Emperor Zhenzong of Song (23 December 968 – 23 March 1022), personal name Zhao Heng, was the third emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 997 to his death in 1022. His personal name was originally Zhao Dechang, but was changed to Zhao Yuanxiu in 983, Zhao Yuankan in 986, and finally Zhao Heng in 995. He was the third son of his predecessor, Emperor Taizong, and was succeeded by his sixth son, Emperor Renzong at the end of his reign. From 1020 he was seriously ill, but retained power despite this. Because of his illness, day-to-day rule of China was often placed in the hands of his third wife, Empress Liu.
Emperor Zhenzong's reign was noted for the consolidation of power and the strengthening of the Song Empire. The empire prospered, and its military might was further reinforced. However, it would also mark the beginning of a foreign policy towards the Khitan-led Liao dynasty in the north that would ultimately result in humiliation.
In 1004, the Khitans waged war against the Song Empire. Emperor Zhenzong, leading his army, struck back at the Khitans. Despite initial successes, in 1005, Emperor Zhenzong concluded the Chanyuan Treaty. The treaty resulted in over a century of peace, but at the price of the Song Empire agreeing to an inferior position to the Liao Empire, 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 Empire, while the payments slowly depleted the empire's coffers.
He was 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.
Emperor Zhenzong stressed the importance of Taoism at his imperial 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 sacrificial ceremonies carried out at Mount Tai. From 1013 to 1015, the emperor issued official decrees deifying the Jade Emperor as the highest ruler of Heaven.[1]
In 1020, Emperor Zhenzong became affected by an illness which was to cause his death two years later and unable to handle the affairs of state. By this time, Zhenzong’s wife Empress Liu was already established as power behind the throne and handled the affairs of state. She continued to act unofficially as regent of China for the two remaining years of Zhenzong’s life.
Tomb of Emperor Zhenzong
Zhenzong died in 1022 of his illness. He was succeeded by his 6th son, Zhao Zhen who took the throne as Emperor Renzong, but with actual power remaining in the hands of Empress Liu, who became empress dowager.
Archaeologyedit
A number of Chinese artefacts dating from the Tang dynasty and Song dynasty, some of which had been owned by Emperor Zhenzong were excavated and then came into the hands of the Kuomintang general Ma Hongkui, who refused to publicise the findings. Among the artefacts were a white marble tablet from the Tang dynasty, gold nails, and bands made out of metal. It was not until after Ma died, that his wife went to Taiwan in 1971 from the United States to bring the artefacts to Chiang Kai-shek, who turned them over to the National Palace Museum.[4]
^Lynda Noreen Shaffer, A Concrete Panoply of Intercultural Exchange: Asia in World History (1997) in Asia in Western and World History, edited by Ainslie T. Embree and Carol Gluck (Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe), p. 839-840.
^Richard W. Bulliet; Pamela Kyle Crossley; Daniel R. Headrick; Steven Hirsch, Lyman Johnson (1 February 2008). The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History, Brief Edition, Volume I: To 1550: A Global History. Cengage Learning. pp. 279–. ISBN978-0-618-99238-6.
^China archeology and art digest, Volume 3, Issue 4. Art Text (HK) Ltd. 2000. p. 354.
emperor, zhenzong, zhao, heng, redirects, here, chinese, footballer, zhao, heng, footballer, confused, with, emperor, zhezong, this, chinese, name, family, name, zhao, song, december, march, 1022, personal, name, zhao, heng, third, emperor, song, dynasty, chin. Zhao Heng redirects here For the Chinese footballer see Zhao Heng footballer Not to be confused with Emperor Zhezong In this Chinese name the family name is Zhao Emperor Zhenzong of Song 23 December 968 23 March 1022 personal name Zhao Heng was the third emperor of the Song dynasty of China He reigned from 997 to his death in 1022 His personal name was originally Zhao Dechang but was changed to Zhao Yuanxiu in 983 Zhao Yuankan in 986 and finally Zhao Heng in 995 He was the third son of his predecessor Emperor Taizong and was succeeded by his sixth son Emperor Renzong at the end of his reign From 1020 he was seriously ill but retained power despite this Because of his illness day to day rule of China was often placed in the hands of his third wife Empress Liu Emperor Zhenzong 宋真宗Portrait on a hanging scroll kept in the National Palace Museum Taipei TaiwanEmperor of the Song dynastyReign8 May 997 23 March 1022 All with the Empress Liu Coronation8 May 997PredecessorEmperor TaizongSuccessorEmperor RenzongRegentEmpress LiuBornZhao Dechang 968 983 Zhao Yuanxiu 983 986 Zhao Yuankan 986 995 Zhao Heng 995 1022 23 December 968Song dynastyDied23 March 1022 1022 03 23 aged 53 Song dynastyBurialYongding Mausoleum 永定陵 in present day Gongyi Henan ConsortsEmpress Zhanghuai m 983 died 989 Empress Zhangmu m 991 died 1007 Empress Zhangxian before 1022 wbr Empress Zhangyi before 1022 wbr Empress Zhanghui m 995 1022 IssueEmperor RenzongPrincess ZhaohuaiEra datesXianping 咸平 998 