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2022/23 School of Chinese Research Student Seminar

契丹遼朝水軍建置的考釋

Research on the Naval Force in the Liao Dynasty

Speaker: Mr. LEUNG Yeuk Yu

Date & Time: February 24, 2023 (Fri) 5:30-6:45pm

Venue: CPD-3.29, Central Podium Level 3, The Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

Language: Putonghua

Mode of Delivery: 100% Face-to-face

由於受到「南船北馬」觀念的影響，有關遼代（907-1125）的水軍很多時候都沒有獲得應有的重視。近年來，學術界出現不少相關研究，收獲亦甚多，填補了不少空白。不過，這些研究習慣把遼代水軍的最早紀錄，繫於遼穆宗應曆三年（953），因為該年契丹將領張藏英（894-962）連同麾下的「水軍」向後周（951-960）政權投降，似乎證明了在張藏英投降之前，契丹已經擁有具規模的水軍。然而經過分析後，事實並非如此。其原因有三︰一、張藏英的投降過程及其結果，被後世的文獻記載所誇大；二、張藏英的「水軍」只不過是用於鹽政的船隻，而不是具備武裝的戰船；三、張藏英投降後周後，主要負責陸上作戰而非水上作戰。所以，當時契丹應該還未擁有具規模的水上作戰力量。

Due to the influence of the concept "the navy from the south and the cavalry from the north", the navy of the Liao Dynasty (907-1125) did not receive the attention it deserved in the past. Recently, several related research with fruitful results have been launched and the existing gaps have been filled up. However, the research often ties the earliest record of the Liao Dynasty navy to the third year of Yingli (953) of Emperor Muzong. It is because in that year a Khitan general Zhang Zangying surrendered to the Later Zhou (951-960) regime with his “navy”, which seems to prove that the Khitan had a large-scale navy at that time. However, it is doubtful after analysis. There are three reasons for this: 1. Zhang Zangying’s surrender process and its results were exaggerated by later historical records; 2. The “navy” under Zhang Zangying’s command was just assembled by the boats for the salt industry but not the armed warships; 3. After Zhang Zangying surrendered to the Later Zhou, he was mainly responsible for the land combats but not the naval combats. Therefore, Khitan did not have a large-scale water combat force at that time.

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