Emperor Zhenzong of Song

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Emperor Zhenzong of Song

Birth and death:	23 December 968–23 March 1022
Family name:	Zhao (趙)
Given name:	Dechang (德昌), later Yuanxiu¹ (元休), then later Yuankan² (元侃), then again later Heng³ (恆)
Dates of reign:	May 10, 997–23 March 1022
Temple name:	Zhenzong (真宗)
Posthumous name: (short)	Never used short
Posthumous name: (full)	Emperor Yingfu Jigu Shengong Rangde Wenming Wuding Zhangsheng Yuanxiao⁴ 膺符稽古神功讓德文明武定章聖元孝皇帝
General note: Dates given here are in the Julian calendar. They are not in the proleptic Gregorian calendar. ——— 1. Had his name changed into Yuanxiu in 983. 2. Had his name changed into Yuankan in 986. 3. Had his name changed into Heng in 995 when he was officially named crown prince. This name became his taboo name when he ascended the throne in 997. 4. This is the final version of the posthumous name given in 1047.

Emperor Zhenzong (December 23, 968 - March 23, 1022) was the third emperor of the Song Dynasty of China. His personal name was Zhao Heng. He reigned from 997 to 1022. Zhenzong was the son of Emperor Taizong. His temple name means "True Ancestor".

Zhenzong's reign was noted for the consolidation of power and the strengthening of the dynasty. The country prospered, and its military might was further reinforced. However, it would also mark beginning of a foreign policy towards the Khitan Empire (Liao Dynasty) that would ultimately result in humiliation. In 1004, the Khitan waged war against the Song empire. Zhenzong, leading his army, struck back at the Khitan. Despite initial successes, in 1005 Zhenzong concluded the Shanyuan Treaty. The treaty resulted in over a century of peace, but at the price of the Song dynasty agreeing to an inferior position to the Khitan, and also agreeing to pay an annual tribute of 100,000 ounces of silver and over 200,000 bolts of silk. The admission of inferiority would come to plague the foreign affairs of the Song dynasty, while the payments slowly depleted the empire's coffers.

Zhenzong also stressed the importance of Daoism at Court. It was during his reign that the so-called Heavenly Texts, which glorified the Zhao family, were allegedly discovered. This was followed up by Imperial sacrifices carried out at Mount Tai.

Zhenzong founded the world's most celebrated ceramic kiln at JingDeZhen in 1004, which continued to produce porcelain for China's imperial use until the fall of the Qing Dynasty 900 years later. He was also responsible for ordering the shipment of 30,000 bushels of quick-maturing rice seed from the Fujian Province to the lower Yangtze basin in 1011-1012, improving agriculture.