List of emperors of the Song dynasty

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Emperor of the Song dynasty
宋朝皇帝
Imperial
A hanging-scroll portrait painting of Emperor Taizong of Song (r. 960–976), founder of the Song dynasty, painted by an anonymous Song artist
Details
StyleHis Imperial Majesty (陛下)
Guanjia (官家)
First monarchEmperor Taizu (Northern Song)
Emperor Gaozong (Southern Song)
Last monarchEmperor Qinzong (Northern Song)
Emperor Huaizong (Southern Song)
Formation960 (Northern Song)
1127 (Southern Song)
Abolition1127 (Northern Song)
1279 (Southern Song)
ResidenceImperial City, Bianliang
Imperial City, Lin'an
AppointerHereditary

The

imperial dynasty of China that succeeded the period referred to as Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–960) and preceded the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), which conquered the Song dynasty in 1279. The conventional division into the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) and Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279) is created by the conquest of northern China by the Jin dynasty (1115–1234) in 1127 and the consequent shift of the capital from Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng) in the north to Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou
) in the south.

Below is a complete list of emperors of the Song dynasty, including their

Zhao Bing (r. 1278–1279). The last emperor of the Northern Song was Emperor Qinzong (r. 1126–1127), while the first Southern Song emperor was Emperor Gaozong
(r. 1127–1162).

The emperor, or

gentry class during the Song dynasty led to a much more limited role for the emperor in shaping public policy, although he still maintained his autocratic authority. He had the sole right to establish new laws, although he was expected to respect legal precedents set forth by previous emperors of his dynasty.[1]

Background

See also: History of the Song dynasty
Painted image of a man standing erect, wearing white silk robes, black hat, black shoes, and sporting a black mustache and goatee
Painted image of a man sitting in a wooden chair, wearing red silk robes, black shoes, a black hat, and sporting a black mustache and goatee
Left image: Portrait of Emperor Taizong (r. 976–997) by an anonymous Song artist
Right image: Portrait of Emperor Shenzong (r. 1067–1085) by an anonymous Song artist

The Song dynasty was founded by

Jingkang Incident,[3] Jin forces captured the Song capital, Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng), in 1127, along with Emperor Huizong (r. 1100–1126), then a retired emperor, and his ruling son Emperor Qinzong (r. 1126–1127).[4]

Xinhui District, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province.[10][11]

Titles and names

From the

written characters used in posthumous names grew steadily larger from the Han dynasty (202 BC – AD 220) onwards and thus became overly long when referring to sovereigns.[13] For example, the posthumous name of Nurhaci (r. 1616–1626), the founder of the Manchu state which would eventually establish the Qing dynasty, contained 29 written characters.[13] By the Tang dynasty, much shorter temple names were preferred when referring to the emperor, a preference that was carried into the Song dynasty.[13] Each emperor also had a tomb name (陵號; linghao) and various other honorific titles.[15]

Head of state

See also: Society of the Song dynasty
A painted image of four Chinese women wearing colorful silk robes, their hair tied up into buns, standing around a small wooden block with silk laid on top while holding large whisks which they use to beat the silk
Peter K. Bol writes that Emperor Huizong's political ideology and even his artwork, such as this piece showing women preparing silk, has much in common with official Li Jie's (李誡; 1065–1110) architectural treatise Yingzao Fashi (1103): "high technical standards, a lack of interest in individual variation, a concern with effective functioning, and a coherence of design in which all the parts fit together seamlessly ... It seems to me that these qualities are those that mark the promise of the New Policies and the era's faith that it could transform society into a mutually supporting and constantly self-improving social organism."[16]

In theory, the emperor's political power was absolute, but even during the

gentry class from which they came.[19]

During the preceding Tang dynasty, the civil service examinations did not yet produce the high number of officials as they would during the Song dynasty;[20] a hereditary aristocracy remained dependent on the court for attaining rank and holding office.[21] Song rulers, particularly Emperor Huizong, encountered a great deal of political opposition despite attempts to attain the ideals of the sage kings of antiquity. The inability of the sovereign to monopolize political authority was linked to the rise of a new class of gentry and scholar-official who filled the bureaucracy.[22]

