Yelu Hezhu (耶律合住)

Overview

Yelu Hezhu was a general and Diplomat.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Niangun	粘袞	Niángǔn

Life and dates

Death

Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 15

Attested activity

AD 969 保寧初
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 86, passage 8

Family

Descendant of Yelü Diela (迭剌)
grandson 孫 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 5

Career and standing

General-in-Chief of the Right Dragon-Tiger Guards 右龍虎衛上將軍
AD 969 保寧初 · Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 8
General-in-Chief of the Left Golden Crow Guards 左金吾衛上將軍
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 14
prefect of Zhuo 涿州刺史
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 9
Southwest Military Commissioner 西南兵馬都監
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 9
titular Military Commissioner of Zhenguo 遙攝鎮國軍節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 15
Merit Subject of Loyalty and Service to the State 推忠奉國功臣
Granted
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 9

Places and affiliations

Polity Id liao · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passages 7-8
At Fanyang 范陽 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 17
At Zhuo 涿州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 9

Learning and skills

Skill military administration 戎政 · Level thorough
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 16

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 17

Events and relationships

Parley at Xiong Prefecture north gate
Diplomatic · Envoy
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 17
Reported Song peace overtures
Diplomatic · Mediator
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 12

Assessments and attributes

Assessment one speech worth more than several hundred thousand soldiers · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 20
Assessment secured the frontier and sought peace with far-reaching foresight · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 185
from childhood did not care for play; bright and keen in affairs; skilled in discourse
Character
Directly stated · History of Liao 86, passage 6

References in the histories

History of Liao, Chapter 86Volume 86 Biographies 16: Yelu Hezhu, Liu Jing, Liu Liufu, Ye Luniaolu, Niu Wenshu, Du Fang, Xiao Heshang, Yelu Helizhi, Yelu Pode · 7 passages

Open chapter

耶律合住劉景劉六符耶律甗履牛溫舒杜防蕭和尚 Yelu Hezhu, Liu Jing, Liu Liufu, Yelu Lü, Niu Wenshu, Du Fang, and Xiao Heshang

耶律合住，字粘袞，太祖弟叠剌之孫。 Yelu Hezhu, whose style name was Niangun, was a grandson of Diela, a younger brother of Taizu.

合住久任邊防，雖有克獲功，然務鎮靜，不妄生事以邀近功。 Hezhu served long on the frontier. Though he won his share of victories, he kept the border calm and would not stir up trouble merely to win quick acclaim.

宋數遣人結歡，冀達和意，合住表聞其事，帝許議和。 The Song court repeatedly sent envoys to open friendly contact in hope of peace; Hezhu reported this to the throne, and the emperor agreed to negotiate.

合住智而有文，曉暢戎政。 Hezhu was both clever and learned, with a thorough grasp of frontier affairs.

識者以謂合住一言，賢於數十萬兵。 Men of judgment held that a single speech by Hezhu was worth more than an army of hundreds of thousands.

論曰：耶律合住安邊講好，養兵息民，其慮深遠矣。 The historians comment: Yelu Hezhu secured the frontier and pursued peace, kept the army in readiness while giving the people rest—his foresight ran deep.