The dynasty was founded by Yelü Dashi, who led the remnants of the Liao dynasty to Central Asia after fleeing from the Jurchen conquest of their homeland in the north and northeast of modern-day China.
O fundador da dinastía foi Yelü Dashi, quen conduciu os restos das dinastía Liao ata Asia Central despois de fuxir da conquista dos jurchen abandonando a súa patria no norte e nordeste da actual China.