Luo Shichang

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Luo Shichang was a Han Chinese official of Western Xia from Yinzhou, south of modern Yulin in Shaanxi. Historical sources provide little information about his family background, recording only that his family had long lived in Yinzhou and belonged to the Han population under Western Xia rule. Since the founding of Western Xia by Emperor Jingzong Li Yuanhao, the state had placed importance on adopting elements of Han Chinese culture and on the service of Han officials. By the reign of Emperor Renzong, literary government in Western Xia had reached a high point and scholars such as Wo Daochong, Wang Renzhong, and Jiao Jingyan had emerged. The source presents Luo as a Han official who grew up in this cultural environment and whose learning and abilities allowed him to enter official service during the reign of Huanzong.

Beginning His Career and Three Missions to Jin

Luo Shichang's official career began under Emperor Huanzong of Western Xia. In the eighth month of 1197, the fourth year of the Tianqing era, he traveled with Zhe Yijun on his first mission to the Jin dynasty to congratulate Emperor Zhangzong of Jin on the Tianshou festival. Luo then held the title Court Gentleman of Manifest Virtue, while Zhe Yijun held the title Grand Master for Military Tallies. At that time, Western Xia and Jin still maintained their traditional friendly relationship.

In the third month of 1208, the third year of the Yingtian era under Emperor Xiangzong, Luo had risen to the office of Grand Academician of the Guanwen Hall, and traveled to Jin with Military Affairs Commissioner Li Yuanji to report official matters. Western Xia politics had changed by then: Emperor Xiangzong Li Anquan had seized the throne in a coup, and foreign policy was also being adjusted.

In the eighth month of 1225, the second year of the Qianding era under Emperor Xianzong, Luo traveled to Jin for a third time, now holding the office of Minister in Charge of Southern Court Ceremonies. He was accompanied by Li Zhong'e, Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and Minister of Personnel, and Li Shaoying, Director of the Left Office of the Secretariat. The mission took place after Emperor Xianzong Li Dewang shifted away from cooperation with the Mongols against Jin and instead adopted a policy of allying with Jin against the Mongols. In the ninth month of 1225, identified by the source as the third year of Qianding, Jin and Western Xia reached a peace agreement under which the Western Xia ruler called himself the younger brother and each state used its own era names. Luo is described as playing an important role in the negotiations.

Later Years and Retirement

After returning from his third mission to Jin, Luo had a clearer view of Jin's actual condition. Seeing its power in decline, he repeatedly memorialized Emperor Xianzong that "Jin aid cannot be relied upon" and urged the ruler to strengthen Western Xia rather than depend entirely on Jin. Emperor Xianzong did not fully accept the advice.

Western Xia later admitted Nilqa Senggüm, an enemy of Genghis Khan from the Naiman. Luo believed that this would provoke Mongol retaliation and strongly advised against it, but Xianzong ignored him. After repeated unsuccessful remonstrance, Luo asked to retire; permission was granted only after three requests, and he left office.

By then his home region of Yinzhou had already been occupied by Mongol forces, so Luo took refuge in Longzhou, in the area of modern Jingbian County. Believing that Western Xia was nearing its end, he wrote a twenty-juan work called Genealogy of the Generations of the Xia State, also referred to as Genealogy of the Xia State, and kept it in his household. The work traced the succession of the Western Xia imperial line and provided later historians with important material. The source states that Yuan historians consulted it when compiling the History of Liao and History of Jin. The work is now lost.

Major Activities

Diplomatic Activity

Luo Shichang was an important diplomat in the later Western Xia, and his three missions to Jin spanned the reigns of Huanzong, Xiangzong, and Xianzong. They witnessed the changing relationship between Western Xia and Jin from conventional friendship to cooperation against the Mongols.

In 1197 he traveled with Zhe Yijun to congratulate Emperor Zhangzong on the Tianshou festival. In 1208 he traveled with Military Affairs Commissioner Li Yuanji to report matters to Jin. In 1225 he joined Li Zhong'e, Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and Minister of Personnel, and Li Shaoying, Director of the Left Office of the Secretariat, in peace negotiations. The mission ultimately contributed to a Jin–Western Xia agreement under which the Western Xia ruler styled himself the younger brother and both sides retained their own era names.

