耶律倍（生卒899年—937年1月11日，926—930在位），辽义宗文献钦义皇帝，契丹迭剌部霞濑益石烈乡耶律里（今中国内蒙古阿鲁科尔沁旗东）人，姓耶律，契丹文名图欲（或作突欲、托云等），大契丹国（后改称大辽国）开国皇帝耶律阿保机和皇后述律平的长子，辽太宗耶律德光和章肃皇帝耶律李胡的长兄，辽世宗耶律阮的父亲，东丹国国王（称人皇王，一般也通称东丹王）。
       早年
       899年（唐昭宗光化二年），耶律阿保机的长子耶律图欲出生，当时阿保机虽未成为契丹部落联盟的首领，但他领导的耶律氏部落是契丹诸部中最强大的一支，所以他也是契丹的显赫人物之一。
       在扫除了政敌和称帝的障碍后，在担任可汗的第十年春二月初一丙戌日（916年3月7日），阿保机自立为皇帝，建大契丹国（后改称辽国），改元神册，是为辽太祖。同年三月初二丙辰日（916年4月6日），年仅十八岁的耶律倍被立为皇太子，成为大契丹国皇位的继承人。
       公元919年11月7日，在跟随阿保机向北征讨乌古部时，作为先锋都统的耶律倍，带兵开路，首先进击，大破乌古部，俘获牲口一万四千二百头，车乘、庐帐、器物二十余万，使乌古部全部投降了契丹。
       922年1月9日，耶律倍又率王郁等经略燕地，一度打到定州（今河北省定州市），大大扩张了契丹的领地。
       924年春，渤海国杀死了大契丹国的辽州刺史张秀实，并掠夺州民。事发后，阿保机召集群臣，颁布诏书，宣称要御驾西征。众人非常惊讶，不明其意，因为渤海国在契丹东面，阿保机不急于报仇却去攻打西面。其中，只有耶律倍最先明白了父皇声东击西的真实用意，并乘机向父皇献上了攻取渤海国的计策。
       公元926年2月17日，契丹在攻克渤海重镇扶余城（今吉林省农安县）后，阿保机想先清点城中的户籍和人口，耶律倍却进谏道：“如今刚刚得到扶余城就清点户籍，人民必定不会安分。如果现在乘着我军破竹之势，直接攻向渤海国的首都忽汗城（即上京龙泉府，今黑龙江省宁安市），则一定会攻克它。”阿保机听从了长子的建议，让他和耶律德光担任前锋，于2月23日夜间开始围攻忽汗城。 3日之后，渤海国末代国王见大势已去，只好投降。 
       “让国皇帝”
       征服渤海国后，阿保机将其改名为“东丹国”，采用“天、地、人”三才之典故，册封皇太子耶律倍为“人皇王”，并赐予其天子的冠冕。因为阿保机自己的尊号是“天皇帝”，皇后述律平是“地皇后”，这样就确立了耶律倍“二人之下、万人之上”的崇高地位。
       但是，刚刚在草原上取得了重大战果的契丹人，还没有来得及充分享受胜利的喜悦，很快就陷入了危机四伏的尴尬境地：开国皇帝阿保机没交代自己的身后事，就急病离世了。
       皇位的合法继承人――皇太子耶律倍汉化程度很深，尊孔尚儒，主张契丹全盘汉化，以儒家思想为治国之术；而临朝称制、大权在握的述律平则奉行草原本位主义，主张维护契丹奴隶制度。她关注传统的草原经济，更关心契丹贵族的传统利益。对于汉臣和汉人的农业经济、文化，她会借用，但并不愿看到其势力过大而影响到契丹民族自身。
       虽然以天、地、人皇的顺序来看，文武双全的皇太子耶律倍很有理由继承皇位，但在文化传统的考量中，耶律德光却更加符合母亲的心意。对皇位继承问题起着决定性作用的述律平，果断地走上前台，用断腕指定了她心仪的继承人。
       皇太子耶律倍洞悉了母亲的心思，无奈之下，只好率领群臣向述律平请命：“大元帅（德光）功德及人神，中外攸属，宜主社稷。”主动要求将契丹皇位让给母亲喜爱的弟弟。
       投奔后唐
       926年（天显元年）七月，阿保机在返回契丹的途中不幸病逝，在外的耶律倍接到噩耗后，马上动身返辽，而母亲述律平已奉梓宫西还，弟弟耶律德光也已先到“行在”。兄弟二人的急速奔丧，意味着辽朝统治集团内部皇位争夺的开始。
