Emperor Zhezong

Emperor Zhezong
Reign 1 April 1085 – 23 February 1100
Born 4 January 1076[lower-alpha 1]
Died 23 February 1100
Full name
Posthumous name
Emperor Xianyuan Jidao Shide
Yanggong Qinwen Ruiwu
Qisheng Zhaoxiao[lower-alpha 3]
憲元繼道世德揚功欽文睿武齊聖
昭孝皇帝
Temple name
Zhezong (哲宗)
Dynasty Song (宋)

Emperor Zhezong (4 January 1076 – 23 February 1100) was the seventh emperor of the Song Dynasty of China. His personal name was Zhào Xù. He reigned from 1085 to 1100.

Zhezong was the son of Emperor Shenzong. He ascended the throne at age 9 under the supervision of Empress Dowager Gao. As Regent, Gao appointed conservatives such as Sima Guang as Chancellor, who halted the New Policies set forth by Wang Anshi. Zhezong was powerless and it was not until Empress Dowager Gao's death in 1093 that Zhezong was able to reinstate Wang Anshi's reform and remove all of Sima Guang's influence (Although Sima Guang was dead in 1086).

Zhezong lowered taxes in China, stopped negotiations with the Tangut Empire, and resumed armed conflict which eventually forced the Xixia to enter a more peaceful stance with the Song. However, Zhezong was unable to stop fighting between conservative members of his government and the more liberal members who supported Wang Anshi's reforms. This split would eventually contribute to the Northern Song's demise in the 12th century.

Zhezong died in 1100 in Kaifeng at the age of 24 and was succeeded by his younger brother. His temple name means "Wise Ancestor".

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Dates given here are in the Julian calendar not the proleptic Gregorian calendar.
  2. ↑ Had his name changed into Xu in March 1085 when he was officially named crown prince. This name became his taboo name when he ascended the throne five days later.
  3. ↑ This is the final version of the posthumous name given in 1113; according to some sources the first eight characters of his posthumous name should be Xianyuan Jidao Xiande Dinggong (憲元繼道顯德定功)
Emperor Zhezong
Born: 4 January 1076 Died: 23 February 1100[aged 24]
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Emperor Shenzong		 Emperor of the Song Dynasty
1085–1100 		Succeeded by
Emperor Huizong


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