Emperor Gaozong of Song

Zhao Gou
Emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty
Reign 12 June 1127[1] – 24 July 1162[2]
(&1000000000000003500000035 years, &1000000000000004200000042 days)
Retired Emperor of China
Reign 24 July 1162 - 9 November 1187
(&1000000000000002500000025 years, &10000000000000108000000108 days)
Spouse Empress Xin 邢皇后
Empress Wu 吳皇后
Issue
Zhao Fu, Crown Prince Yuanyi 元懿太子趙旉
and 5 daughters
Full name
Family name: Zhao (趙)
Given name: Gou (構)
Courtesy name:Deji (德基)
Posthumous name
Emperor Shouming Zhongxing Quangong Zhide Shengshen Wuwen Zhaoren Xianxiao[3] 受命中興全功至德聖神武文昭仁憲孝皇帝
Temple name
Gaozong (高宗)
Dynasty Song Dynasty
Father Emperor Huizong of Song
Mother Empress Xianren
Born 12 June 1107(1107-06-12)
Died 9 November 1187(1187-11-09) (aged 80)

Emperor Gaozong (Chinese: 高宗; pinyin: Gāo Zōng) (12 June 1107 – 9 November 1187), born Zhao Gou, was the tenth emperor of the Song Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of the Southern Song. He reigned from 1127 to 1162. He fled south after the Jurchens overran Kaifeng in the Jingkang Incident, hence the beginning of the Southern Song dynasty 1127–1279. Gaozong re-established his seat of government in Lin'an (臨安; today's Hangzhou, 杭州).

Contents

Biography

Gaozong was the 5th son of Emperor Huizong and the younger half-brother of Emperor Qinzong. His mother was a concubine from the Wei (韋) family who later became empress dowager, and is known posthumously as Empress Xianren (顯仁皇后) (1080–1159).

Gaozong was a regional ruler in the Northern Song dynasty. After Song's Qinzong and Huizong emperors were captured by the Jurchen, he became the emperor of China and established Southern Song empire. During his reign, Jurchens often attacked the Southern Song empire. Initially, he used military officials such as Li Gang, Zong Ze, Yue Fei, Han Shizhong and Yu Yunwen to hold the Jurchens at bay. However, after years of fighting and significant military success, Gaozong settled on a pacifist stance. One of the major reasons behind this was that Gaozong and the premier Qin Hui did not want the Song army to defeat the Jurchens, as this might result in Emperor Qinzong being restored to the throne. As a result, Gaozong and Qin plotted to frame Yue Fei for some ambiguous offence and had him put to death. General Han Shizhong was also dismissed from his military duties. Gaozong then signed the Treaty of Shaoxing with the Jurchens which further ceded huge amounts of territories to the Jurchens in the hope of appeasement.

Gaozong was also a notable poet, and had significant influence on other Chinese poets. Among his surviving works is "Quatrain on Heavenly Mountain" (left).

Gaozong abdicated in 1162 after reigning for more than 35 years but lived on until 1187. He was 80 when he died. His temple name means "High Ancestor".

Titles from birth

Wives

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Following the capture of his older half-brother Emperor Qinzong in January 1127 by the Jurchen invaders, was proclaimed emperor on 12 June 1127 in the southern capital. Was deposed for 25 days between 26 March and 20 April 1129 by generals Miao Fu (苗傅) and Liu Zhengyan (劉正彥). Restored, was pursued by the Jurchen and was not in full control of Southern
    China until the late 1130s.
  2. ^ Abdicated in favor of the son of a distant cousin whom he had adopted. Granted himself the title Taishang Huang (太上皇) and continued in practice to rule through the new emperor.
  3. ^ Final version of the posthumous name given in 1191.
Emperor Gaozong of Song
Born: 12 June 1107 Died: 9 November 1187
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Emperor Qinzong		 Emperor of the Song Dynasty
1127–1162		 Succeeded by
Emperor Xiaozong
Honorary titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Emperor Huizong of Song		 Retired Emperor of China
1162-1187		 Vacant
Title next held by
Emperor Xiaozong of Song