       早在阿保机建立契丹国时耶律倍就被立为皇太子，是合法的皇位继承人。但若论武功，却比其弟耶律德光稍逊一筹。更为重要的事，母亲述律平在他们兄弟三人中偏爱耶律德光，况且此时她还摄政，掌握辽代军国大权。于是述律平亲自导演了一场众拥耶律德光的把戏：她来到大臣齐集的帐内，对文武百官说：“我的两个儿子都很优秀，也都适合做皇帝，我不能决定由谁做皇帝，现在把选皇帝的权力交给你们，你们认为谁适合做皇帝就执谁的鞍辔。”文武百官都知道述律平的意图，争先恐后抢着执耶律德光的鞍辔，并欢呼“愿事德光皇帝”。耶律倍也知道其母的意图，就对大臣说“大元帅功德及人神，中外攸属，宜主社稷”。随后，耶律倍“与群臣请于太后而让位焉”，不得不让皇帝位给耶律德光。
       927年（天显二年）底，耶律德光即皇帝位即辽太宗，可是他对哥哥耶律倍并不放心，对其实行了监视。为此，兄弟之间的关系恶化，矛盾进一步加深。
       耶律倍的处境被后唐明宗李嗣源所知，出于政治目的，他派人持书密诏耶律倍。930年（天显五年），耶律倍投奔了后唐。当他在金州（今辽宁省大连市金州区）即将上船时，面对故国，悲愤满腔，在海边立了一块小木牌，上刻《海上诗》：“小山压大山，大山全无力。羞见故乡人，从此投外国”。他把“大山”比作自己，“小山”比作二弟，寥寥几笔，勾勒出契丹皇室内部矛盾的尖锐。
       耶律倍到达后唐受到了热情地接待，后唐皇帝李嗣源以天子仪卫迎接，并赐姓东丹，名慕华，拜怀化军节度使、瑞慎等州观察使；后又赐姓李，赐姓名为李赞华，移镇滑州（今河南滑县），遥领虔州（今江西赣州）节度使。
       被害
       把虽身在异国，但耶律倍却常思念故乡和亲人。933年（天显八年）后唐明宗李嗣源病死，其子李从厚即位不到半年，就被李嗣源的养子李从珂杀死。耶律倍认为这是攻打后唐的极好时机，派人密报辽太宗，希望利用后唐内乱之际攻打后唐。耶律德光果然亲率大军南下，但他不是应耶律倍之邀，而是应石敬瑭之请。936年（天显十一年），李从珂欲自焚，召耶律倍同焚，耶律倍不从，李从珂派壮士李彦绅害死了耶律倍，年仅38岁，洛阳一僧人把耶律倍的尸体收敛起来，暂时埋在一个荒山坡上。后来，辽太宗把耶律倍改葬在他生前喜爱的医巫闾山。937年（天显十二年），耶律倍长子耶律阮当了皇帝，追谥其父为“让国皇帝”，陵曰显陵。1051年（重熙二十年），辽兴宗又增谥号文献钦义皇帝，庙号义宗。

史载，耶律倍自幼聪敏好学，是文武全才，不但善于骑射和谋略，而且文化修养很高，尤其推崇中原汉族的儒家文化。他曾经从中原买了万卷书，收藏在他隐居的医巫闾山绝顶之上的望海堂。他通晓阴阳、音律，精于医药、砭焫之术，工于契丹文和汉文的文章，曾经翻译《阴符经》。他还擅长画本国人物，后来都被收入宋朝的秘府。所以说，他集藏书家、阴阳学家、医学家、音乐家、文学家、翻译家、汉学家和画家等于一身，是一位博学多才的儒者。
       作为北方草原民族的画家，他擅画水草放牧或游骑射猎的情景，特别擅长于画鞍马，其画作被宋代的黄复休评为“骨法劲快，不良不驽，自得穷荒之态”。据《宣和画谱》一书记载，宋朝大内皇宫的秘府中共收藏有耶律倍的15幅画作。其他传世名作还有藏于美国纽约大都会博物馆的《射鹿图》、波士顿美术博物馆的《番骑图》、台北故宫博物院的《骑射图》等。
       耶律倍入后唐前所作的《海上诗》是现存最早的一首完整的辽代诗歌，耶律倍也善写契丹文诗歌，金代元好问曾经读过他的契丹小字诗，并作《东丹骑射》题画诗云：“意气曾看小字诗，图画今又识雄姿。”据阎凤梧主编的《全辽金诗》统计：耶律倍曾有《乐田园》等诗集，均已散佚。现仅存《海上诗》一首。
