Wanyan Aguda

Wanyan Aguda (完颜阿骨打; Han name 完颜旻) (1068-1123, r. 1115-1123) was the chieftain of the Jurchen (女真) Wanyan (完颜) tribe, founder and first emperor of the Jin Dynasty (金朝). He was the younger brother of Wanyan Wuyashu (完颜乌雅束) and the descendant of Wanyan Hanpu. Aguda was given the temple name Taizu (太祖).

Aguda was born to Shizu, Wanyan Helibo (完颜劾里钵), in 1068. He was well-known in his tribe for bravery and participated in numerous campaigns against rival Jurchen tribes at the command of the Liao Dynasty. In 1109, during the height of a widespread famine, Aguda assisted his father Helibo to absorb famished warriors from other tribes to strengthen his own clan. Later, he fought wars against other Jurchen clans and succeeded to unify all Jurchens under Wanyan leadership. In 1113, Aguda succeeded Wuyashu as leader of his tribe, or Dubojilie (都勃极烈). Like other Jurchens, Aguda loathed the exploitations of their tribesmen by corrupt Liao officials. In 1112, when Liao Emperor Tianzuodi (辽天祚帝) undertook a fishing expedition in Jurchen territory and decreed all the chieftains to dance for him, Aguda was the only person who refused to accept the emperor's order.

In 1114, Aguda sent spies to Liao and prepared to revolt against the decadent regime. In September of the same year, Aguda rallied his tribesmen (around 2,500 men) at Liushui (流水) (modern day Lalin River near Fuyu Weizitun, Jilin province) and began open rebellion. His cavalry troops captured Ningjiangzhou(宁江州) (modern day Fuyu, Jilin province) and defeated a 7000-strong Liao troops at Battle of Chuhedian (出河店) in November. In January 1115, following a series of military successes, Aguda proclaimed himself emperor of the new Jin Dynasty. In August, Aguda's army conquered the major city of Huanglongfu (黄龙府) (modern day Nongan, Jilin province) and defeated 700,000 Liao troops with 20,000 Jurchen cavalrymen at the Battle of Hubudagang (护步达岗). In 1116, Aguda completed the conquest of the entire Liaodong Peninsula. Between 1119 and 1122, Aguda's army repeatedly defeated Liao armies and captured all of Liao's five capitals. In 1119, Aguda sent emissaries to Northern Song Dynasty. According to the Concordat on the Sea (海上之盟), Song troops would attack Liao from the south. In return, Jurchen troops would return the sixteen Yanyun states to Song.

During the war against the Liao, Aguda also took time to establish the new feudal governmental system based upon Jurchen tribal customs. He also organized the national agriculture with a collectivist system known as the Mengan-Mouke (猛安谋克). Furthermore, Aguda absorbed elements of Chinese culture and ordered Wanyan Xiyin (完颜希尹) to develop a unique Jurchen writing system.

Wanyan Aguda died in August 1123, at the age of 56. His younger brother Wanyan Wuqimai (完颜吴乞买; Han name 完颜晟; temple name Taizong) succeeded in capturing Liao emperor Tianzuodi and destroying the Liao Dynasty in 1125. Aguda was later buried in Ruiling (睿陵) in Dafang Mountain (大房山) outside Zhongdu (中都) (modern day Beijing).