Duan Sulong

Biography

Accession

In 1022 (the first year of Qianxing under Emperor Zhenzong of Song; one account gives the fifth year of Tianxi, 1021), Duan Sulian died. As his son had predeceased him and his grandson Duan Suzhen was still young, Duan Sulong succeeded to the throne. The following year he adopted the era name Mingtong (in one version Mingdao), used from 1023 to 1026; his reign lasted four years in all.

Abdication and Monastic Life

In 1026 (the fourth year of Tiansheng under Emperor Renzong of Song), since his nephew Duan Suzhen had become capable of ruling, Duan Sulong abdicated in his favor and became a Buddhist monk at the Wusi Temple in Dali under the religious name "Fantong," setting the precedent for Dali emperors abdicating into monastic life. Because of his generous character, twelve generals, seven Grand Counselors, and more than 1,300 followers voluntarily followed him to the Wusi Temple to take the tonsure.

Duan Sulong died in 1041 (the first year of Qingli). In honor of the virtue of his abdication, his subjects conferred on him the posthumous title "Bingyi Emperor."

Duan Sulong is said to have erected a stele for the "Plague-Curing Spring" at the Wusi Temple in Dali. Legend has it that during the Nanzhao period, whenever plague swept the land, people who drank the spring water boiled with fragrant cedar leaves from in front of the temple were cured.

Duan Sulong is said to have been accomplished in both letters and arms, especially skilled in the saber and sword with deep internal power. Folk legend further holds that he tamed a black tiger of Cangshan that had been plaguing the people, made it docile and herbivorous, and often rode it when he went out.

Major Activities

Duan Sulong's abdication into monastic life was a typical expression of the Dali Kingdom's ideology of "founding the state on Buddhism" and "governing through Buddhism," under which the whole population believed in the faith. Of the Dali Kingdom's twenty-two emperors, ten became monks, nine of them voluntarily; imperial entry into monastic life was commonly regarded as a means of averting national calamity and misfortune, and Duan Sulong's abdication was one of the origins of this distinctive political and cultural tradition. After him, several more emperors—including Duan Suzhen, Duan Silian, and Duan Zhengming—also became monks. By Duan Sulong's time the Gao clan's power was already sufficient to dictate state affairs.

• Pioneered the Dali custom of emperors abdicating to become monks; erected a stele for the Plague-Curing Spring and built the five-story Cuihua Tower

The chronology and succession of his reign are as follows: he succeeded after Duan Sulian's death in 1022 (first year of the Qianxing era, Northern Song), another account giving 1021; in 1023 (first year of the Mingtong era, Dali) he changed the era name to Mingtong, also written Mingdao; in 1026 (fourth year of the Tiansheng era) he abdicated in favour of his nephew Duan Suzhen and became a monk; another account records his death in 1041 (first year of the Qingli era) while a further account places it only within the Qingli years without a specific date. His abdication and monastic vows were the immediate occasion of Duan Suzhen's accession, and his reign of about four years leaves the two sources no verifiable war or fiscal institution, so his political actions remain limited to accession, the change of era name and abdication.

In the Duan line he stands between Duan Sulian and Duan Suzhen: when Duan Sulian died his son had already predeceased him and his grandson Duan Suzhen was young, so his nephew Duan Sulong succeeded, and a few years later he in turn abdicated in favour of Duan Suzhen. This coming and going shows that the transmission of the Dali throne passed once between the direct and collateral lines, and indicates the practical influence of the Gao chancellors in such changes.

The years in which his era name Mingtong, also written Mingdao, was used are likewise given with different beginnings and ends in the two sources.

The sources contain no statement by him about the Buddhist activities or the monastic vows of his reign.

Personal Relations

• Duan Sulian: uncle and predecessor as ruler.
• Duan Suying: grandfather.
• Duan Suzhen: nephew and succeeding ruler.

Historical Assessment

After becoming a monk, Duan Sulong turned the Wusi Temple in Dali into a sanctuary for the transmission of the martial arts and built the five-story Cuihua Tower within its grounds, at that time the foremost scripture repository of the Nanzhong region. In addition, a stele commemorating the temple's "Plague-Curing Spring," whose water was said to cure plague, was erected by Duan Sulong.

Honored with the posthumous title Bingyi for the virtue of his abdication; his monastic vows began the distinctive Dali tradition of ruling emperors becoming monks.