       受父皇影响，耶律倍对汉文化尤其是儒学相当尊崇，是当时汉化程度最高的契丹皇室成员。据史书记载，一次，阿保机就契丹国应该推崇哪种思想与群臣进行了讨论，他问大臣：“受命之君，应该侍奉上天，敬仰神灵。朕想祭祀立了大功、拥有崇高道德的人，谁应该排在第一位？”大家都说应该让佛排在最前面，这时，在一旁的耶律倍说：“孔子是万世所尊崇的大圣人，应该排在最先。”阿保机闻言大喜，立即下诏建孔庙，让耶律倍在每年春、秋两季率领百官祭奠孔子。
年幼聪敏好学，热爱中原先进的封建文化，阅读了大量汉文典籍，既善于用契丹文、汉文写作，还善于写诗、绘画，“集中原文化于一身”。
耶律倍酷爱中原先进的封建文化，曾命人购买万卷书籍，在东北名山医巫闾山顶建望海堂珍藏，故有“万卷藏书楼”之称，使之成为当时东北地区最早、最大的私人图书馆。据当时人记载，望海堂里的某些医学藏书，后来在中原也很难找到，因此，耶律倍对保存中国古代民族的文化遗产作出了重大贡献。

幼年采薪
       有一年冬天，天气非常寒冷，阿保机有意命令三个儿子采薪以考察他们的才智。结果，二儿子耶律德光不经选择、无论干湿划拉一捆柴禾，第一个回到阿保机的帐中；长子耶律倍选择干柴并且将其捆绑整齐，第二个回来；三子耶律李胡只拾了很少的柴禾，最后一个回来。
       嗜饮人血
       耶律倍在后唐虽然官为节度使，但并“不预政事”，多数时间用来绘画，并与后唐的知识分子、臣僚往来频繁，。
耶律倍虽然工文善画，但性格方面却是“刻急好杀”，嗜饮人血，经常在姬妾臂上刺洞吸血。奴婢侍妾稍犯小错，他就用火烫她们，甚至挖出她们的眼睛。他到中原后娶的妻子夏氏，因为恐惧他的这种恶行，曾求削发为尼，这种怪异性格很可能与他在家乡的不幸遭遇有关。
       汉名由来
       《辽史卷一百十六》记载，辽国国族都以耶律为姓。而以“以汉字书者曰耶律、萧，以契丹字书者曰移刺、石抹”是没有证据的，是“无可考”的。《辽史卷一百十六》：耶律氏、萧氏，《本纪》首书太祖姓耶律氏，继书皇后萧氏，则有国之初，已分二姓矣。有谓始兴之地曰世里，译者以世里为耶律，故国族皆以耶律为姓。有谓述律皇后兄子名萧翰者，为宣武军节度使，其妹复为皇后，故后族皆以萧为姓。其说与《纪》不合，故陈大任不取。又有言以汉字书者曰耶律、萧，以契丹字书者曰移刺、石抹，则亦无可考矣。
       《新五代史》《资治通鉴》都记载耶律突欲（耶律倍）被赐姓李，被赐姓名李赞华。
       《新五代史》卷七十二 四夷附录第一：“初，阿保机死，长子东丹王突欲当立，其母述律遣其幼子安端少君之扶余代之，将立以为嗣。然述律尤爱德光。德光有智勇，素已服其诸部，安端已去，而诸部希述律意，共立德光。突欲不得立，长兴元年，自扶余泛海奔于唐。明宗因赐其姓为东丹，而更其名曰慕华。以其来自辽东，乃以瑞州为怀化军，拜慕华怀化军节度、瑞慎等州观察处置等使。其部曲五人皆赐姓名，罕只曰罕友通，穆葛曰穆顺义，撒罗曰罗宾德，易密曰易师仁，盖礼曰盖来宾，以为归化、归德将军郎将。又赐前所获赫邈姓名曰狄怀惠，抯列曰列知恩，荝剌曰原知感，福郎曰服怀造，竭失讫曰讫怀宥。其余为“契丹直”者，皆赐姓名。二年，更赐突欲姓李，更其名曰赞华。”
       《资治通鉴》卷第二百七十七 后唐纪六：“长兴二年辛卯，公元九三一年辛酉，赐契丹东丹王突欲姓东丹，名慕华，以为怀化节度使，瑞、慎等州观察使；其部曲及先所俘契丹将惕隐等，皆赐姓名。惕隐姓狄，名怀惠。
……秋，九月，己亥，更赐东丹慕华姓名曰李赞华。”

作为契丹人，耶律倍免不了北方民族的豪爽直率，但由于长期接受汉文化的熏陶，他已变得外表宽让，一副忠厚长者的样子。他以太子身份失去国主地位，却不曾兴兵征战，最终投奔国外，很明显是受到了“吴太伯让国”的影响。他让位以后长期受到弟弟的压制与监视却少有怨言，与他通晓阴阳之术，受道家玄学影响有关。可以说，中原文化的侵染，使他在皇位的角逐中，抵制住了最高权力的诱惑，表现出罕见的隐忍与退让，最终做出了“让国”的选择。