Political Remonstrance

After returning from Jin, Luo repeatedly argued, based on his direct observation of Jin's decline, that "Jin aid cannot be relied upon" and urged Emperor Xianzong to pursue self-strengthening. The source presents this as evidence of political foresight: Jin was already under severe pressure from the Mongols and Southern Song and could not reliably support Western Xia.

When Western Xia accepted Nilqa Senggüm, an enemy of Genghis Khan, Luo again strongly objected. He understood that the action could anger the Mongols and bring disaster to Western Xia. Xianzong did not accept his advice, and Luo eventually retired after petitioning three times.

Historical Writing

As Western Xia approached its fall, Luo Shichang wrote twenty juan of Genealogy of the Generations of the Xia State, also known as Genealogy of the Xia State, while living in Longzhou. The work traced the succession of the Western Xia royal house and is described as an important historical work written by a Western Xia author. Parts of it were reportedly used by Yuan historians compiling the History of Liao and History of Jin. The work is no longer extant.

Contemporaries and Associates

Against the background of literary government promoted under Emperor Renzong of Western Xia, Luo was later listed together with scholars such as Wo Daochong, Wang Renzhong, and Jiao Jingyan among prominent learned men of the period. The source credits them collectively with contributing to cultural development in middle and late Western Xia.

Personal Relations

Rulers

• Li Chunyou, Emperor Huanzong of Western Xia: Luo entered service under him and in 1197 traveled to Jin in an official capacity
• Li Anquan, Emperor Xiangzong of Western Xia: in 1208 Luo traveled to Jin to report matters while serving as Grand Academician of the Guanwen Hall
• Li Dewang, Emperor Xianzong of Western Xia: Luo rose to his highest recorded office during this reign, repeatedly remonstrated with the ruler, and later retired

Colleagues

• Zhe Yijun: held the Western Xia title Grand Master for Military Tallies; traveled with Luo to Jin in 1197 for the Tianshou festival
• Li Yuanji: Military Affairs Commissioner; traveled with Luo to Jin in 1208
• Li Zhong'e: held the titles Grand Master for Splendid Happiness and Minister of Personnel; traveled with Luo to Jin for peace negotiations in 1225
• Li Shaoying: Director of the Left Office of the Secretariat; traveled with Luo to Jin in 1225

Scholars

• Wo Daochong: prominent Western Xia scholar, later listed with Luo among distinguished figures of the state's literary culture
• Wang Renzhong: Western Xia scholar, likewise listed with Luo
• Jiao Jingyan: Western Xia scholar, likewise listed with Luo

Historical Assessment

Western Xia and Contemporary Assessments

• Events of Western Xia, juan 42, records that after returning from his mission Luo saw Jin's power declining and repeatedly argued that "Jin aid cannot be relied upon," urging Li Dewang to strengthen the state. The source treats this as affirmation of his political foresight.
• Book of Western Xia, juan 3, "Biography of Luo Shichang," says that he "once set out the genealogy and succession of his state and was apparently a civil official of the time," recognizing both his official role and historical writing.
• Although the Western Xia court did not accept all of his remonstrances, the fact that permission to retire was granted only after three requests is interpreted as showing that he retained a degree of standing and respect at court.

Song and Yuan Periods

• The source states that Yuan historians compiling the History of Liao and History of Jin consulted Luo's Genealogy of the Generations of the Xia State, showing that the work still had value in the Yuan.
• Zhou Chun's Book of Western Xia, juan 14, includes a biography of Luo and ranks him among important Western Xia officials.

Ming and Qing Periods

• Qing scholar Zhou Chun included a biography of Luo Shichang in Book of Western Xia, describing his three missions to Jin and his political remonstrances in detail.
• Qing researchers of Western Xia history regarded him as one of the important Han officials of the state's later period.

Modern Assessments

• Modern historians of Western Xia regard Luo as an important late-period diplomat whose missions provide evidence for the relationship between Western Xia and Jin.
• Although Genealogy of the Generations of the Xia State is lost, scholars regard it as an important example of historical writing produced within Western Xia and as a valuable source for reconstructing its history.
• Luo's opposition to accepting Nilqa Senggüm is treated as a representative case of failed political decision-making in the final years of Western Xia.