Emperor Qinzong

Emperor Qinzong of Song
Emperor of the Song dynasty
Reign 19 January 1126 – 9 January 1127
Predecessor Emperor Huizong
Successor Emperor Gaozong
Born Zhao Huan
(1100-05-23)23 May 1100
Died 14 June 1161(1161-06-14) (aged 61)
Empress Empress Zhu
Concubines
  • Consort Zhu
  • Zheng Qingyun
  • Han Jingguan
  • Liu Yue'e
  • Lu Shunshu
  • He Fengling
  • Di Yuhui
  • Qi Xiaoyu
  • Zheng Yuegong
  • Jiang Changjin
  • Bao Chundie
Issue
  • Zhao Chen
  • Zhao Jin
  • Zhao Xun
  • Princess Roujia
  • Lady Zhao
  • Lady Zhao
Era dates
Jingkang (靖康; 1126–1127)
Posthumous name
Gongwen Shunde Renxiao Huangdi
(恭文順德仁孝皇帝)
Temple name
Qinzong (欽宗)
House House of Zhao
Father Emperor Huizong
Mother Empress Xiangong
Emperor Qinzong of Song
Traditional Chinese 宋欽宗
Simplified Chinese 宋钦宗
Zhao Ji
Traditional Chinese 趙桓
Simplified Chinese 赵桓
Marquis Chonghun
Chinese 重昏侯
Literal meaning Doubly Besotted Marquis
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhao.

Emperor Qinzong of Song (23 May 1100 – 14 June 1161), personal name Zhao Huan, was the ninth emperor of the Song dynasty in China and the last emperor of the Northern Song dynasty.

Emperor Qinzong was the eldest son and heir apparent of Emperor Huizong. His mother was Emperor Huizong's empress consort, Empress Wang. In 1126, when the forces of the Jurchen-led Jin Empire invaded the Song Empire during the Jin–Song Wars, Emperor Huizong abdicated and passed on his throne to Emperor Qinzong, and then assumed the title Taishang Huang ("Retired Emperor") himself. Left to deal with the Jin invasion, Emperor Qinzong appointed the general Li Gang (李綱) to lead the Song military to fend off the invaders. However, the emperor was not a decisive leader and often made poor judgments. Eventually, he removed Li Gang from his appointment in the hope of starting peace talks with the Jin Empire. However, Jin forces eventually breached the walls of the Song capital, Bianjing, in 1127 and occupied the city in an event historically known as the Jingkang Incident ("Jingkang" was the era name of Emperor Qinzong's reign). Emperor Qinzong, along with his father Emperor Huizong and the rest of their family, were taken prisoner by Jin forces. This event also marked the end of the Northern Song dynasty. One of Emperor Huizong's sons managed to escape to southern China, where he reestablished the empire as the Southern Song dynasty and became historically known as Emperor Gaozong.

Emperor Qinzong and his father were demoted to the status of commoners on 20 March 1127 and deported to Huining Prefecture, the Jin capital, on 13 May 1127. In 1128, the two former Song emperors were forced to wear mourning dress and pay homage to the ancestors of the Jin emperors at their ancestral temple in Huining Prefecture.[1][2] Furthermore, the Jurchen ruler, Emperor Taizong, gave the two former Song emperors contemptuous titles to humiliate them: Emperor Qinzong was called "Marquis Chonghun" (重昏侯; literally "Doubly Besotted Marquis") while Emperor Huizong was called "Duke Hunde" (昏德公; literally "Besotted Duke").[2]

In 1141, as the Jin Empire normalised relations with the (Southern) Song Empire, the Jurchens renamed Emperor Qinzong's title to the more neutral-sounding "Duke of Tianshui Commandery" (天水郡公), which is based on a commandery located in the upper reaches of the Wei River. A few months later, the former emperor started receiving a stipend due to his nobility status. He lived the rest of his life as a captive in the Jin Empire, which used him as a hostage to put pressure on the Song Empire.[2]

Emperor Qinzong died as a sick and broken man in 1161.[3] He was 61. His temple name means "Esteemed Ancestor".

Family

See also

Notes

  1. Tao, p. 32
  2. 1 2 3 Franke (1994), p. 233-234.
  3. Mote F.W. (2003). Imperial China 900-1800. Harvard University Press. p. 291. ISBN 0674012127.

References

Emperor Qinzong
Born: May 23 1100 Died: June 14 1161
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Emperor Huizong
Emperor of the Song Dynasty
1126–1127
Succeeded by
Emperor Gaozong
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