Liao Feng

Background

Nothing is known of Feng Liao’s antecedents. There is also no exact information about the place and date of her birth.

Career

It was a practice for the Imperial Court to foster alliances with the northern tribes via marriage, and two Han princesses had married Wusun kings. Feng Liao accompanied Princess Jieyou on her journey to Wusun as an emissary with government credentials, and in the name of the Han dynasty offered gifts to all the kingdoms in the region, winning their respect and trust in the process. She thus strengthened the diplomatic ties of the Han dynasty with other small states in the region as well as with the Wusun. She was given the title Lady Feng.

Her relationship with influential Wusun general enabled her to play a key role mediating, on behalf of Han, during struggles for Wusun leadership between Princess Jieyou’s son Yangguimi and stepson Wujiutu.

Prince Wujiutu seized the throne of Wusun in 64 BC after his father's death. Feng Liao was instructed to approach Wujiutu and suggest that he would be wise to abandon his pretensions to Wusun leadership, in order to avoid conflict with Emperor of Hun who might send armies to overthrow Wujiutu. Wujiutu saw the sense of Feng Liao’s argument and agreed to step down on the condition that he be appointed Lesser King of Wusun. Feng Liao was then appointed official Han ambassador to Wusun.

Achievements

• Feng Liao was a well-known character of Chinese history. She is credited with avoiding war by mediating a peace accord with Wusun that was more favorable to the Han.

Personality

Feng Liao was said to have been a learned woman, well read, and experienced in human affairs.

Connections

Feng married an influential Wusun general who had connections with Wusun aristocracy.

References

• Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Antiquity Through Sui, 1600 B.C.E. - 618 C.E This new volume of the "Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women" spans more than 2,000 years from antiquity to the early seventh century. It recovers the stories of more than 200 women, nearly all of them unknown in the West.
  1998