| [[File:Haa-guanyin.jpg|right|thumb|320px|A [[Northern Song Dynasty]] or Xi Xia statue of [[Kannon|Guanyin]], Honolulu Museum of Art]] | | [[File:Haa-guanyin.jpg|right|thumb|320px|A [[Northern Song Dynasty]] or Xi Xia statue of [[Kannon|Guanyin]], Honolulu Museum of Art]] |
| The Western Xia, or Xi Xia, was a [[Tangut]] state controlling parts of Inner Mongolia and northwestern [[China proper]] in the 11th to early 13th centuries. Its territory was located to the west of the [[Khitan]] [[Liao Dynasty]], the northwest of the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]], and north of [[Tibet]]. Though not known for balancing Sinification and nomadic steppe traditions as successfully as the Liao, Xi Xia is still known for its exquisite Buddhist sculpture. | | The Western Xia, or Xi Xia, was a [[Tangut]] state controlling parts of Inner Mongolia and northwestern [[China proper]] in the 11th to early 13th centuries. Its territory was located to the west of the [[Khitan]] [[Liao Dynasty]], the northwest of the Chinese [[Song Dynasty]], and north of [[Tibet]]. Though not known for balancing Sinification and nomadic steppe traditions as successfully as the Liao, Xi Xia is still known for its exquisite Buddhist sculpture. |
− | Xi Xia invaded Song territory in [[Shanxi province]] in the year of its founding, in [[1038]], beginning a war with the Song which was to last until [[1044]]. During this time, the Song developed improved crossbows, gunpowder weapons, catapults, shields, and other projectile weapons. Eventually, the two sides achieved an agreement, by which the Song paid [[tribute]] to the Tanguts in exchange for peace, as the Song simultaneously did with the Khitans. | + | Xi Xia invaded Song territory in [[Shanxi province]] in the year of its founding, in [[1038]], beginning a war with the Song which was to last until [[1044]]. During this time, the Song developed improved crossbows, [[gunpowder]] weapons, catapults, shields, and other projectile weapons. Eventually, the two sides achieved an agreement, by which the Song paid [[tribute]] to the Tanguts in exchange for peace, as the Song simultaneously did with the Khitans. |
− | War with the Song broke out again in [[1080]]-[[1081]], and the Xi Xia continued to pose a threat to the Song until its fall to [[Mongol]] forces in [[1211]]. | + | War with the Song broke out again in [[1080]]-[[1081]], and the Xi Xia continued to pose a threat to the Song until its fall to [[Mongol]] forces in [[1227]]. |