Western Xia (西夏 pinyin Xi Xia), was the kingdom of the Tibetan-speaking Tanguts tribes that was established in the 11th century and flourished through the early 13th century until it was conquered by the Mongols of the Yuan dynasty. It was located in what are now the northwestern Chinese provinces of Kansu (Gansu) and Shensi (Shaanxi).

Occupying the area along the trade route between Central Asia and the West, the Tangut were formally a tributary state of first the Song and then the Jin. In actuality, they were defacto independent, and the interaction between the Jin, the Song, and the Western Xia is of interest to historians of diplomacy because they are an example of diplomatic relations between states of defacto equal power but within a diplomatic framework in which one state was formally superior.

Western Xia has its own written language which disappears after the kingdom was annihilated by the Mongols.


Western Xia 1032-1227
Temple Names ( Miao Hao 廟號 miao4 hao4) Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號 ) Personal Names Period of Reigns Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years
Convention: "Western Xia" + temple name
Jing Zong (景宗 jing3 zong1) Wu Lie Di (武烈帝 wu3 lie4 di4) Li Yuan Hao|李元昊 li3 yuan2 hao4 1032-1048 Xiandao (顯道 xian3 dao4) 1032-1034
   Kaiyun (開運 kai1 yun4) 1034

   Guangping (廣平 guang3 ping2) 1035-1036

   Daqing (大慶 da4 qing4) 1036-1038

   Tianshoulifayanzuo (天授禮法延祚 tian1 shuo4 li3 fa3 yan2 zuo4) 1038-1048
Yi Zong (毅宗 yi4 zong1) Zhao Ying Di (昭英帝 zhao1 ying1 di4) Li Liang Zuo|李諒祚 li3 liang4 zuo4 1048-1067 Yansiningguo (延嗣寧國 yan2 si4 ning2 guo2) 1048-1049
   Tianyousuisheng (天祐垂聖 tian1 you4 chui2 sheng4) 1050-1052

   Fushengchengdao (福聖承道 fu2 sheng4 cheng2 dao4) 1053-1056

   Chedu (奲都 che3 du1) 1036-1038

   Gonghua (拱化 gong3 hua4) 1063-1067
Hui Zong (惠宗 hui4 zong1) Kang Jing Di (康靖帝 kang1 jing4 di4) Li Bing Chang|李秉常 li3 bing3 chang2 1067-1086 Qiandao (乾道 qian2 dao4) 1067-1069
   Tiancilishengguoqing (天賜禮盛國慶 tian1 ci4 li3 sheng4 guo2 qing4) 1070-1074

   Daan (大安 da4 an1) 1075-1085

   Tiananliding (天安禮定 tian1 an1 li3 ding4) 1085-1086
Chong Zong (崇宗 chong2 zong1) Sheng Wen Di (聖文帝 sheng4 wen2 di4) Li Qian Shun|李乾順 li3 qian2 shun4 1086-1139 Tianyizhiping (天儀治平 tian1 yi2 shi4 ping2) 1086-1089
   Tianyouminan (天祐民安 tian1 you4 min2 an1) 1090-1097

   Yongan (永安 yong3 an1) 1098-1100

   Zhenguan (貞觀 zhen1 guan1) 1101-1113

   Yong (雍寧 yong1 ning2) 1114-1118

   Yuande (元德 yuan2 de2) 1119-1127

   Zhengde (正德 zheng4 de2) 1127-1134

   Dade (大德 da4 de2) 1135-1139
Ren Zong (仁宗 ren2 zong1) Sheng Zhen Di (聖禎帝 sheng4 zhen1 di4) Li Ren Xiao|李仁孝 li3 ren2 xiao4 1139-1193 Daqing (大慶 da4 qing4) 1139-1143
   Renqing (人慶 ren2 qing4) 1144-1148

   Tiancheng (天盛 tian1 sheng4) 1149-1170

   Qianyou (乾祐 qian2 you4) 1170-1193
Huan Zong (桓宗 huan2 zong1) Zhao Jian Di (昭簡帝 zhao1 jian3 di4) Li Chun You|李純佑 li3 chun2 you4 1193-1206 Tianqing (天慶 tian1 qing4) 1193-1206
Xiang Zong (襄宗 xiang1 zong1) Jing Wu Di (景武帝 jing3 wu3 di4) Li An Quan|李安全 li3 an1 quan2 1206-1211 Qingtian (慶天 qing4 tian1) 1206-1209
   Huangjian (皇建 huang2 jian4) 1210-1211
Shen Zong (神宗 shen2 zong1) Ying Wen Di (英文帝 ying1 wen2 di4) Li Zun Xu|李遵頊 li3 zun1 xu4 1211-1223 Guangding (光定 guang1 ding4) 1211-1223
Xian Zong (獻宗 xian4 zong1) Did not exist Li De Wang|李德旺 li3 de2 wang4 1223-1226 Qianding (乾定 qian2 ding4) 1223-1226
Mo Zhu |末主 mo4 zhu3 Did not exist Li Xian|李晛 li3 xian4 1226-1227 Baoyi (寶義 bao3 yi4) 1226-1227

See also: Chinese history -- Tribes in Chinese history -- Chinese sovereign -- Mongols --Jin Dynasty -- Song Dynasty -- Liao Dynasty -- Gansu -- Xinjiang -- Uighurs