List of Khitan inscriptions

The list of Khitan inscriptions comprises a list of the corpus of known inscriptions written in the Khitan large script and the Khitan small script. These two scripts were used by the Khitan people in northern China during the 10th through 12th centuries for writing the extinct Khitan language. The Khitan language was in use during the Liao Dynasty (907–1125), the Kara-Khitan Khanate (1124–1218) and the Jin dynasty (1115–1234), but the last recorded Khitan speaker, Yelü Chucai, died in 1243, and the language probably became extinct soon afterwards.[1]

Detail of Khitan small script on the epitaph of Yelü Dilie (1026–1092)

There are no surviving examples of printed texts in the Khitan language, and aside from five example Khitan large characters with Chinese glosses in a book on calligraphy, Shūshǐ huìyào (書史會要), written by Tao Zongyi (陶宗儀) in the mid 14th century, there are no Chinese glossaries or dictionaries of Khitan.[2] The Khitan language is therefore little understood, and the two Khitan writing systems are only partially deciphered.[3]

The main source of Khitan texts are monumental inscriptions, mostly comprising memorial tablets buried in the tombs of Khitan nobility.[1] Only one monument in a Khitan script was known before the 20th century, the Record of the Younger Brother of the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty (Langjun xingji 郎君行記), which has stood in front of the tomb of Empress Wu of Tang since at least 1618. Until the 1920s it was believed to be written in the Jurchen script. Only after the discovery of the memorial tablets of Emperor Xingzong of Liao and his consort was it realized that the Record of the Younger Brother of the Emperor and the Liao-dynasty memorial tablets were both written in a Khitan script.[4] Several more memorial tablets in the same script were discovered during the 1930s, including memorials for Emperor Daozong of Liao and his consort. Initially it was not clear whether the script inscribed on these memorial tablets was the Khitan large script, recorded to have been devised in 920, or the Khitan small script, recorded to have been devised about 925. A different, unknown script, which appeared more similar to Chinese (incorporating many characters borrowed directly from Chinese), had been discovered on a temple monument in 1935, as well as on a memorial to Xiao Xiaozhong in 1951; and in 1962 Jin Guangping suggested that these two monuments were written using the Khitan large script, and that the Record of the Younger Brother of the Emperor and the imperial memorial tablets were written using the Khitan small script.[5] This identification of the two Khitan scripts is now widely accepted.

There are about 15 known monuments with inscriptions in the Khitan large script, ranging in date from 986 to 1176, and about 40 known monuments with inscriptions in the Khitan small script, ranging in date from 1053 to 1171.[6] The two scripts are mutually exclusive (never occurring together on the same monument), but it is not known why the Khitan people used two different scripts, or what determined the choice of which script to use.

In addition to monumental inscriptions, short inscriptions in both Khitan scripts have also been found on tomb murals and rock paintings, and on various portable artefacts such as mirrors, amulets, paiza (tablets of authority given to officials and envoys), and special non-circulation coins. A number of bronze official seals with the seal face inscribed in the Khitan large script are also known. The Khitan characters on these seals are engraved in a convoluted calligraphic style that imitates the Chinese "nine-fold" seal script style of calligraphy.

