Dali Kingdom
A kingdom in present-day Yunnan, China, ruled by the Duan dynasty from 937 until its conquest by the Mongol Empire in 1253.
Nanzhao: A powerful kingdom in present-day Yunnan that flourished from the eighth to the tenth century. The Dali Kingdom emerged in the region after Nanzhao’s political order collapsed.
Duan dynasty: The ruling house that governed the Dali Kingdom from its founding until the Mongol conquest. Duan rulers held the kingdom’s throne across its full span.
Nanzhao Tushu juan: A handscroll depicting Buddhist deities, ritual figures, and scenes associated with the Dali region. The scroll offers a visual record of religious culture in the Dali era.
Mongol conquest of Dali: The Mongol campaign that defeated the Dali Kingdom in 1253 and incorporated its territory into the Mongol Empire. The conquest ended the kingdom’s independence and opened Yunnan to Mongol rule.
Duan Siping: The founder of the Dali Kingdom, who established Duan rule in 937. His accession marks the kingdom’s conventional founding date.
Buddhism in Dali: The development and practice of Buddhism in the historical Dali region. Buddhism shaped royal legitimacy, religious life, and artistic production.
Shibaoshan Grottoes: A complex of Buddhist rock carvings in Jianchuan County, Yunnan, with works dating to the Nanzhao and Dali periods. The grottoes preserve sculpture connected to the kingdom’s regional religious world.
Kublai Khan: The Mongol ruler who led the 1253 campaign against the Dali Kingdom before becoming emperor of the Yuan dynasty. His campaign brought the kingdom under Mongol control.
Yunnan: A province in southwestern China bordering Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. The Dali Kingdom’s territory centered on the region now called Yunnan.
Bai people: An ethnic group concentrated around Erhai Lake in Yunnan, with a distinct language and cultural traditions. Bai communities formed a major part of the kingdom’s population and later legacy.