Shi Jingtang: The High Ancestor of Later Jin and Historical Controversies in Zizhi Tongjian

Brief Introduction

Shi Jingtang (867–942), courtesy name Biaosheng, was of the Shatuo tribe. He was the founding emperor of Later Jin during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, with the temple name High Ancestor. He was once a key general in the Later Tang regime. Although he served the Later Tang dynasty established by Li Siyuan, his historical status is highly controversial due to "ceding land and submitting." In Zizhi Tongjian, Shi Jingtang is portrayed not only as a warlord of chaotic times but also as the "Son Emperor" who sparked millennium-long discussions.

Core Knowledge Points

1. Identity Transition: Shi Jingtang was originally the Military Commissioner of Hedong. He rebelled against Li Congke, the last emperor of Later Tang, by rising up in Jin Yang. He did not directly inherit the legitimacy of Li Siyuan but established an independent state through military force and diplomatic means.
2. Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun: To seek military assistance from the Khitan (Liao), Shi Jingtang promised to cede the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun to the Khitan. This strategic decision caused the Central Plains dynasty to lose its northern barrier, affecting the pattern of Chinese history for hundreds of years.
3. Ethical Paradox: Shi Jingtang referred to the Khitan ruler Yelü Deguang as "Father Emperor" and called himself "Son Emperor." This political humiliation, which violated the traditional distinction between Hua and Yi, became a focal point of criticism by later Confucian historians.

Connection with Zizhi Tongjian Content

Sima Guang recorded the entire process of the Jin Yang Rebellion in detail in Zizhi Tongjian. The book not only records how Shi Jingtang allied with the Khitan to capture Luoyang but also focuses on the details of the signing of the land cession treaty.

Historical Critique: Sima Guang implied a negation of Shi Jingtang's actions through his narrative. In the "Sima Guang's Commentary" (Chen Guang Yue*) of relevant chapters, although he did not name Shi directly, he criticized the act of sacrificing national territory for private gain by discussing the collapse of ruler-subject ethics during the Five Dynasties period.
Historical Causality: Zizhi Tongjian* places Shi Jingtang's state-building within the context of the chaotic Five Dynasties period, revealing the inevitability of the struggle between warlordism and central centralization. The book records the behavior of Khitan troops after entering the Central Plains, indirectly reflecting the consequences of Shi Jingtang inviting wolves into the house.

Summary

Shi Jingtang is one of the most controversial figures in the history of the Five Dynasties. Although he established the Later Jin regime, his act of "ceding land and submitting" is viewed in Zizhi Tongjian as a dual failure in both morality and strategy. Understanding Shi Jingtang helps to comprehend the cruelty of regime changes during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period and the profound impact of geopolitics.