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Description
It's a bright spring morning at Lake Baiyang, where the lotus flowers glow pink in the sunlight. The royal party has just arrived, led by the Empress Dowager Chengtian in her camel-drawn carriage. Although the day appeared peaceful enough to begin with, the arrival of the imperial elite brings with it the sounds of hooves thundering across the countryside. The Empress Dowager and her son, Emperor Shengzong, have brought their army to the southern edge of the Liao Empire, dangerously close to their border with Song Dynasty China, but today their aim is not a martial one. As the Empress alights from her carriage, she greets with fondness her favourite hunting horse and a mighty golden eagle. She is still dressed in fineries befitting an empress, such as a Chinese brocade robe decorated with phoenixes, a symbol of female power among the Khitan people. But her lover and right-hand administrator Han Derang has set up their gers on the opposite bank, where she will soon change into her hunting clothes to join the imperial party in the annual swan hunt.

The Liao Empire, which covered much of today's northern China and Mongolia, was ruled by the Khitan, a nomadic group who became a dominant political force in the region. Every spring, in spite of increasing sinicization under the influence of the Han Chinese, the emperor and empress celebrated their heritage on the steppes by leading their nobles in a grand swan hunt. The largest swan caught would be sacrificed at a temple, a remnant of older belief systems in spite of their adoption of Buddhism. In the year 1000, they have chosen Lake Baiyang for this year's hunt as it is not far from their camp outside Suicheng, a small Song city in the borderlands. The previous winter, Empress Chengtian led the siege of the city, where her troops were only foiled when the Song general ordered his soldiers to pour water over the city walls which froze instantly and made the walls impossible to climb. Undeterred by defeat, she has rallied her generals to join her in the swan hunt, where they will keep their horseriding skills sharp and plan for the next step in their invasion of the Song.

Empress Dowager Chengtian was known in childhood as Yanyan. She was born into the Xiao clan, from which imperial wives of the Liao Emperor were always chosen. Legend has it that when she was a child, her father, the grand chancellor of the empire, noticed that she was far more diligent than her sisters at sweeping the floors. He was so impressed that he arranged for her to become Emperor Jingzong's chief concubine when she was fifteen years old. She had already been betrothed to Han Derang, a man from a prominent haner family (a Han person who lived in the Liao Empire), and the Khitan took betrothals very seriously. However, she was from the traditional clan of imperial wives, so her attachment to Jingzong helped stabilize his position after dynastic rivalry had weakened the previous emperor. When she bore the Emperor a son, the future Emperor Shengzong, he elevated her status to Empress. Jingzong was plagued by ill health for much of his reign and preferred the pleasures of his concubines to the demands of government. Chengtian, known then as Empress Ruizhi, stepped in to help govern during her husband's long periods of absence. Well-known for her intelligence, she rapidly overtook her husband as the primary decision-maker in the Empire; advisers would come to her first, then inform Jingzong of her decision.

In 982, her husband died suddenly on a hunting trip. The young Emperor Shenzong was still a child, and so his mother took the reins of government firmly into her own hands. She was supported in this consolidation of power by Han Derang, who resumed relations with her and helped her secure the young emperor's position. She repelled Song incursions into Liao territory by personally commanding the army, and after subjugating Goryeo (modern-day Korea) in the 990s, turned her goals towards invading China itself. We find her in this illustration in the year 1000 looking confidently to the invasion later that year, when she will march 300 miles. She doesn't know it yet, but the battle will be a terrible loss for her army - and yet, a few years later, she will successfully negotiate the first peace treaty that ever saw the Song Emperor bow to another power and pay tribute to the Liao, recognising her as the Song emperor's "aunt". There is no doubt that Empress Dowager Chengtian's great skill in government and war ushered in the golden era of the Liao Empire.

I have been so excited to draw Empress Dowager Chengtian ever since I first read her story. It turns out she stands in a strong tradition of powerful warrior women among the Khitan, which was fascinating to research. I've been working on drawing this illustration since September, and researching it for a long time before that, so it feels so good to finally finish since I've been so eager to share her story with a wider audience! Aside from all the research that went into this picture, it took a long time to draw because I really challenged myself to try different things. The golden eagle and the Mongolian horse, the latter in all its period-appropriate finery, were difficult but I'm really glad I pushed myself to do them! I'm also working on getting better at using line weight and colour to convey perspective.

Because it took so long to draw this picture, by the time I'd inked her I found out that her outfit is a little more Han than I'd thought (especially her mob-cap instead of a feathered Khitan cap), since the models I use come from murals in tombs of women in the Liao Empire who I later discovered were actually haner women. However, her lover Han Derang was from a haner family, and she was known to wear Chinese brocade, so let's say he gave it to her as a present! The horse's gear is decorated with small jade carvings of horses, and the Empress is wearing a lot of amber jewellery which the Liao elite loved. Thanks to all the people (including SachiiA , fuegokid , OnTheMountainTop , and norree ) who helped me with art or research for this illustration.

Others in the Series
Sei Shōnagon
Oni Oluwo
Princess Olith
Coniupuyara
Sitt al-Mulk and Taqarrub
The Mother of Pueblo Bonito
Gudridr Thorbjarnardottir and Thorbjorgr Litlvolva
The Weaver of Xuenkal
Niguma
Guni
Bonna
The Oneota Messenger
The Pilgrim of Pariti
Queen Gurandukht
Mwana Mkisi
Raingarde
Ama
Sahiqat
Jigonsaseh

Want to learn more about Empress Chengtian and women in the Liao Empire? Check out her entry on the Women of 1000 AD website !

Women of 1000 AD 2019 wall calendar on sale now !

