| Emperor Zhaoming of Dali 大理昭明帝 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor ofDali | |||||||||
| Reign | 986–1009 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Duan Sushun | ||||||||
| Successor | Duan Sulian | ||||||||
| Born | Unknown | ||||||||
| Died | 1009 | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Dynasty | Dali | ||||||||
Duan Suying (Chinese:段素英, died 1009), also known by hisposthumous name as theEmperor Zhaoming of Dali (大理昭明帝),[1] was the sixthemperor of theDali Kingdom. His reign lasted from 985 to 1009.[2]
He was a descendant of Duan Siliang and the son of his predecessor Duan Sushun. After his death, he was succeeded by his son Duan Sulian.[1]
He valuedConfucianism and initiated theimperial examination system in Dali, likely in 1000.[3] The later claim that he authored a version of theBuddhist workTransmission of the Lamp, while not completely impossible, is considered unlikely.[4]
In 989 or some time during 991–995, Duan Suying sent a letter toEmperor Taizong of Song pleading the latter to conduct thefengshan ceremony. Duan's letter is now lost, but the reply written byWang Yucheng on theSong emperor's behalf, which rejected the proposal, has survived as "A Reply to theNanzhao King's Request for the Eastern Feng Ceremony" (批答南詔國王請東封表). Duan likely sent the messenger to better understand the Chinese emperor.[5]
In 993, an agrarian rebellion led by Wang Xiaobo (王小波) and Li Shun (李順) engulfed the SongXichuan Circuit (nowSichuan), and the Songhuanguan (eunuch) generalWang Ji'en led an army to suppress it. Many Chinese refugees crossed theJinsha River and entered Dali, and this likely played a major role in Duan Suying's adoption of Confucianism and the imperial examination system.[6] Between 994 and 995, after the Song recovered most of Xichuan, it sent a diplomat named Xin Yixian (辛怡顯) to the Dali capitalYangjumie as part of its counterinsurgency campaign. Xin Yixian later wrote a book titledRecords of Yunnan During the Zhidao Period (至道雲南錄;zhidao referring to the years 995–997).[7]
In 996, Duan Suying sent another mission led by Duan Yuanshun (段元順) to the Song capital, where they were "warmly received". In addition, Dali sent tributes to Song in 985, 989, 991, 997, 999, 1005, and 1008.[8]
Duan Suying used at least fiveera names:[7]
The first year ofmingtong was after 1000, andmingying lasted until at least 1007.[7] These era names suggest a prosperous economy and a stable society under him.[1]