When the Song dynasty was founded, the political elites consisted of officials (and their sons) who had served in the

Chancellor Wang Anshi (1021–1086). These great families were replaced by officials representing diverse local gentry lineages throughout the country.[26]

Peter K. Bol asserts that the supporters of Wang Anshi's expansionist, activist central government in his New Policies were convinced that he understood the

chancellor and political rival to Wang Anshi, had little to say about the emperor's role in shaping major reforms and public policy, mentioning only that the emperor made major appointments when necessary.[29]

Emperors could choose whether to supervise the policy bureaucracy or to pursue scholarship, cults, hobbies, or women instead. However, Frederick W. Mote argues that most Song emperors – who spent much of their childhood confined and isolated within a luxurious palace – were aloof conformists detached from the world of normal affairs and thus relied on officialdom to administer the government.[30] While the mainstream view is that the Song court exercised the highest degree of restraint and courtesy towards civil officials, the new protocol of enhanced deferential treatment by officials towards the emperor during conferences and meetings further eroded the emperor's close contact with his ministers.[31]

List of emperors

See also:
Song emperors family tree

Northern Song, 960–1127

Portrait Temple name
(廟號; miào hào)[note 1] 		Posthumous name
(諡號; shì hào) 		Birth name Lifespan Period of reign Era names (年號; nián hào) durations
Taizu (太祖; Tàizǔ) 啟運立極英武睿文神德聖功至明大孝皇帝[note 2] Zhao Kuangyin (趙匡胤; Zhào Kuāngyìn) 927–976 (49) 960–976
  • Jianlong (建隆; Jiànlóng; 960–963)[32]
  • Qiande (乾德; Qiándé; 963–968)[33]
  • Kaibao (開寶; Kāibǎo; 968–976)[34]
 Taizong (太宗; Tàizōng) 至仁應道神功聖德文武睿烈大明廣孝皇帝 Zhao Jiong (趙炅; Zhào Jiǒng) 939–997 (58) 976–997
  • Taipingxingguo (太平興國; Tàipíngxīngguó; 976–984)[35]
  • Yongxi (雍熙; Yōngxī; 984–988)[36]