Description
It's a bright spring morning at Lake Baiyang, where the lotus flowers glow pink in the sunlight. The royal party has just arrived, led by the Empress Dowager Chengtian in her camel-drawn carriage. Although the day appeared peaceful enough to begin with, the arrival of the imperial elite brings with it the sounds of hooves thundering across the countryside. The Empress Dowager and her son, Emperor Shengzong, have brought their army to the southern edge of the Liao Empire, dangerously close to their border with Song Dynasty China, but today their aim is not a martial one. As the Empress alights from her carriage, she greets with fondness her favourite hunting horse and a mighty golden eagle. She is still dressed in fineries befitting an empress, such as a Chinese brocade robe decorated with phoenixes, a symbol of female power among the Khitan people. But her lover and right-hand administrator Han Derang has set up their gers on the opposite bank, where she will soon change into her hunting clothes to join the imperial party in the annual swan hunt.

The Liao Empire, which covered much of today's northern China and Mongolia, was ruled by the Khitan, a nomadic group who became a dominant political force in the region. Every spring, in spite of increasing sinicization under the influence of the Han Chinese, the emperor and empress celebrated their heritage on the steppes by leading their nobles in a grand swan hunt. The largest swan caught would be sacrificed at a temple, a remnant of older belief systems in spite of their adoption of Buddhism. In the year 1000, they have chosen Lake Baiyang for this year's hunt as it is not far from their camp outside Suicheng, a small Song city in the borderlands. The previous winter, Empress Chengtian led the siege of the city, where her troops were only foiled when the Song general ordered his soldiers to pour water over the city walls which froze instantly and made the walls impossible to climb. Undeterred by defeat, she has rallied her generals to join her in the swan hunt, where they will keep their horseriding skills sharp and plan for the next step in their invasion of the Song.

Empress Dowager Chengtian was known in childhood as Yanyan. She was born into the Xiao clan, from which imperial wives of the Liao Emperor were always chosen. Legend has it that when she was a child, her father, the grand chancellor of the empire, noticed that she was far more diligent than her sisters at sweeping the floors. He was so impressed that he arranged for her to become Emperor Jingzong's chief concubine when she was fifteen years old. She had already been betrothed to Han Derang, a man from a prominent haner family (a Han person who lived in the Liao Empire), and the Khitan took betrothals very seriously. However, she was from the traditional clan of imperial wives, so her attachment to Jingzong helped stabilize his position after dynastic rivalry had weakened the previous emperor. When she bore the Emperor a son, the future Emperor Shengzong, he elevated her status to Empress. Jingzong was plagued by ill health for much of his reign and preferred the pleasures of his concubines to the demands of government. Chengtian, known then as Empress Ruizhi, stepped in to help govern during her husband's long periods of absence. Well-known for her intelligence, she rapidly overtook her husband as the primary decision-maker in the Empire; advisers would come to her first, then inform Jingzong of her decision.

In 982, her husband died suddenly on a hunting trip. The young Emperor Shenzong was still a child, and so his mother took the reins of government firmly into her own hands. She was supported in this consolidation of power by Han Derang, who resumed relations with her and helped her secure the young emperor's position. She repelled Song incursions into Liao territory by personally commanding the army, and after subjugating Goryeo (modern-day Korea) in the 990s, turned her goals towards invading China itself. We find her in this illustration in the year 1000 looking confidently to the invasion later that year, when she will march 300 miles. She doesn't know it yet, but the battle will be a terrible loss for her army - and yet, a few years later, she will successfully negotiate the first peace treaty that ever saw the Song Emperor bow to another power and pay tribute to the Liao, recognising her as the Song emperor's "aunt". There is no doubt that Empress Dowager Chengtian's great skill in government and war ushered in the golden era of the Liao Empire.

I have been so excited to draw Empress Dowager Chengtian ever since I first read her story. It turns out she stands in a strong tradition of powerful warrior women among the Khitan, which was fascinating to research. I've been working on drawing this illustration since September, and researching it for a long time before that, so it feels so good to finally finish since I've been so eager to share her story with a wider audience! Aside from all the research that went into this picture, it took a long time to draw because I really challenged myself to try different things. The golden eagle and the Mongolian horse, the latter in all its period-appropriate finery, were difficult but I'm really glad I pushed myself to do them! I'm also working on getting better at using line weight and colour to convey perspective.

Because it took so long to draw this picture, by the time I'd inked her I found out that her outfit is a little more Han than I'd thought (especially her mob-cap instead of a feathered Khitan cap), since the models I use come from murals in tombs of women in the Liao Empire who I later discovered were actually haner women. However, her lover Han Derang was from a haner family, and she was known to wear Chinese brocade, so let's say he gave it to her as a present! The horse's gear is decorated with small jade carvings of horses, and the Empress is wearing a lot of amber jewellery which the Liao elite loved. Thanks to all the people (including SachiiA , fuegokid , OnTheMountainTop , and norree ) who helped me with art or research for this illustration.

Others in the Series
Sei Shōnagon
Oni Oluwo
Princess Olith
Coniupuyara
Sitt al-Mulk and Taqarrub
The Mother of Pueblo Bonito
Gudridr Thorbjarnardottir and Thorbjorgr Litlvolva
The Weaver of Xuenkal
Niguma
Guni
Bonna
The Oneota Messenger
The Pilgrim of Pariti
Queen Gurandukht
Mwana Mkisi
Raingarde
Ama
Sahiqat
Jigonsaseh

Want to learn more about Empress Chengtian and women in the Liao Empire? Check out her entry on the Women of 1000 AD website !

Women of 1000 AD 2019 wall calendar on sale now !