Monumental inscriptions in the Khitan large script

Monument	Image	Date	Place of discovery	Year of discovery	Current Location	Description
Commemoration of a battle victory by Hutenu (Yelü Zhaosan 耶律趙三)		1084	Salbar Mountains, Mörön, Khentii Province Mongolia 47.40°N 110.30°E / 47.40; 110.30 (Commemoration of a battle victory by Hutenu)	1950s	In situ	4 lines, 25 characters.[7]
Inscribed sarcophagous			Gengzhangzi Village, Jianchang County Liaoning 40.76°N 119.82°E / 40.76; 119.82 (Inscribed sarcophagous)	1977	Jianchang County Museum	8 lines, 19 characters (badly damaged as the sarcophagous was cut into three pieces).[8]
Memorial at Jing'an Temple (靜安寺) erected by the Lady of Lanling Commandery (蘭陵郡夫人), the wife of Yelü Changyun		1072	Ruins of Jing'an Temple, Ningcheng County Inner Mongolia 42.087°N 119.108°E / 42.087; 119.108 (Jing'an Temple memorial inscription)	1935	Liao Zhongjing Museum	40 lines, 70 characters (very worn, and almost illegible).[9][6]
Epitaph for an unknown person		1056	Unknown (only known from a photograph of a rubbing shown to Liu Fengzhu)	before 1997	Unknown	27 lines.[10]
Epitaph for Court Attendant Dorlipun 多羅里本郎君 (1037–1080)		1081	Unknown	1999	Ar Horqin Banner Museum	21 lines, 800 characters.[11][6]
Epitaph for Court Attendant Li Ai 李爱郎君[note 1]		1176	Unknown (only known from a rubbing)	before 1985	Unknown	16 lines, 470 characters.[13]
Epitaph for the Grand Preceptor (太師)		1056	Unknown (only known from a rubbing)	before 1939	Unknown	40 lines, 1,800 characters.[14][15]
Epitaph for the Grand Prince of the North 北大王 (Yelü Wanxin 耶律萬辛, 972–1041)		1041	Kundu Township, Ar Horqin Banner Inner Mongolia 43.83°N 121.12°E / 43.83; 121.12 (Epitaph for the Prince of the North)	1975	Ar Horqin Banner Museum	27 lines, 783 characters.[14][16][6]
Epitaph for the Princess of Yongning Commandery 永寧郡公主 (1033–1091)		1092	Wangjiagou Village, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 44.07°N 119.475°E / 44.07; 119.475 (Epitaph for the Princess of Yongning)	2000	Liao Shangjing Museum	36 lines, 1,486 characters.[10][6]
Epitaph for Xiao Paolu 蕭袍魯 (1018–1089)		1090	Qianshan Village, Faku County Liaoning 42.58°N 123.56°E / 42.58; 123.56 (Epitaph for Xiao Paolu)	1965	Liaoning Provincial Museum	15 lines, 323 characters.[10]
Epitaph for Xiao Xiaozhong 蕭孝忠 (d.1089)		1089	Xigu Mountain, Huludao, Liaoning 40.896°N 120.498°E / 40.896; 120.498 (Epitaph for Xiao Xiaozhong)	1951	Liaoning Provincial Museum	18 lines, 540 characters.[14][17]
Epitaph for Yelü Changyun 耶律昌允 (1000–1061)		1062	Ta Mountain, Yuanbaoshan District Inner Mongolia 42.09°N 119.10°E / 42.09; 119.10 (Epitaph for Yelu Changyun)	2000	Chifeng City Yuanbaoshan District Office of Cultural Relics	30 lines, 878 characters.[10][6]
Epitaph for Yelü Qi 耶律褀 or Yelü Asi 耶律阿思 (1033–1108)		1108	Tsogt Mountain, Guriban Hushu Gacha, Ar Horqin Banner Inner Mongolia 44.45°N 120.17°E / 44.45; 120.17 (Epitaph for Yelü Qi)	1993	Institute of Cultural and Historical Relics and Archaeology of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous region	46 lines, 2,845 characters.[10][6]
Epitaph for Yelü Xinie 耶律習涅 (1063–1114)		1114	Xiaohan Mountain, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 44.60°N 119.35°E / 44.60; 119.35 (Epitaph for Yelü Xinie)	1987	Liao Shangjing Museum	37 lines, 1,608 characters.[10][6]
Epitaph for Yelü Yanning 耶律延寧 (946–985)		986	Baimu Mountain, Chaoyang County Liaoning 41.63°N 120.20°E / 41.63; 120.20 (Epitaph for Yelü Yanning)	1964	Liaoning Provincial Museum	19 lines, 271 characters.[14][18]
Memorial from the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu of Liao (r.916–926)			Shifangzi Village, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 43.88°N 119.13°E / 43.88; 119.13 (Memorial from the mausoleum of Emperor Taizu of Liao)	1966 and later	Inner Mongolia Museum and Liao Shangjing Museum	Ten fragments from a broken memorial stone, with 78 characters in total.[13][19]
Memorial from the ruins of the Liao capital Shangjing			Lindong Township, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 43.96°N 119.39°E / 43.96; 119.39 (Memorial from the ruins of the Liao capital Shangjing)	1965	Liao Shangjing Museum	Two fragments from a broken memorial stone: A) 10 lines, 64 characters; B) 8 lines, 52 characters.[13][19]
Monumental stone inscription		1058	Dornogovi Province Mongolia 44.88°N 110.15°E / 44.88; 110.15 (Dornogovi monument)	2010	National Museum of Mongolian History, Ulan Bator	7 lines, about 150 characters.[20][21]

