Wuyashu


Wuyashu was a chieftain of the Wanyan tribe, the most dominant among the Jurchen tribes which later founded the Jin dynasty. He was the eldest son of Helibo and the elder brother of Aguda, the founder and first emperor of the Jin dynasty. He was posthumously honoured with the temple name Kangzong.

Life

Wuyashu was born to the Jurchen chieftain Helibo in 1061. He inherited the leadership position of the Wanyan tribe from his uncle, Yingge, in 1104. Yingge died during the conquest of Helandian after pacifying the Tumen River basin. Wuyashu resumed the project in the next year. Under his order, Shishihuan led a Wanyan army from the Tumen River basin to subdue rival Jurchen tribes in Helandian and advance southward to chase about 1,800 remnants who defected to the Korean kingdom Goryeo. Goryeo did not hand them over but sent Im Gan to intercept the Wanyan army. However, Shishihuan defeated Im Gan north of the Chŏngp'ŏyng wall and invaded northeastern frontier of Goryeo. Goryeo dispatched Yun Gwan to resist the Jurchens but lost in battle again. As a result, Wuyashu subjugated the Jurchens in Helandian.
In 1107, Goryeo sent a delegate, Heihuanfangshi, to celebrate Wuyashu's accession to the chieftainship of the Wanyan tribe, and promised to return those Helandian Jurchens who escaped to Goryeo. However, when Wuyashu's delegates, Aguo and Wulinda Shengkun, arrived in Goryeo, the Koreans killed them and dispatched five large armies led by Yun Gwan to attack Helandian. The Goryeo army destroyed a hundred Jurchen villages and built nine fortresses there. Wuyashu thought about giving up Helandian, but his brother Aguda convinced him to dispatch Wosai, another of their brothers, to fight Goryeo. Wosai also built nine fortresses facing Goryeo's nine fortresses. After a one-year battle, the Wanyan army won two fortresses but they suffered heavy losses and seven other fortresses were still held by the Goryeo forces. Jurchens offered a truce to Goryeo and Goryeo and the Jurchens achieved a settlement. As a result, Jurchens swore not to invade Goryeo and Goryeo withdrew from the nine fortresses.
Wuyashu also pacified the Suifen River basin. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Aguda, when he died in 1113.