       在流亡后唐期间，耶律倍突然变得“刻急好杀”起来。据史书记载，耶律倍在后唐时有嗜饮人血的毛病，疯狂时甚至在姬妾臂上刺洞吸血。奴婢侍妾稍微犯了点儿小错，耶律倍就用火烫她们，甚至挖掉她们的眼睛。他的暴躁脾气把嫁给他的汉妻夏氏吓得魂飞魄散，为防丈夫的辣手，以至于她请求削发出家为尼。史家评论耶律倍这种两极分化的性格时认为，这很可能与他在自己祖国的不幸遭遇密切相关。
       阿保机对三个儿子的评价是：“长巧而次成，，少不及矣”。从中可以看出耶律倍的灵巧，也显示出阿保机对耶律倍的喜爱。
       《辽史·义宗倍传》最后的“论曰”，高度概括、评价了耶律倍的一生：“自古新造之国，一传而太子让，岂易得哉？辽之义宗，可谓盛矣！然让而见疑，岂不兆于建元称制之际乎？斯则一时君臣昧于礼制之过也。束书浮海，寄迹他国，思亲不忘，问安不绝，其心甚有足谅者焉。观其始慕泰伯之贤而为远适之谋，终疾陈恒之恶而有请讨之举，志趣之卓，盖已见于早岁先祀孔子之言欤。善不令终，天道难诘，得非性卞嗜杀之所致也！虽然，终辽之代，贤圣继统，皆其子孙。至德之报，昭然在兹矣。”
       此论点首先大力赞扬了耶律倍的“让国”行为，以及他的孝心和爱国热情，又说他之所以会有的这种义举，是因为他深谙孔孟之道，懂得“泰伯让国”的至德和儒家的忠孝之礼；然后对他的惨死表示了惋惜，并认为是他“嗜杀”所遭到的报应；最后说，他虽然有缺点，但他 “让国” 的义举感动了上天，使得他的子孙能够享有辽国的帝位。这种说法虽然有“因果报应”的思想，但对耶律倍来说，却不失为一种公正的评价。

Yelv (899 - 937), also known as Yelu sudden desire, was named Li Zanhua, Liao Taizu Yelu A Baoji's eldest son, Liao Taizong Yelu Deguang's eldest brother, Liao Shizong Yelv Nguyen's father. Since childhood, studious, won the love of Yelu A Bao machine and attention, in 916 was established as Crown Prince. 926 years, called the King of Dongdan, called "King of people." 926 years after the death of Taejo, Yelu Deguang ascended the throne. Days was three years (928 years) Dongdan country south, or Dongping for Nanjing. At the same time Yelu De light to Yelv times to control and surveillance. In 930 Yelu fold abandoned the country to go after the Tang Dynasty. 936 years after the Tang Dynasty coup, Yelu times killed, burial was hills. In 947, Yelu Deguang died. Yelu times the eldest son of Yelu Nguyen eventually regained the throne, chasing posthumous Yelu times for the emperor, the temple of justice.

