 The 12th century saw the rapid rise of the Jurchen people , which culminated in 1115 with the foundation of the Jin dynasty by the Jurchen warlord Aguda . The Jurchens , led by Aguda , captured the Liao dynasty 's supreme capital in 1120 and its central capital in 1122 . The Liao emperor Tianzuo fled the southern capital Nanjing ( today 's Beijing ) to the western region , and his uncle Prince Yelü Chun then formed the short @-@ lived Northern Liao in the southern capital , but died soon afterwards . In 1125 , the Jurchens captured Emperor Tianzuo and ended the Liao dynasty . 
