sung
(997-1022), paid them tribute to abstain from further incursions.
Probably this tribute was not sent regularly; at all events, under
Jen-tsung (1023-1064), the Khitan again threatened to invade the empire,
and were only bought off by the promise of an annual tribute of taels
200,000 of silver, besides a great quantity of silken piece goods.
Neither was this arrangement long binding, and so formidable were the
advances made by the Tatars in the foilowing reigns, that Hwei-tsung
(1101-1126) invited the Nuechih Tatars to expel the Khitan from
Liao-tung. This they did, but having once possessed themselves of the
country they declined to yield it to the Chinese, and the result was
that a still more aggressive neighbour was established on the
north-eastern frontier of China. The Nuechih or Kin, as they now styled
themselves, overran the provinces of Chih-li, Shen-si, Shan-si and
Ho-nan, and during the reign of Kao-tsung (1127-1163) they advanced
their conquests to the line of the Yangtsze-kiang. From this time the
Sung ruled only over southern China; while the Kin or "Golden" dynasty
reign"d in the north. The Kin made Chung-tu, which occupied in part the
site of the modern Peking, their usual residence. The Sung fixed their
capital at Nanking and afterwards at Hangchow. Between them and the Kin
there was almost constant war.

Mongol invasion: 12th century.

During this period the Mongols began to acquire power in eastern Asia,
and about the beginning of the 12th century the forces of Jenghiz Khan
(q.v.) invaded the north-western frontier of China and the principality
of Hia, which at that time consisted of the modern provinces of Shen-si
and Kan-suh. To purchase the good-will of the Mongols the king of Hia
agreed to pay them a tribute, and gave a princess in marriage to their
ruler. In consequence of a dispute with the Kin emperor Wei-shao Wang,
Jenghiz Khan determined to invade Liao-tung. He was aided by the
followers of the Khitan leader Yeh-lue Ts'u-ts'ai, and in alliance with
this general he captured Liao-yang, the capital city.

After an unsuccessful invasion of China in 1212, Jenghiz Khan renewed
the attack in 1213. He divided his armies into four divisions, and
made a general advance southwards. His soldiers swept over Ho-nan,
Chih-li and Shan-tung, destroying upwards of ninety cities. It was
their boast that a horseman might ride without stumbling over the
sites where those cities had stood. Pa