Other inscriptions in the Khitan large script

Object	Date	Place of discovery	Year of discovery	Current Location	Description
Rock inscription		Agui Cave, Jarud Banner Inner Mongolia 45.10°N 120.72°E / 45.10; 120.72 (Agui Cavern)			7 Khitan large characters painted on the outside of a cave.[22]
Two wooden tablets from a Liao dynasty tomb		Daiqin Tala Sumu, Horqin Right Middle Banner Inner Mongolia 45.22°N 121.52°E / 45.22; 121.52 (Two wooden tablets)	1999		Two wooden tablets inscribed with inventories.[23]
Bronze, silver or gold non-circulation coin		Various examples have been found in different locations.			Four character Khitan inscription on the obverse, interpreted as meaning tiāncháo wànshùn 天朝萬順 in Chinese[24]
Silver non-circulation coin		Ruins of the Liao capital Shangjing, Lindong Township, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 43.96°N 119.39°E / 43.96; 119.39 (Silver coin)	1977	Liao Shangjing Museum	Four character Khitan inscription (tiāncháo wànshùn 天朝萬順) on the obverse, with an eight character Khitan inscription scratched onto the reverse[8][25]
Bronze mirror		White Pagoda in the ruins of Qingzhou City, Bairin Right Banner Inner Mongolia 44.202°N 118.514°E / 44.202; 118.514 (Bronze mirror)	1958	Inner Mongolia Museum	Five Khitan characters engraved on along the edge of the mirror[25][26]
Bronze Daoist amulet		Acheng District Harbin Heilongjiang 45.55°N 127.0°E / 45.55; 127.0 (Bronze Daoist amulet)		Heilongjiang Museum	Daoist charm on one side, and 2 lines (18 characters) of Khitan large script on the other.[27][28]
Bronze Daoist amulet				Bairin Right Banner Museum	Daoist charm on one side, and 3 lines (28 characters) of Khitan large script on the other.[27][28]
Silver paiza		Chengde Hebei 41.00°N 117.56°E / 41.00; 117.56 (Silver paiza)		Institute of East Asian History, Kyoto University	Chinese inscription (天賜成吉思皇帝聖旨疾 "Bestowed by Heaven, the imperial edict of Emperor Chinggis. Urgent.") on one side, and two Khitan large characters meaning "running horse" (Chinese 走馬) on the back.[28]
Metal tag		Unknown		Unknown	Three Khitan large characters.[29]
Silver spoon		Wangfugou, Jianping County Liaoning 42.23°N 119.48°E / 42.23; 119.48 (Silver spoon)	1956	Liaoning Province Museum	Four Chinese characters (太付太太) followed by five Khitan large characters.[28]
Bronze seal	1094	Panshan County Liaoning 41.25°N 122.00°E / 41.25; 122.00 (Bronze Seal)	1986	Panjin Museum	Seal face inscription is in Chinese ("Seal of the Prince of Qian" 汧王之印), but the upper surface of the seal has two lines of Khitan large characters that have been interpreted as meaning Yixin Ning Dawang 乙辛寧大王 ("Prince Yixinning") and Liao Da'an Shinian 遼大安十年 (10th year of the Liao dynasty Da'an era").[30][31]

Khitan large script seals

Object	Image	Place of discovery	Year of discovery	Current Location	Description
Bronze seal		Naiman Banner Inner Mongolia 42.85°N 120.65°E / 42.85; 120.65 (Bronze seal)	1957	Inner Mongolia Museum	Five seal script characters.[32][33]
Bronze seal		Dongtai Village, Ongniud Banner Inner Mongolia 42.95°N 119.05°E / 42.95; 119.05 (Bronze seal)	1965	Chifeng Museum	Five seal script characters. The inscription on the face of the seal is repeated on the side as a single column of ordinary Khitan characters engraved in outline.[8][32][34]
Pottery seal		Site of the Liao capital Shangjing, Lindong Township, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 43.96°N 119.39°E / 43.96; 119.39 (Bronze seal)	1975	Liao Shangjing Museum, Lindong	[32][35]
Bronze seal		Baiyingou, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 43.92°N 119.55°E / 43.92; 119.55 (Bronze seal)	1966	Unknown	[32]
Bronze seal		White Pagoda in the ruins of Qingzhou City, Bairin Right Banner Inner Mongolia 44.202°N 118.514°E / 44.202; 118.514 (Bronze seal)	1973	Chifeng Museum	[32][34]
Bronze seal		Fengcheng Liaoning 40.45°N 124.05°E / 40.45; 124.05 (Bronze seal)	1964	Liaoning Province Museum	Five seal script characters.[32][36]
Bronze seal		Jianchang County Liaoning 40.80°N 119.85°E / 40.80; 119.85 (Bronze seal)	1980	Liaoning Province Museum	[32][37]
Bronze seal		Guliyingzi, Taonan Jilin 45.35°N 122.80°E / 45.35; 122.80 (Bronze seal)	1937	Unknown	[32]
Bronze seal		Unknown		Jilin Museum	[32]
Bronze octagonal seal		Unknown		Jilin Museum	[32]
Bronze seal		Weichang County Hebei 41.95°N 117.75°E / 41.95; 117.75 (Bronze seal)		Inner Mongolia Museum	[32]
Bronze seal		Unknown		Tianjin Museum	[32]
Bronze seal		Xayar County Xinjiang 41.25°N 82.80°E / 41.25; 82.80 (Bronze seal)	1952	National Museum of China	[32]
Bronze seal		Ili County Xinjiang 43.90°N 81.30°E / 43.90; 81.30 (Bronze seal)	1958	National Museum of China	[32]
Bronze seal		Unknown		National Museum of China	Seal script inscription interpreted as meaning "Seal of the Right Vice Commander of the Marshal of the Army" (元帥右都監印).[32]
Bronze seal		Unknown (impression owned by Luo Fuyi 羅福頤)		Unknown	[29][32]
Bronze seal		Unknown (impression owned by Luo Fuyi 羅福頤)		Unknown	[29][32]
Bronze seal		Xiuyan County Liaoning 40.28°N 123.28°E / 40.28; 123.28 (Bronze seal)	1980	Xiuyan Museum	Inscription dated 1004 on top of the seal.[32]
Bronze seal		Harqin Left Wing County Liaoning 41.13°N 119.75°E / 41.13; 119.75 (Bronze seal)	1973	Harqin Left Wing County Museum	Five seal script characters.[30]