  • Duangong (端拱; Duāngǒng; 988–989)[37]
  • Chunhua (淳化; Chúnhuà; 990–994)[38]
  • Zhidao (至道; Zhìdào; 995–997)[39]
Zhenzong (真宗; Zhēnzōng) (Empress Consort Liu
ruled as regent at the end of his rule) 		應符稽古神功讓德文明武定章聖元孝皇帝 Zhao Heng (趙恆; Zhào Héng) 968–1022 (54) 997–1022
  • Xianping (咸平; Xiánpíng; 998–1003)[40]
  • Jingde (景德; Jǐngdé; 1004–1007)[41]
  • Dazhongxiangfu (大中祥符; Dàzhōngxiángfú; 1008–1016)[42]
  • Tianxi (天禧; Tiānxǐ; 1017–1021)[43]
  • Qianxing (乾興; Qiánxīng; 1022)[44]
 Renzong (仁宗; Rénzōng) (Empress Dowager Liu ruled as regent in the beginning of his rule) 體天法道極功全德神文聖武睿哲明孝皇帝 Zhao Zhen (趙禎; Zhào Zhēn) 1010–1063 (53) 1022–1063
  • Tiansheng (天聖; Tiānshèng; 1023–1032)[45]
  • Mingdao (明道; Míngdào; 1032–1033)[46]
  • Jingyou (景祐; Jǐngyòu; 1034–1038)[47]
  • Baoyuan (寶元; Bǎoyuán; 1038–1040)[48]
  • Kangding (康定; Kāngdìng; 1040–1041)[49]
  • Qingli (慶曆; Qìnglì; 1041–1048)[50]
  • Huangyou (皇祐; Huángyòu; 1049–1053)[51]
  • Zhihe (至和; Zhìhé; 1054–1056)[52]
  • Jiayou (嘉祐; Jiāyòu; 1056–1063)[53]
 Yingzong (英宗; Yīngzōng) 體乾應曆隆功盛德憲文肅武睿聖宣孝皇帝 Zhao Shu (趙曙; Zhào Shǔ) 1032–1067 (35) 1063–1067
  • Zhiping (治平; Zhìpíng; 1064–1067)[54]
 Shenzong (神宗; Shénzōng) 紹天法古運德建功英文烈武欽仁聖孝皇帝 Zhao Xu (趙頊; Zhào Xū) 1048–1085 (37) 1067–1085
  • Xining (熙寧; Xīníng; 1068–1077)[55]
  • Yuanfeng (元豐; Yuánfēng; 1078–1085)[56]
 Zhezong (哲宗; Zhézōng) 憲元繼道顯德定功欽文睿武齊聖昭孝皇帝 Zhao Xu (趙煦; Zhào Xù) 1077–1100 (23) 1085–1100
  • Yuanyou (元祐; Yuányòu; 1086–1093)[57]
  • Shaosheng (紹聖; Shàoshèng; 1094–1098)[58]
  • Yuanfu (元符; Yuánfú; 1098–1100)[59]
 Huizong (徽宗; Huīzōng) 體神合道駿烈遜功聖文仁德慈憲顯孝皇帝 Zhao Ji (趙佶; Zhào Jí) 1082–1135 (53) 1100–1125
  • Jianzhongjingguo (建中靖國; Jiànzhōngjìngguó; 1101)[60]
  • Chongning (崇寧; Chóngníng; 1102–1106)[61]
  • Daguan (大觀; Dàguān; 1107–1110)[62]
  • Zhenghe (政和; Zhènghé; 1111–1118)[63]
  • Chonghe (重和; Chónghé; 1118)[64]
  • Xuanhe (宣和; Xuānhé; 1119–1125)[65]
 Qinzong (欽宗; Qīnzōng) 恭文順德仁孝皇帝 Zhao Huan (趙桓; Zhào Huán) 1100–1161 (61) 1126–1127
  • Jingkang (靖康; Jìngkāng; 1125–1127)[66]

