Emperor Qinzong of Song
Encyclopedia
Emperor Qinzong was the ninth emperor of the Song Dynasty of China
, and the last emperor of the Northern Song. His personal name was Zhao Huan. He reigned from January 1126 to January 1127.
Qinzong was the eldest son of Emperor Huizong. His mother was the empress consort, from the Wang (王) family, known posthumously as Empress Xiangong
(顯恭皇后) (1084–1108).
He ascended the throne in dramatic circumstances following his father's abdication. As the Song empire was faced with invasion by the Jurchen of the Jin Dynasty
, Qinzong's father Emperor Huizong quickly abdicated in Qinzong's favour. Left to deal with the Jurchens, Qinzong appointed Li Gang
(李綱) to fend off the Jurchens. However Qinzong was not a determined leader. He made poor judgements and eventually removed Li Gang from his post in hopes of peaceful negotiation. Uninterested in peace, the Jurchens invaded Kaifeng in January 1127 and captured 26 year old Qinzong, Grand-Emperor Huizong and the entire Song imperial family including dozens of government officials in the Jingkang Incident
, thus ending the Northern Song dynasty.
Qinzong, along with his father, was demoted to the rank of commoner on March 20, 1127, and on May 13, 1127 he was deported to faraway and bitter cold Northern Manchuria
where he was to spend the last 34 years of his life in confinement.
In 1128, Qinzong, along with his father, had to pay homage to the ancestors of the Jin emperor at their ancestral temple in Shangjing
(near today's Harbin), wearing mourning dress. He was then granted the title of Marquess
of Chonghun (重昏, "Doubly muddled"); his father received a similarly derogatary-sounding title.
In 1141, as the Jin relations with the Song were about to normalized, Qinzong's captors granted him a neutrally-sounding title of the Duke
(公, gong) of Tianshui Jun, after a commandery in the upper reaches of the Wei River
(now in Gansu
), while his father (who had died in 1135) was posthumously styled the Prince
of Tianshui Jun; a few months later he started receiving a stipend due to his rank. Until his death in 1156 he was kept by the Jin in a role akin to that of a hostage, as a tool to bring pressure on the Song.
Qinzong died as a sick and broken man in 1161. He was 61. His temple name
means "Esteemed Ancestor".
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and the last emperor of the Northern Song. His personal name was Zhao Huan. He reigned from January 1126 to January 1127.
Qinzong was the eldest son of Emperor Huizong. His mother was the empress consort, from the Wang (王) family, known posthumously as Empress Xiangong
Empress Xiangong
Empress Xiangong was a Chinese Empress consort of the Song Dynasty, married to Emperor Huizong of Song.- Sources :...
(顯恭皇后) (1084–1108).
He ascended the throne in dramatic circumstances following his father's abdication. As the Song empire was faced with invasion by the Jurchen of the Jin Dynasty
Jin Dynasty, 1115–1234
The Jīn Dynasty ; Khitan language: Nik, Niku; ; 1115–1234), also known as the Jurchen Dynasty, was founded by the Wanyan clan of the Jurchens, the ancestors of the Manchus who established the Qing Dynasty some 500 years later...
, Qinzong's father Emperor Huizong quickly abdicated in Qinzong's favour. Left to deal with the Jurchens, Qinzong appointed Li Gang
Li Gang
Li Gang is a Chinese football player who currently plays for Chengdu Blades as a midfielder in the Chinese Super League where he is also their current captain.-Shanghai:...
(李綱) to fend off the Jurchens. However Qinzong was not a determined leader. He made poor judgements and eventually removed Li Gang from his post in hopes of peaceful negotiation. Uninterested in peace, the Jurchens invaded Kaifeng in January 1127 and captured 26 year old Qinzong, Grand-Emperor Huizong and the entire Song imperial family including dozens of government officials in the Jingkang Incident
Jingkang Incident
The Jingkang Incident , the Humiliation of Jingkang , or The Disorders of the Jingkang Period took place in 1127 when invading Jurchen soldiers from the Jin Dynasty besieged and sacked Bianjing , the capital of the Song Dynasty of China...
, thus ending the Northern Song dynasty.
Qinzong, along with his father, was demoted to the rank of commoner on March 20, 1127, and on May 13, 1127 he was deported to faraway and bitter cold Northern Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
where he was to spend the last 34 years of his life in confinement.