Monumental inscriptions in the Khitan small script

Monument	Image	Date	Place of discovery	Year of discovery	Current Location	Description
Epitaph for an unknown person			Haitangshan, Fuxin Liaoning 41.935°N 121.850°E / 41.935; 121.850 (Epitaph for an unknown person)	1991	Fuxin Museum	13 lines, 300 characters (the monument is missing the right side, and has been reused for engraving a Buddhist image on its reverse side).[10][38]
Epitaph for Court Attendant Yelü Yongning 耶律永寧郎君 (1059–1087)[note 2]		1088	Beigou, Harqin Banner Inner Mongolia 43.417°N 118.320°E / 43.417; 118.320 (Epitaph for Yelü Yongning)	1995	Harqin Banner Museum	43 lines, 1,062 characters.[10][39][6]
Epitaph for Deputy Administrator Yelü 耶律副部署 (Yelü Wumo 耶律兀没, 1031–1077), the brother or nephew of Yelü Qi		1102	Tsogt Mountain, Guriban Hushu Gacha, Ar Horqin Banner Inner Mongolia 44.45°N 120.17°E / 44.45; 120.17 (Epitaph for Yelü Fushu)	1996	Inner Mongolia Museum	51 lines, 2,000 characters.[10][38][6]
Epitaph for Emperor Daozong of Liao 道宗 (1032–1101)		1101	Mausoleum of Emperor Daozong, Bairin Right Banner Inner Mongolia 44.36°N 118.50°E / 44.36; 118.50 (Epitaph for Emperor Daozong)	1930	Liaoning Provincial Museum	37 lines, 1,134 characters; and 6 lines, 36 characters in seal script calligraphy on the lid.[38][40]
Epitaph for Emperor Xingzong of Liao 興宗 (1015–1054)		1055	Mausoleum of Emperor Xingzong, Bairin Right Banner Inner Mongolia 44.36°N 118.51°E / 44.36; 118.51 (Epitaph for Emperor Xingzong)	1922	Buried in an unknown location at the Imperial Mausoleum.	36 lines, 861 characters.[22][39][6]
Epitaph for Empress Renyi 仁懿皇后 (?–1076)		1076	Mausoleum of Emperor Xingzong, Bairin Right Banner Inner Mongolia 44.36°N 118.51°E / 44.36; 118.51 (Epitaph for Empress Renyi)	1922	Buried in an unknown location at the Imperial Mausoleum.	32 lines, 575 characters.[41][42]
Epitaph for Empress Xuanyi 宣懿皇后 (1040–1075)		1101	Mausoleum of Emperor Daozong, Bairin Right Banner Inner Mongolia 44.36°N 118.50°E / 44.36; 118.50 (Epitaph for Empress Xuanyi)	1930	Liaoning Provincial Museum	30 lines, 620 characters; and 4 lines, 16 characters in seal script calligraphy on the lid.[39][43]
Epitaph for Gu Shizhong (1015–1090)		1091		2009	Ethnic Museum of Inner Mongolia University	33 lines, 1,700 characters.[6]
Epitaph for Madam Han 韓氏, second wife of the imperial son-in-law, Xiao Temei 蕭特每		1078	Unknown	Unknown		35 lines, 814 characters.[39]
Epitaph for Madam Yelü 耶律氏 (Yelü Tabuye 耶律挞不也) (1081–1115), the daughter of Yelü Dilie 耶律敵烈		1115	Shanzuizi, Ongniud Banner Inner Mongolia 42.868°N 118.970°E / 42.868; 118.970 (Epitaph for Madam Yelü)	1962	Chifeng Museum	25 lines, 699 characters.[38][44][6]
Epitaph for the Grand Preceptor Shilu 室魯太師 or Salan Shilu Taishi 撒懶室魯太師		1100	Yihebei Village, Jarud Banner Inner Mongolia 44.67°N 121.02°E / 44.67; 121.02 (Epitaph for the Grand Preceptor Shilu)	2000	Institute of Cultural and Historical Relics and Archaeology of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous region	15 lines, 150 characters.[10][42][6]
Epitaph for Hudujin Shenmi 胡睹堇審密 or Xiao Hudujin 萧胡睹堇 (1041–1091), the nephew of Xiao Tuguci		1091			Khitan Museum, Lindong, Bairin Left Banner, Inner Mongolia	39 lines, 1,500 characters.[6]
