Emperor Jingzong of Liao

Yelü Xian succeeded Emperor Muzong in 969 after the latter was murdered by his servants during a hunting trip. He had support from both the Khitan and Han Chinese ruling elites.

Emperor Jingzong made several important contributions to the Liao dynasty. He employed Han Chinese officials in his government, appointing one as the Minister of Southern Affairs and the Duke of Qin. This allowed the government to run more efficiently and sped up the transformation of Khitan society into a feudal society. He cracked down on corruption in the government, firing those who were bribed or incompetent. Emperor Jingzong also accepted criticisms willingly. He stopped hunting frequently after an official made a connection between hunting and Emperor Muzong's death, and Emperor Jingzong began to prepare war against his southern neighbours.

Emperor Jingzong's first conflict with the Northern Song dynasty came with the Song invasion of the Northern Han dynasty. However, the Liao reinforcements were destroyed by a Song army, and Song later destroyed Northern Han. The Song army followed up the victory with an attack on Beijing, the Liao dynasty's southern capital. However, the Liao army completely routed the Song army, with Emperor Taizong of Song fleeing the battlefield. Several battles followed, with a stalemate between the Liao and Song dynasties.

On 13 October, 982, Emperor Jingzong died on his way back from a hunting trip.

• Toqto'a; et al. (1344). Liao Shi (遼史) [History of Liao] (in Chinese).
• Twitchett, Denis C.; Tietze, Klaus-Peter (1994). "The Liao". In Franke, Herbert; Twichett, Denis C. (eds.). The Cambridge History of China Volume 6, Alien Regimes and Border States, 907—1368. Cambridge University Press. pp. 43–153. ISBN 0521243319.