The Epitaph of Yelyu Renxian
Mar 10,2023

In the exhibition hall of ancient Chinese stele rubbings at Liaoning Provincial Museum, there is a precious epitaph from the Liao Dynasty that records the life story and achievements of Yelyu Renxian, an influential Liao Dynasty mandarin.
People might not be familiar with Yelyu Renxian, whose story is recorded in History of Liao. However, this historical figure is better known as the gallant knight Xiao Feng, a character in the martial arts fiction of Master Jin Yong.
Feng Yongqian, a historian of the Liao Dynasty history who was in charge of the excavation from Yelyu Renxian’s tomb, compared scrupulously relevant texts in History of Liao and Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils. He finally concluded that the prototype of Xiao Feng was Yelyu Renxian.
Historically, Yelyu Renxian was a member of the Khitan royalty. His father was Yelyu Guiyin, the Prince of Yan and Prime Minister of nanfu (the Southern Prefecture, Department of State Affairs in ancient China) in the Liao Dynasty.
During his lifetime, Yelyu Renxian was appointed as a general several times and conferred the title of prince six times. “Liao’s most honourable mandarin, Yuyue, Prince of Song” was inscribed in his epigraph. In the Liao Dynasty, the title Yuyue was only conferred to those of remarkable achievements, merits and virtues, which reflected Yelyu Renxian’s high status.
Yelyu Renxian was an outstanding diplomat. He was appointed as an envoy to the Northern Song Dynasty by Emperor Xingzong of Liao. He was also a renowned strategist. Once he was appointed as zhaotaoshi, the governor in charge of offering amnesty to, enlisting and suppressing rebels, in the Northwest Circuit of Liao. He put down rebellions and restored peace and order on the northern border.
Yelyu Renxian was loyal to his country and righteous in his conduct, which earned  him much respect from the army and the people. According to History of Liao, when he was on his way to his post as Prince of the Northern Prefecture, people ran hundreds of miles to welcome him upon hearing the news.
Yelyu Renxian once suppressed Yelyu Chongyuan’s revolt and saved Emperor Daozong of Liao. Jin Yong adapted this deed into an impressive episode in Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils in which Xiao Feng rescued the emperor.
From Emperor Xingzong to Emperor Daozong of the Liao Dynasty, Yelyu Renxian was highly appraised. He was compared to the famous general Li Daliang of the Tang Dynasty and the well-known prime ministers Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui of the early Tang Dynasty.
In the eighth year of Xianyong, Yelyu Renxian passed away at the age of 60 while holding a post. He was buried in the family cemetery at the foot of Lianhua Mountain in Xiaotazi Town, Beipiao County-level City, Liaoning Province. According to his epitaph, the entire country of Liao was brought to tears when they heard of his death.
According to Liu Fengzhu, an eminent philologist in Khitan script, there are 71 lines in the Khitan small script, 5100 characters in total, on the back of Yelyu Renxian’s tombstone. It contains the largest number of characters among the extant literature in the Khitan small script. Many new characters and phrases are found in the precious epitaph, which occupies an important position in the philological study of Khitan script.
Yelyu Renxian’s tomb had been robbed three times before the official excavation in 1983. Nevertheless, relics, such as decorative jade belt pendants, gilded copper bubble-headed studs, pottery chiwen (the ninth son of the dragon), pottery ink slabs, and plenty of ceramic fragments, were excavated, which reflected the rich awards and great honor bestowed by the Liao emperor after his death.

 

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