Epitaph for the Imperial Consort of Song and Wei 宋魏國妃 (1056–1080), the wife of Yelü Hongben		1110	Mausoleum of Emperor Xingzong, Bairin Right Banner Inner Mongolia 44.36°N 118.50°E / 44.36; 118.50 (Epitaph for the Imperial Consort of Song-Wei)	1997	Bairin Right Banner Museum	24 lines, 670 characters.[10][42][6]
Epitaph for the Jin Dynasty Defense Commissioner of Bozhou 金代博州防禦使 or the Jin Dynasty Superior General of Zhenguo Circuit 金代鎮國上將軍 (1079–1142)		1171	Laohugou Village, Aohan Banner Inner Mongolia 42.108°N 119.938°E / 42.108; 119.938 (Epitaph for the Jin Dynasty Defense Commissioner of Bozhou)	1993	Aohan Banner Museum	51 lines, 1,570 characters.[10][45][6]
Epitaph for the Prefect of Zezhou 澤州刺史 (or the Prefect of Zhuozhou 涿州刺史) (?–1107)		1108	Nangou Village, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 44.400°N 119.465°E / 44.400; 119.465 (Epitaph for the Inspector of Zezhou)	1993	Liao Shangjing Museum	26 lines, 230 characters. Incomplete inscription because of damage to the stone (top right missing).[10][39][6]
Epitaph for the Prince of Liang 梁國王[note 3]		1107	Guan Mountain, Fuxin Liaoning 42.157°N 121.957°E / 42.157; 121.957 (Epitaph for the Prince of Liang)	2001		[46]
Epitaph for the Prince of Xu 許王		1105	Wofenggou, Fuxin Liaoning 41.820°N 121.600°E / 41.820; 121.600 (Epitaph for the Prince of Xu)	1977	Fuxin Cultural Center	64 lines, 2,163 characters; 1 line, 6 characters.[39][47]
Epitaph for Prince Wotela 斡特剌 (1073–1099), the grandson of Gu Shizhong		1099		2009	Ethnic Museum of Inner Mongolia University	22 lines, 1,000 characters.[6]
Epitaph for Xiao Dilu 蕭敵魯 (1061–1114), the nephew of Xiao Hudujin		1114		2007	Ethnic Museum of Inner Mongolia University	26 lines, 520 characters.[6]
Epitaph for Xiao Linggong 蕭令公 (Xiao Fuliu 蕭富留)		1057	Xishan Village, Fuxin Liaoning 41.764°N 121.380°E / 41.764; 121.380 (Epitaph for Xiao Linggong)	1950	Liaoning Provincial Museum	32 lines, 594 characters.[42][47]
Epitaph for Xiao Taishan 蕭太山 and Princess Yongqing 永清公主				2003		32 lines, 1,373 characters.[39]
Epitaph for Xiao Tuguci 蕭圖古辭		1068	Fuxin Liaoning 42.01°N 121.65°E / 42.01; 121.65 (Epitaph for Xiao Tuguci)	2000		26 lines, 739 characters.[39]
Epitaph for Xiao Zhonggong 蕭仲恭		1150	Xinglong County Hebei 40.40°N 117.50°E / 40.40; 117.50 (Epitaph for Xiao Zhonggong)	1942	Hebei Province Office of Cultural Relics	50 lines, 2,442 characters; 3 lines, 9 characters on the lid.[48][49]
Epitaph for Yelü Jiuli 耶律糺里 or Yelü Gui 耶律貴 (1061–1102)[note 4]		1102	Unknown	2002 (probably robbed from a tomb in the 1990s)		31 lines, 1,020 characters.[50][6]
Epitaph for Yelü Cite 耶律慈特 (1043–1081)		1082	Baiyinwendu, Ar Horqin Banner Inner Mongolia 43.60°N 120.40°E / 43.60; 120.40 (Epitaph for Yelü Cite)	1997	Ar Horqin Banner Museum	30 lines, 930 characters.[10][38][6]
Epitaph for Yelü Dilie 耶律迪烈 (1026–1092)		1092	Gahaitu Township, Jarud Banner Inner Mongolia 44.92°N 121.06°E / 44.92; 121.06 (Epitaph for Yelü Dilie)	1995	Liao and Jin City Wall Museum, Beijing	32 lines, 1,740 characters; 9 lines on the lid.[10][38]
Epitaph for Yelü (Han) Dilie 耶律(韓)迪烈 (1034–1100)		1101	Baiyinhan Mountain, Baiyinwula, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 44.37°N 118.89°E / 44.37; 118.89 (Epitaph for Han Dilie)	1996	Liao Shangjing Museum	34 lines, 1,350 characters.[10][38][6]
Epitaph for Yelü Gaoshi 耶律高十 or Han Gaoshi 韓高十 (1015–?)		c.1076	Baiyinhan Mountain, Baiyinwula, Bairin Left Banner Inner Mongolia 44.35°N 118.87°E / 44.35; 118.87 (Epitaph for Han Gaoshi)	1995	Liao Shangjing Museum	26 lines, 750 characters. Lower half of inscription is missing.[10][38][6]