Yelu times (899 years of birth - January 9, 937, 926-930 reign), Liao Yi Zong literature Emperor Qin Yi, Khitan Lida Department of Yasuhiro Yasukari Yoshitari (now China's Inner Mongolia Alukerqinqi (Later renamed the Great Liao country) founding emperor Yelu A Bao machine and the Queen of the eldest son of the law, Liao Taizong Yeluode (Liao) Light and Zhang Su Emperor Yelu Li Hu's eldest brother, Liao Shizong Yelv Nguyen's father, the kingdom of Dongdan (known as the King of the people, commonly known as Dongdan Wang).
       Early years
       899 years (Tang Zhaozong photochemical 2 years), Yelu A Baoji eldest son Yelu figure to be born, when A Baoji not become the leader of the Khitan tribal alliance, but he led the Yelu tribe is the most powerful of the Khitan tribes Support, so he is also one of Khitan's illustrious characters.
       In the removal of political opponents and emperor of the obstacles, as the tenth year of Khan in the spring of February the first day of Bingxu (March 7, 916), A Baoji independence for the emperor, built large Khitan state (later renamed Liao) Change the book of the soul, is the Liao Dynasty. In the same year in early March two Bing Chen (April 6, 916), only 18 years old Yelv times as the crown prince, became the king of the Khitan emperor heir.
       In November 7, AD 919, following the A Baoji northward expedition to the ancient part of Ukraine, as the pioneer of all Yelv times, lead troops to open the first attack, breaking the ancient Ukraine, captured 14,200 animals, Car ride, Lu account, artifacts more than twenty million, so that all the ancient capitol surrender Khitan.
       In January 9, 922, Yelu times and rate of Wang Yu, such as by Yan Yan, once hit Dingzhou (now Dingzhou City, Hebei Province), greatly expanded the Khitan territory.
       The spring of 924, the Bohai State to kill the Great Khitan Liao state governor Zhang Xiushi, and looting state. After the incident, A Baoji summoned ministers, promulgated edict, claiming to Royal Driving expedition. People are very surprised, not clear its meaning, because the Bohai Sea in the east of the Khitan, A Baoji not in a hurry to revenge to attack the west. Among them, only Yelu times the first to understand the true meaning of the Fu Huang Sheng Dong Xi West, and took the opportunity to offer his father to attack the Bohai Sea country's strategy.
       February 17, 926, the Khitan in the capture of the Bohai city Fuyu City (now Jilin Province Nongan County), the A Baoji would like to first inventory of the city's household registration and population, Yelu times into the remonstrance: "Now just Fuyu city inventory If we now take the potential of our army to break the bamboo, direct attack on the capital of the Bohai State Khan Khan (ie, the Beijing Longquan House, now in Ning'an City, Heilongjiang Province), it will certainly overcome it. A Baoji listen to the eldest son of the proposal, so he and Yelu Deguang as a striker, on February 23 at night began to besiege Khan City. 3 days later, the last king of the Bohai Sea see the hopeless situation, had surrendered.

  "Let the emperor"
       After the conquest of the Bohai State, A Baoji changed its name to "Dongdan country", using the "Heaven, Earth, Man" Three Tales of the story, canonized Crown Prince Yelu times as "King of Man" and gave the crown of the Son of Heaven. Because A Baoji his own name is "Emperor", the Queen described the law is flat to "Queen", thus establishing the Yelu times "under two people, people above the" lofty status.
       However, has just made a major victory in the grasslands of the Khitan people, have not had time to fully enjoy the joy of victory, and soon fell into a perilous embarrassing situation: the founding emperor A Baoji did not account for their own behind the matter, died suddenly died.
       The legitimate heir of the throne - the crown prince Yeluobo finished a deep degree, respecting Kong Shangru, advocated the Khitan full Chinese, with Confucianism as the art of governance; and the Pro rule of the dynasty, the power of the laws of the laws of the prairie doctrine, Maintenance of Khitan slavery. She is concerned about the traditional grassland economy, more concerned about the traditional interests of the Khitan aristocracy. Han Chen and Han Chinese agricultural economy, culture, she will borrow, but do not want to see its influence is too large to the Khitan nation itself.
