On the Khitan-lingshi Cai Zhishun, or a Study of the Use of the Khitan Language in Liao Society

摘要

This paper is primarily concerned with the actual usage of the Khitan language during the Liao dynasty. In recent years steady progress has been made, from the perspective of linguistics, in deciphering the Khitan language. Despite this, there has been little deepening of the discussion, from the historical perspective,concerning how the Khitan language was actually used during the Liao dynasty, or what significance such usage had. Previous studies have tended to suggest that the Khitan language was primarily limited to symbolic uses and that the use of Chinese predominated for practical affairs. The author questions this interpretation, believing that more attention should be paid to the authority the Khitan language possessed as the native language of the ruling elite of the Liao dynasty. Specifically, this paper will examine the question of the extent to which Hanren （漢人） became conversant in the use of the Khitan language during the Liao dynasty, and to what extent the language was employed in the routine affairs of government administration.