Epitaph for Yelü Hongben 耶律弘本 (1041–1110), the Imperial Grand Uncle 皇太叔祖 (1041–1110), the son of Emperor Xingzong and Empress Renyi		1110	Mausoleum of Emperor Xingzong, Bairin Right Banner Inner Mongolia 44.36°N 118.52°E / 44.36; 118.52 (Epitaph for Yelü Hongben)	1997	Bairin Right Banner Museum	25 lines, 807 characters; 3 lines, 15 characters in seal script on the lid.[10][42][6]
Epitaph for Yelü Hongbian 耶律弘辨 or Yelü Hongyong 耶律弘用 (1054–1086), the brother-in-law of the Imperial Consort of Song and Wei		1100	Orgon Tal, Jarud Banner Inner Mongolia 44.778°N 120.727°E / 44.778; 120.727 (Epitaph for Yelü Hongbian)	1996	Jarud Banner Cultural Relics Office	32 lines, 900 characters.[10][42][6]
Epitaph for Yelü Jue 耶律玦 (1014–1070)		1072			Private museum at Xinhui, Aohan Banner	46 lines, 2,000 characters.[6]
Epitaph for Yelü Nu 耶律奴 (1041–1098)		1099	Yaoyamen Village, Fuxin Liaoning 41.975°N 121.900°E / 41.975; 121.900 (Epitaph for Yelü Nu)	1999	Fuxin Museum	48 lines, 1,274 characters.[10][42]
Epitaph for Yelü Renxian 耶律仁先		1072	Lianhuashan Village, Beipiao Liaoning 41.873°N 121.248°E / 41.873; 121.248 (Epitaph for Yelü Renxian)	1983	Liaoning Cultural Relics and Archeology Research Institute	70 lines, 4,500 characters.[10][42]
Epitaph for Yelü Taishi 耶律太師 (1038–1101), the son of Yelü Xiangwen		c.1101		2009	Ethnic Museum of Inner Mongolia University	26 lines, 1,000 characters.[6]
Epitaph for Yelü Xiangwen 耶律詳穩 (1010–1091), the father of Yelü Taishi		1091		2007	Ethnic Museum of Inner Mongolia University	48 lines, 1,600 characters.[6]
Epitaph for Yelü Zhixian 耶律智先		1094	Lianhuashan Village, Beipiao Liaoning 41.873°N 121.250°E / 41.873; 121.250 (Epitaph for Yelü Zhixian)	1998	Beipiao Museum	21 lines, 1,000 characters.[10][39]
Epitaph for Yelü Zongjiao 耶律宗教 (992–1053)		1053	Gaoqi Village, Beizhen Liaoning 41.53°N 121.68°E / 41.53; 121.68 (Epitaph for Yelü Zongjiao)	1991	Beizhen Cultural Relics Office	36 lines, 1,000 characters[10][49]
Jade tablets from the supposed mausoleum of Emperor Jingzong of Liao			Xinli Tomb M2, at Yiwulü Mountain near Futun village, Beizhen Liaoning41.652°N 121.762°E / 41.652; 121.762 (Supposed mausoleum of Emperor Jingzong of Liao)	2015–2018		Unknown.[51]
Record of the Younger Brother of the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty (Da Jin huangdi dutong jinglüe Langjun xingji 大金皇弟都統經略郎君行記)		1134	Qianling Mausoleum, Qian County Shaanxi 34.575°N 108.220°E / 34.575; 108.220 (Record of the Younger Brother of the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty)	first recorded in 1618	In front of the tomb of Empress Wu of the Tang at Qianling Mausoleum	5 lines, 97 characters on one side, with corresponding Chinese text on the other side (the only known bilingual Chinese-Khitan text).[42][52]
Record of the Younger Brother of the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty (incomplete copy)		1134	Qianling Mausoleum, Qian County Shaanxi 34.575°N 108.220°E / 34.575; 108.220 (Record of the Younger Brother of the Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty)	1982	Qianling Mausoleum Museum	A copy of the text of the memorial in front of the tomb of Empress Wu, recovered from the ruins of a sacrificial hall at the Qianling Mausoleum, but only one quarter of text remaining.[52]

