzong...
, pointing out that Wamosi had fled to Tang borders long before Wujie Khan claimed the khan title, argued that Wamosi was not a rebel. He advocated accepting Wamosi's submission. Emperor Wuzong, while not immediately doing so, ordered Tian not to provoke the Huigu, while ordering the armies of Hedong (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
) and Zhenwu (振武, headquartered in modern Hohhot
Hohhot
Hohhot , is a city in north-central China and the capital of the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, serving as the region's administrative, economic, and cultural centre....
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, which Tiande was part of) Circuits to mobilize to prepare to respond if the Huigu army attacked.
Meanwhile, in spring 842, Wamosi believed that Chixin would not be obedient to him, and therefore falsely informed Tian that Chixin was planning to attack Tiande. Tian responded by luring Chixin and Pugu into a trap and killing them. Najiachuo took some of the Huigu remnants and fled east. In the aftermaths, with various Huigu remnant groups, including the group under Wujie Khan, pillaging the northern Tang regions, Li Deyu advocated accepting Wamosi's submission, in order to encourage other Huigu nobles to submit. As a result, in summer 842, Wamosi was allowed to submit along with 2,200 other nobles. Wamosi was given a general title and was created the Prince of Huaihua.
Service to Tang
Wujie Khan was continuing to pillage the Tang border regions, and was also demanding that Tang surrender Wamosi to him, a demand that Emperor Wuzong rejected. Meanwhile, Wamosi went to the Tang capital Chang'anChang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
to pay homage to Emperor Wuzong. Thereafter, Emperor Wuzong gave his army the name of Guiyi Army (歸義軍, i.e., "the army that submitted to righteousness") and made him the commander of the Guiyi Army. Apparently to further assure Emperor Wuzong of his faithfulness, Wamosi requested that his family members be kept at Hedong's capital Taiyuan Municipality and that he and his brothers be posted to the borders to help defend Tang. Emperor Wuzong ordered that the military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Hedong, Liu Mian (劉沔), to treat Wamosi's family with kindness. He also bestowed the Tang imperial clan name of Li on Wamosi and changed his name to Li Sizhong. (Wamosi's brothers Alizhi (阿歷支), Xiwuchuo (習勿啜), and Wuluosi (烏羅思) were given the names of Li Sizhen (李思貞), Li Siyi (李思義), and Li Sili (李思禮), respectively.)
In fall 842, with Wujie Khan and other Huigu remnants still posing threats, Emperor Wuzong ordered Liu, Li Sizhong, and Zhang Zhongwu
Zhang Zhongwu
Zhang Zhongwu , formally Prince Zhuang of Lanling or Duke Zhuang of Lanling , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who governed Lulong Circuit as its military governor in de facto independence from the imperial government,...
the military governor of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
), to rendezvous at Taiyuan to prepare for further operations. Li Sizhong subsequently volunteered to fight the Huigu remnants along with soldiers from the Qibi (契苾), Shatuo
Shatuo
The Shatuo were a Turkic tribe that heavily influenced northern Chinese politics from the late ninth century through the tenth century. They are noted for founding 3 of the 5 dynasties and 1 of the kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period....
, and Tuyuhun tribesmen; in response, Emperor Wuzong ordered two prefects, He Qingchao (何清朝) and Qibi Tong (契苾通), to report to him. When, subsequently, in winter 842, Liu and Zhang requested a delay in the operations, but Li Zhongshun (李忠順) the military governor of Zhenwu requested that Li Sizhong attack the Huigu with him, Emperor Wuzong sent Li Sizhong to prepare for such an operation. (It is unclear, however, whether such an operation was actually ever launched.)
In spring 843, Li Sizhong went to Chang'an to again pay homage to Emperor Wuzong. Believing that the Tang border generals were suspicious of him, he requested that he, his brothers, as well as his ally, the noble Ai Hongshun (愛弘順), all be transferred to Chang'an. Emperor Wuzong agreed. Subsequently, the Guiyi Army was disbanded, with the Huigu soldiers being dispersed to various circuits. That was the last reference to Li Sizhong in Chinese historical records, and it is not known when he died.