Southern Song, 1127–1279

Portrait Temple names
(廟號; miào hào) 		Posthumous names
(諡號; shì hào) 		Birth names Lifespan Period
of reigns 		Era names (年號; nián hào) and their according range of years
Gaozong (高宗; Gāozōng) Shòumìng Zhōngxīng Quángōng Zhìdé Shèngshén Wǔwén Zhāorén Xiànxiào Huángdì (受命中興全功至德聖神武文昭仁憲孝皇帝) Zhao Gou (趙構; Zhào Gòu) 1107–1187 (80) 1127–1162
  • Jianyan (建炎; Jiànyán; 1127–1130)[67][note 3]
  • Shaoxing (紹興; Shàoxīng; 1131–1162)[68]
 Xiaozong (孝宗; Xiàozōng) Shàotǒng Tóngdào Guāndé Zhāogōng Zhéwén Shénwǔ Míngshèng Chéngxiào Huángdì (紹統同道冠德昭功哲文神武明聖成孝皇帝) Zhao Shen (趙昚; Zhào Shèn) 1127–1194 (67) 1162–1189
  • Longxing (隆興; Lóngxīng; 1163–1164)[69]
  • Qiandao (乾道; Qiándào; 1165–1173)[70]
  • Chunxi (淳熙; Chúnxī; 1174–1189)[71]
 Guangzong (光宗; Guāngzōng) Xúndào Xiànrén Mínggōng Màodé Wēnshùn Wǔshèng Zhécí Xiào Huángdì (循道憲仁明功茂德溫文順武聖哲慈孝皇帝) Zhao Dun (趙惇; Zhào Dūn) 1147–1200 (53) 1189–1194
  • Shaoxi (紹熙; Shàoxī; 1190–1194)[72]
 Ningzong (寧宗; Níngzōng) Fǎtiān Bèidào Chúnquán Démào Gōngrén Wénzhé Wǔshèng Ruìgōng Xiào Huángdì (法天備道純德茂功仁文哲武聖睿恭孝皇帝) Zhao Kuo (趙擴; Zhào Kuò) 1168–1224 (56) 1194–1224
  • Qingyuan (慶元; Qìngyuán; 1195–1200)[73]
  • Jiatai (嘉泰; Jiātài; 1201–1204)[74]
  • Kaixi (開禧; Kāixǐ; 1205–1207)[75]
  • Jiading (嘉定; Jiādìng; 1208–1224)[76]
 Lizong (理宗; Lǐzōng) Jiàndào Bèidé Dàgōng Fùxīng Lièwén Rénwǔ Shèngmíng Ānxiào Huángdì (建道備德大功復興烈文仁武聖明安孝皇帝) Zhao Yun (趙昀; Zhào Yún) 1205–1264 (59) 1224–1264
  • Baoqing (寶慶; Bǎoqìng; 1225–1227)[77]
  • Shaoding (紹定; Shàodìng; 1228–1233)[78]
  • Duanping (端平; Duānpíng; 1234–1236)[79]
  • Jiaxi (嘉熙; Jiāxī; 1237–1240)[80]
  • Chunyou (淳祐; Chúnyòu; 1241–1252)[81]
  • Baoyou (寶祐; Bǎoyòu; 1253–1258)[82]
  • Kaiqing (開慶; Kāiqìng; 1259)[83]
  • Jingding (景定; Jǐngdìng; 1260–1264)[84]
 Duzong (度宗; Dùzōng) Duānwén Míngwǔ Jǐngxiào Huángdì (端文明武景孝皇帝) Zhao Qi (趙祺; Zhào Qí) 1240–1274 (34) 1264–1274
  • Xianchun (咸淳; Xiánchún; 1265–1274)[85]
 Gong (宋恭帝; Gōng) Xiàogōng Yìshèng Huángdì (孝恭懿圣皇帝) Zhao Xian (趙顯; Zhào Xiǎn) 1271–1323 (52) 1275
  • Deyou (德祐; Déyòu; 1275–1276)[86]
 Duanzong (端宗; Duānzōng) Yùwén Zhāowǔ Mǐnxiào Huángdì (裕文昭武愍孝皇帝) Zhao Shi (趙昰; Zhào Shì) 1268–1278 (10) 1276–1278
  • Jingyan (景炎; Jǐngyán; 1276–1278)[87]
 Song Huaizong (宋懷宗; unofficially) none[note 4] Zhao Bing (趙昺; Zhào Bǐng) 1271–1279 (8) 1278–1279
  • Xiangxing (祥興; Xiángxīng; 1278–1279)[88]

Timeline

Zhao BingEmperor DuanzongEmperor Gong of SongEmperor DuzongEmperor LizongEmperor NingzongEmperor GuangzongEmperor Xiaozong of SongEmperor Gaozong of SongEmperor QinzongEmperor Huizong of SongEmperor ZhezongEmperor Shenzong of SongEmperor Yingzong of SongEmperor Renzong of SongEmperor ZhenzongEmperor Taizong of SongEmperor Taizu of SongSong dynastySong dynasty

Family tree of emperors

  • Chinese emperors family tree (middle)#Song dynasty

Notes

  1. Song Di Bing
    " (宋帝昺; Sòng Dì Bǐng)
  2. ^ See the "names and titles" section of this article for an explanation.
  3. ^ In 1129, Emperor Gaozong was briefly forced to abdicate in favour of his two-year-old son Zhao Fu, with the era name Mingshou, but as shortly after Emperor Gaozong was restored by forces loyal to him, Zhao Fu is not usually considered a Song emperor by traditional historians, nor was his era name recognised. But see Bo (1977), pp. 941–942.
  4. ^ He's often referred as Emperor Shao of Song （宋少帝），Emperor Bing of Song (宋昺帝),or Song Mozhu(宋末主)