Other inscriptions in the Khitan small script

Object	Image	Date	Place of discovery	Year of discovery	Current Location	Description
Bronze octagonal mirror owned by Wanyan Tong 完顏通		1140–1189	Da'an Jilin 45.50°N 124.30°E / 45.50; 124.30 (Bronze octagonal mirror owned by Wanyan Tong)	1971	Jilin Provincial Museum	5 lines, 16 characters.[53]
Bronze octagonal mirror					Inner Mongolia Museum	4 Khitan characters on the reverse, and three Chinese characters (寶坻) along the edge.[54]
Bronze mirror			Kaesŏng North Korea 37.96°N 126.55°E / 37.96; 126.55 (Bronze mirror)	pre-1912	National Museum of Korea, Seoul	Khitan poem comprising 7 lines, 28 characters.[55]
"Shouchang" non-circulation lucky coin						4 characters on the reverse, interpreted as meaning 壽昌.[54]
Fish-shaped bronze tally					Originally in the collection of Stephen Wootton Bushell (1844–1908); current whereabouts unknown.	Chinese character tóng 同, with one line of Khitan small characters.[54]
Fish-shaped bronze tally						Chinese character tóng 同, with two lines of Khitan small characters.[54]
Jade cup						2 lines, 11 Khitan small characters on bottom of the cup.[56]
Yellow-glazed ceramic brush washer						[54]
Inscriptions on a pagoda			White Pagoda, Hohhot Inner Mongolia 40.84°N 111.90°E / 40.84; 111.90 (Inscriptions on a pagoda)			[57]
Inscriptions on the walls of a cave			Balahada Cave (巴拉哈達洞), Horqin Right Middle Banner Inner Mongolia			[58]
Inscriptions on a Liao dynasty tomb mural			Bao Mountain, Ar Horqin Banner Inner Mongolia 44.073°N 119.666°E / 44.073; 119.666 (Inscriptions on a Liao dynasty tomb mural)	1996		Short inscription on a mural.[57]
Inscriptions on a painted wooden coffin			Ongniud Banner Inner Mongolia 42.93°N 119.03°E / 42.93; 119.03 (Inscriptions on a painted wooden coffin)		Juu Uda League Cultural Relics Station	22 characters on the colour painting of a wooden coffin.[55]
Inscriptions at the Liao imperial mausoleum			Bairin Right Banner Inner Mongolia 44.36°N 118.50°E / 44.36; 118.50 (Inscriptions at the Liao imperial mausoleum)			About 50 Khitan small character captions on murals at the east tomb.[55]

Khitan small script seals

Object	Date	Place of discovery	Year of discovery	Current Location	Description
Bronze seal		Gaizhou Liaoning 40.40°N 122.36°E / 40.40; 122.36 (Bronze seal)	1972	Liaoning Province Museum	Seal script form Khitan small characters.[32][36]

See also

• List of Jurchen inscriptions
• Nova N 176, an undeciphered manuscript codex written in the Khitan large script

Notes

1. This monument was previously known as the Yingli period monument (Yingli bei 應歷碑), but the characters that were originally interpreted as meaning the Yingli 應歷 period (951–969) are now interpreted as meaning the Dading 大定 period (1161–1189), so what was once thought to be the earliest Khitan memorial in now thought to be the latest in date.[12]
2. Kane 2009 lists Khitan small script memorials for both Lord Yelü Yongning and a Lord Yelü, but the latter is not recorded in any other sources, and appears to be a synonym for the former.
3. The memorials for the Prince of Liang and his wife, the Imperial Consort of the State of Liang (梁國太妃), were found together, and although the memorial for the Imperial Consort is in Chinese, Kane 2009 incorrectly lists it as being in the Khitan small script.
4. The name of the official commemorated by this inscriptions has been variously given as Yelü Guiyexi 耶律貴也稀, Yelü Gui 耶律貴, Yelü Diligu 耶律迪里姑, Yelü Gui-Diligu 耶律貴·迪里姑 and Yelü Yiliyan 耶律夷里衍.