       Although the order of Heaven, Earth, King of view, civil and military integrity of the Crown Prince Yelv times the reason for succession to the throne, but in cultural traditions, Yelu Deguang is more in line with the mother's mind. On the succession of the throne plays a decisive role in the peace law, decisively took to the fore, with broken wrist designated her favorite heir.
       Crown Prince Yelv times insight into the mother's mind, desperation, had no choice but to lead the ministers to the law peace appeal: "Grand Marshal (Deguang) merit and God, Chinese and foreign Yau is appropriate to the main boat." Initiative to the Khitan throne Let the mother's favorite brother.
       Defected to the Tang Dynasty
       926 years (days was the first year) in July, A Bao machine in the way of the return of the Khitan unfortunately died, outside the Yelv times received bad news, immediately set off to return to Liao, and the mother of the laws of peace has Feng Zigong Palace also, Light has also been first to "line in". The rapid rush of the two brothers, means that the ruling group within the throne of the Liao Dynasty began.
       As early as the Arab-Israeli machine to establish the Khitan state when Yelu times to be crown prince, is the legitimate heir to the throne. But if the martial arts, but less than his brother Yelu Deguang light. More importantly, the mother of the law of peace in their three brothers in favor of Yelu Deguang, and at this time she also regent, master the Liao Dynasty military power. So the law-ping personally directed a public Yelu Deguang a trick: she came to the Minister of the collection of the account, the civil and military Baiguan said: "My two sons are very good, are suitable for the emperor, I can not Who do the emperor decided to empower the emperor now to you, you think who is suitable for the emperor to do who saddle bridle. "Wenwu Baiguan are aware of the intention of the law of peace, rush to grab the Yelu Deguang saddle Bridle, and cheering "is willing to Deguang Emperor." Yelu times also know the intention of his mother, on the minister said, "Grand Marshal merit and God, Chinese and foreign Yau is appropriate to the main boat." Subsequently, Yelu times "and the ministers in the Queen Mother to make way", had to let the emperor to Yelu Deguang.
       927 years (days was two years) at the end of Yelu Deguang the emperor that Liao Taizong, but his brother Yelu times do not worry, its implementation of the surveillance. To this end, the relationship between the brothers worse, further deepen the contradictions.
       Yelu times the situation is known after the Tang Mingzong Li Siyuan, for political purposes, he sent a book secret Yelv times. 930 years (days was five years), Yelu times defected to the late Tang. When he was in Jinzhou (now Jinzhou District, Dalian City, Liaoning Province) is about to board the boat, the face of the motherland, grieved with a small wooden plaque at the seaside, carved "sea poem": "hill pressure mountains, Shame see hometown people, from foreign investment ". He compared the "mountain" to himself, "Hill" compared to younger brother, a few pen, sketched out the sharp contradictions within the Khitan royal family.
       Yelu times to the late Tang was warmly received, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty emperor Li Siyuan to welcome the emperor instrument Wei, and given surname Dongdan, name Muhua, thanks Huaihua army Jiedushi, Ruishen state observation; Name of the Li Zanhua, move the town of sliding state (now Henan Huaxian), distant lead Qian state (now Jiangxi Ganzhou) Jiedushi.
       Killed
       Although the body in a foreign country, but Yelu times often miss homes and relatives. 933 years (eight days) after the Tang Mingzong Li Siyuan died, his son Li thick ascended the throne less than six months, was Li Siyuan's adopted son Li Cong killed. Yelu times that this is an excellent time to attack the Tang Dynasty, sent Liao Taizong secret report, hoping to use the occasion of the aftermath of civil strife Tang attack. Yelu Deguang really led the troops south, but he should not be invited to Yelv times, but should be invited to Shi Jingtang. 936 years (days was eleven years), Li Cong for self-immolation, called Yelu times with the burning, Yelv times not from the Li Congke Zhuang Shi Li Yingsheng killed Yelu times, only 38 years old, Luoyang monk Yelv times the corpse Convergence, temporarily buried in a barren hillside. Later, the Liao Taizong Yelu times to be buried in his lifetime love of medical witch Lu Shan. 937 years (days was twelve years), Yelu times the eldest son of Yelu Nguyen when the emperor, chasing the posthumous title of his father as "the emperor", Ling said. 1051 years (re-hee twenty years), Liao Xingzong also increased posthumous title literature Qin Emperor, Temple No. justice cases.