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Mote (1999), pp. 98–99.
  2. ^ a b Bol (2001), p. 112.
  3. ^ Hennessey (1984), pp. 42, 51.
  4. ^ Ebrey et al. (2006), pp. 165–167.
  5. ^ Gernet (1962), p. 22.
  6. ^ Coblin (2002), p. 533.
  7. ^ Tillman (1995), p. 29; Mostern (2008), p. 241.
  8. ^ Rossabi (1988), pp. 8, 53.
  9. ^ Grant (2010), p. 56
  10. ^ Rossabi (1988), pp. 93–94.
  11. ISBN 978-0-8131-3584-7
    .
  12. ^ Wilkinson (1998), p. 106; Mote (1999), p. 98.
  13. ^ a b c d e Wilkinson (1998), p. 106.
  14. ^ Wilkinson (1998), pp. 106–107.
  15. ^ Wilkinson (1998), p. 107.
  16. ^ Bol (2001), pp. 113–114.
  17. ^ de Crespigny (2007), pp. 1216, 1226–1228; Bielenstein (1980), pp. 84–85, 143–144; Hucker (1975), pp. 149–150; Wang (1949), pp. 157–158, 173–177.
  18. ^ Ebrey et al. (2006), p. 159–160; Bol (2001), p. 107; Gernet (1962), p. 65.
  19. ^ Mote (1999), pp. 99–100.
  20. ^ Ebrey (1999), pp. 145–146.
  21. ^ Bol (2001), 132.
  22. ^ a b c See Bol (2001), pp. 103–134 for detailed analysis.
  23. ^ Hartwell (1982), pp. 405–407.
  24. ^ Ebrey (1999), pp. 145–146; Mote (1999), p. 102; see also Needham (1972), p. 132.
  25. ^ Yuan (1994), pp. 196–194; Bol (2001), pp. 115–116, 121, 133; see also Ebrey (1999), pp. 145–146.
  26. ^ Hartwell (1982), pp. 413–416.
  27. ^ Bol (2001), 116.
  28. ^ Hymes (1986), pp. 132–133; Walton (1999), p. 199.
  29. ^ Bol (2001), p. 133.
  30. ^ Mote (1999), p. 100.
  31. ^ Mote (1999), p. 101.
  32. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 873–876.
  33. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 876–878.
  34. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 878–881.
  35. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 881–883.
  36. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 883–885.
  37. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 885–886.
  38. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 886–887.
  39. ^ Bo (1977), p. 887.
  40. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 887–891.
  41. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 891–892.
  42. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 892–894.
  43. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 894–895.
  44. ^ Bo (1977), p. 895.
  45. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 895–896.
  46. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 896–897.
  47. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 897–898.
  48. ^ Bo (1977), p. 898.
  49. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 898–899.
  50. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 899–903.
  51. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 903–904.
  52. ^ Bo (1977), p. 905.
  53. ^ Bo, pp. 905–907.
  54. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 908–909.
  55. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 909–914.
  56. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 914–918.
  57. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 918–921.
  58. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 921–923.
  59. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 923–924.
  60. ^ Bo (1977), p. 927.
  61. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 927–928.
  62. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 928–929.
  63. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 929–931.
  64. ^ Bo (1977), p. 931.
  65. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 932–935.
  66. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 937–938.
  67. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 938–942.
  68. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 944–961.
  69. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 961–962.
  70. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 963–965.
  71. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 965–969.
  72. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 970–972.
  73. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 972–973.
  74. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 977–978.
  75. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 979–981.
  76. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 981–988.
  77. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 989–990.
  78. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 991–994.
  79. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 995–996.
  80. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 996–997.
  81. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 998–1002.
  82. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 1003–1004.
  83. ^ Bo (1977), p. 1005.
  84. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 1006–1008.
  85. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 1008–1011.
  86. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 1012–1013.
  87. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 1013–1015.
  88. ^ Bo (1977), pp. 1015–1016.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emperors of the Song Dynasty.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_emperors_of_the_Song_dynasty&oldid=1217916611"