Footnotes

1. Kane 2009, p. 4
2. Kane 2009, pp. 169–170
3. Kane 2009, p. ix
4. Kane 2009, p. 1
5. Kane 2009, p. 2
6. Wu Yingzhe 2012 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFWu_Yingzhe2012 (help)
7. Sun Bojun 孫伯君 (2006). 蒙古國肯特省契丹大字刻石考釋. Shije Minzu 世界民族 (in Chinese) (4): 44–52. ISSN 1006-8287.
8. Liu Fengzhu & Yu Baolin 1990, p. 392 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFLiu_FengzhuYu_Baolin1990 (help)
9. Yu Baolin 1985, p. 200 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
10. Liu Pujiang 2003 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFLiu_Pujiang2003 (help)
11. Cong Yanshuang 叢艷雙; Liu Fengzhu 劉鳳翥; Chi Jianxue 池建學 (2005). 契丹大字《多蘿里本郎君墓誌銘》考釋. Minzu Yuwen 民族語文 (in Chinese) (4): 50–55. ISSN 0257-5779.
12. Li Junyi 李俊義 (26 September 2009). 薪傳火繼，拯救絕學——契丹文字專家劉鳳翥先生來赤峰學院講學紀要 (in Chinese). Retrieved 22 December 2010.
13. Yu Baolin 1985, p. 202 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
14. Liu Fengzhu & Yu Baolin 1990, p. 391 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFLiu_FengzhuYu_Baolin1990 (help)
15. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 200–201 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
16. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 202–203 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
17. Yu Baolin 1985, p. 201 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
18. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 201–202 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
19. Liu Fengzhu & Yu Baolin 1990, p. 390 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFLiu_FengzhuYu_Baolin1990 (help)
20. "Old manuscripts, sculpture found". Retrieved 11 October 2011.
21. "New Trends in the Studies on Qidan Scripts". Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
22. Yu Baolin 1985, p. 205 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
23. Liu Fengzhu 劉鳳翥; Ding Yong 丁勇; Kong Qun 孔群; Bai Yu 白玉 (2006). 兩件契丹大字木牍之研究 [Research into two wooden boards with Khitan large script inscriptions]. Minzu Yuwen 民族語文 (in Chinese) (5): 62–66. ISSN 0257-5779.
24. Sun Jimin 孫繼民 (1994). "內蒙古剋什剋騰旗發現契丹大字金銀錢". Kaogu 考古 (2): 179. ISSN 0453-2899.
25. Yu Baolin 1985, p. 203 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
26. Liu Fengzhu & Yu Baolin 1990 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFLiu_FengzhuYu_Baolin1990 (help)
27. Liu Fengzhu & Yu Baolin 1990, pp. 391–392 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFLiu_FengzhuYu_Baolin1990 (help)
28. Yu Baolin 1985, p. 204 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
29. Jin Yufu 1934 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFJin_Yufu1934 (help)
30. Li Yufeng 李宇峰 (1990). "遼寧盤山縣發現遼契丹大字銅印". Kaogu 考古 (12): 1143. ISSN 0453-2899.
31. 辽铜印契丹文字被破译:年款"泄密"已九百岁 (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 December 2010.
32. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 203–204 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
33. Li Yiyou 李逸友 (1961). "內蒙古出土古代官印的新資料". Wenwu 文物 (9): 64–65. ISSN 0511-4772.
34. Xiang Chunsong 項春松 (1983). "內蒙古昭烏達盟發現的一批古印資料". Wenwu 文物 (8): 76–82. ISSN 0511-4772.
35. "#36834: Liao AE seal, Qidan seal script". Zeno Oriental Coins Database. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
36. Wu Jiachang 武家昌 (1984). "遼寧近年出土、徵集的宋遼金官印選輯". Wenwu 文物 (9): 83–84. ISSN 0511-4772.
37. Feng Yongqian 馮永謙; Deng Baoxue 鄧寶學 (1983). "遼寧建昌普查中發現的重要文物". Wenwu 文物 (9): 66–72. ISSN 0511-4772.
38. Kane 2009, p. 9
39. Kane 2009, p. 11
40. Yu Baolin 1985, p. 206 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
41. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 205–206 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
42. Kane 2009, p. 10
43. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 206–207 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
44. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 207–208 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
45. Kane 2009, pp. 8–9
46. Han Shiming 韩世明; Yoshimoto Chieko 吉本智慧子 (Aisin-Gioro Ulhicun) (2007). "梁國王墓誌銘文初釋" [Initial study of the memorial of the Prince of Liang]. Minzu Yanjiu 民族研究 (2). ISSN 0256-1891.
47. Yu Baolin 1985, p. 207 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
48. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 208–209 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
49. Kane 2009, p. 12
50. Liu Pujiang 劉浦江 (2009). 關於契丹小字《耶律糺裏墓誌銘》的若乾問題 (PDF). Beida Shixue 北大史學 (in Chinese) (14). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011.
51. "Significant achievements of Mausoleum archaeology from Liao Dynasty in Yiwulu Mountain". 31 October 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
52. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 208 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
53. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 209–210 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
54. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 210 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
55. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 209 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
56. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 210–211 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
57. Yu Baolin 1985, pp. 211 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFYu_Baolin1985 (help)
58. Chinggeltei 1985, p. 625 harvnb error: no target: CITEREFChinggeltei1985 (help)

References

• Chinggeltei 清格爾泰; Wu Yingzhe 吴英哲; Liu Fengzhu 劉鳳翥; Chen Naixiong 陳乃雄; Yu Baolin 于寶林; Xing Fuli 邢復禮 (1985), 契丹小字研究 [Study of the Small Khitan Script], Zhongguo Shehui Kexue Chubanshe
• Jin Yufu 金毓黻, ed. (1934), 遼陵石刻集錄 [Corpus of inscriptions from the Liao tombs] (in Chinese), 5, Fengtian Library
• Kane, Daniel (2009), The Kitan Language and Script, Brill, ISBN 978-90-04-16829-9
• Liu Fengzhu 劉鳳翥; Yu Baolin 于寶林 (1990), "契丹字" [Khitan large characters], in Fu Maoli 傅懋栗 (ed.), 中國民族古文字圖錄 [Illustrations of ancient writing systems of Chinese nationalities] (in Chinese), Zhongguo Shehui Kexue Chubanshe, pp. 247–395, ISBN 978-7-5004-0296-1
• Liu Pujiang 劉浦江 (2003), 近20年出土契丹大小字石刻綜錄 [Summary of Khitan large and small script inscriptions unearthed over the last 20 years], Wenxian 文獻 (in Chinese) (3), ISSN 1000-0437
• Yu Baolin 于寶林 (1985), 契丹文字文獻論著解題 [Bibliography of Khitan documents and research (Part 1)], Wenxian 文獻 (in Chinese) (1): 198–224, ISSN 1000-0437
• Wu Yingzhe 吴英哲 (23 March 2012), Organization of the Khitan Materials Kept in Inner Mongolia

External links