In 1128, Qinzong, along with his father, had to pay homage to the ancestors of the Jin emperor at their ancestral temple in Shangjing
Huining Fu
Huining Fu was a prefecture in the Shangjing region of Manchuria . It served as the first superior capital of the Jin Dynasty between 1122 to 1234 .- History :...
(near today's Harbin), wearing mourning dress. He was then granted the title of Marquess
Chinese nobility
Chinese sovereignty and peerage, the nobility of China, were an important feature of traditional social and political organization of Imperial China. While the concepts of hereditary sovereign and peerage titles and noble families were featured as early as the semi-mythical, early historical...
of Chonghun (重昏, "Doubly muddled"); his father received a similarly derogatary-sounding title.
In 1141, as the Jin relations with the Song were about to normalized, Qinzong's captors granted him a neutrally-sounding title of the Duke
Chinese nobility
Chinese sovereignty and peerage, the nobility of China, were an important feature of traditional social and political organization of Imperial China. While the concepts of hereditary sovereign and peerage titles and noble families were featured as early as the semi-mythical, early historical...
(公, gong) of Tianshui Jun, after a commandery in the upper reaches of the Wei River
Wei River
The Wei River is a major river in west-central China's Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. It is the largest tributary of the Yellow River and very important in the early development of Chinese civilization....
(now in Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
), while his father (who had died in 1135) was posthumously styled the Prince
Chinese nobility
Chinese sovereignty and peerage, the nobility of China, were an important feature of traditional social and political organization of Imperial China. While the concepts of hereditary sovereign and peerage titles and noble families were featured as early as the semi-mythical, early historical...
of Tianshui Jun; a few months later he started receiving a stipend due to his rank. Until his death in 1156 he was kept by the Jin in a role akin to that of a hostage, as a tool to bring pressure on the Song.
Qinzong died as a sick and broken man in 1161. He was 61. His temple name
Temple name
Temple names are commonly used when naming most Chinese, Korean , and Vietnamese royalty. They should not be confused with era names. Compared to posthumous names, the use of temple names is more exclusive...
means "Esteemed Ancestor".
Empress
- Empress ZhuEmpress RenhuaiEmpress Renhuai was a Chinese Empress consort of the Song Dynasty, married to Emperor Qinzong of Song.- Sources :...
, said to be named Zhu Lian (朱琏). She committed suicide to avoid Jurchen insult and was posthumously honored Lady Zhenjie of Jingkang County
Sons
- Zhao Chen (赵谌), Crown Prince born by Empress Zhu
- Zhao Jin (赵谨), born by Consort Zhu
- Zhao Xun (赵训), born by Lady Zheng in the territory of Jin Dynasty
Titles from birth
- Crown Prince
- Emperor
- Marquess of Zhonghun 重昏侯
- Duke of Tianshu Commendary 天水郡公
See also
- List of Song Emperors
- Architecture of the Song DynastyArchitecture of the Song DynastyThe architecture of the Song Dynasty was noted for its towering Buddhist pagodas, enormous stone and wooden bridges, lavish tombs, and palaces. Although literary works on architecture existed beforehand, architectural writing blossomed during the Song Dynasty, maturing into a more professional...
- Culture of the Song DynastyCulture of the Song DynastyThe Song Dynasty was a culturally rich and sophisticated age for China. There was blossoming of and advancements in the visual arts, music, literature, and philosophy...
- Economy of the Song DynastyEconomy of the Song DynastyThe economy of China under the Song Dynasty of China was marked by commercial expansion, financial prosperity, increased international trade-contacts, and a revolution in agricultural productivity. Private finance grew, stimulating the development of a country-wide market network which linked the...
- History of the Song DynastyHistory of the Song DynastyThe Song Dynasty of China was a ruling dynasty that controlled China proper and southern China from the middle of the 10th century into the last quarter of the 13th century...
- Society of the Song DynastySociety of the Song DynastyChinese society during the Song Dynasty was marked by political and legal reforms, a philosophical revival of Confucianism, and the development of cities beyond administrative purposes into centers of trade, industry, and maritime commerce...
- Technology of the Song DynastyTechnology of the Song DynastyThe Song Dynasty provided some of the most significant technological advances in Chinese history, many of which came from talented statesmen drafted by the government through imperial examinations....