1003 Jingde 景德 1004 1007 Dazhongxiangfu 大中祥符 1008 1016 Tianxi 天禧 1017 1021 Qianxing 乾興 1022 Regnal nameEmperor Chongwen Guangwu Shengming Renxiao 崇文廣武聖明仁孝皇帝 Emperor Chongwen Guangwu Yitian Zundao Baoying Zhangwei Shengming Renxiao 崇文廣武儀天尊道寶應章威聖明仁孝皇帝 Emperor Chongwen Guangwu Gantian Zundao Yingzhen Youde Shangsheng Qinming Renxiao 崇文廣武感天尊道應真佑德上聖欽明仁孝皇帝 Emperor Tiyuan Yuji Gantian Zundao Yingzhen Baoyun Wende Wugong Shangsheng Qinming Renxiao 體元御極感天尊道應真寶運文德武功上聖欽明仁孝皇帝 Emperor Yingtian Zundao Qinming Renxiao 應天尊道欽明仁孝皇帝 Posthumous nameEmperor Yingfu Jigu Shengong Rangde Wenming Wuding Zhangsheng Yuanxiao 膺符稽古神功讓德文明武定章聖元孝皇帝 conferred in 1047 Temple nameZhenzong 真宗 HouseZhaoDynastySong Northern Song FatherEmperor TaizongMotherEmpress YuandeEmperor Zhenzong of SongChinese宋真宗Literal meaning True Ancestor of the Song TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinSong ZhenzōngZhao DechangTraditional Chinese趙德昌Simplified Chinese赵德昌TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinZhao DechangZhao YuanxiuTraditional Chinese趙元休Simplified Chinese赵元休TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinZhao YuanxiuZhao YuankanTraditional Chinese趙元侃Simplified Chinese赵元侃TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinZhao YuankǎnZhao HengTraditional Chinese趙恆Simplified Chinese赵恒TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinZhao Heng Contents 1 Reign 2 Archaeology 3 Family 4 Ancestry 5 ReferencesReign edit nbsp Tomb guardian at Emperor Zhenzong s tombEmperor Zhenzong s reign was noted for the consolidation of power and the strengthening of the Song Empire The empire prospered and its military might was further reinforced However it would also mark the beginning of a foreign policy towards the Khitan led Liao dynasty in the north that would ultimately result in humiliation In 1004 the Khitans waged war against the Song Empire Emperor Zhenzong leading his army struck back at the Khitans Despite initial successes in 1005 Emperor Zhenzong concluded the Chanyuan Treaty The treaty resulted in over a century of peace but at the price of the Song Empire agreeing to an inferior position to the Liao Empire 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 Empire while the payments slowly depleted the empire s coffers He was 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 Emperor Zhenzong stressed the importance of Taoism at his imperial 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 sacrificial ceremonies carried out at Mount Tai From 1013 to 1015 the emperor issued official decrees deifying the Jade Emperor as the highest ruler of Heaven 1 Champa rice was introduced to China from Champa during Emperor Zhenzong s reign 2 3 In 1020 Emperor Zhenzong became affected by an illness which was to cause his death two years later and unable to handle the affairs of state By this time Zhenzong s wife Empress Liu was already established as power behind the throne and handled the affairs of state She continued to act unofficially as regent of China for the two remaining years of Zhenzong s life nbsp Tomb of Emperor ZhenzongZhenzong died in 1022 of his illness He was succeeded by his 6th son Zhao Zhen who took the throne as Emperor Renzong but with actual power remaining in the hands of Empress Liu who became empress dowager Archaeology editA number of Chinese artefacts dating from the Tang dynasty and Song dynasty some of which had been owned by Emperor Zhenzong were excavated and then came into the hands of the Kuomintang general Ma Hongkui who refused to publicise the findings Among the artefacts were a white marble tablet from the Tang dynasty gold nails and bands made out of metal It was not until after Ma died that his wife went to Taiwan in 1971 from the United States to bring the artefacts to Chiang Kai shek who turned them over to the National Palace Museum 4 Family editConsorts and Issue Empress Zhanghuai of the Pan clan 章懷皇后 潘氏 968 989 Empress Zhangmu of the Guo clan 章穆皇后 郭氏 975 1007 Zhao You Crown Prince Daoxian 悼獻皇太子 趙佑 995 1003 second son Unnamed son Unnamed son Empress Zhangxian of the Liu clan 章獻皇后 劉氏 968 1033 personal name E 娥 Empress Zhangyi of the Li clan 章懿皇后 李氏 987 1032 Zhao Zhen Renzong 仁宗 趙禎 1010 1063 sixth son Princess Jingyi 靜一帝姬 first daughter Empress Zhanghui of the Yang clan 章惠皇后 楊氏 984 1036 Noble Consort Zhaojing of the Shen clan 昭靜貴妃 沈氏 994 1076 Able Consort of the Cao clan 贤妃 曹氏 Able Consort of the Chen clan 贤妃 陈氏 Noble Consort of the Du clan 貴妃 杜氏 d 1046 personal name Qiongzhen 瓊真 Princess Zhaohuai 昭懷帝姬 d 1047 personal name Zhichong 志衝 second daughter Lady of Conducive Appearance of the Dai clan 順容戴氏 Beauty of the Xu clan 美人徐氏 Talented Lady of the Chen clan 才人陳氏 Unknown Zhao Ti Prince Wen 溫王 趙禔 first son Zhao Zhi Prince Chang 昌王 趙只 third son Zhao Zhi Prince Xin 信王 趙祉 fourth son Zhao Qi Prince Qin 欽王 趙祈 fifth sonAncestry editAncestors of Emperor ZhenzongZhao Jing 872 933 Zhao Hongyin 899 956 Empress JianmuEmperor Taizong of Song 939 997 Du ShuangEmpress Dowager Zhaoxian 902 961 Lady FanEmperor Zhenzong of Song 968 1022 Li YingEmpress Yuande 943 977 Lady WangReferences edit Jonathan D Spence God s Chinese Son New York 1996 p 42 Lynda Noreen Shaffer A Concrete Panoply of Intercultural Exchange Asia in World History 1997 in Asia in Western and World History edited by Ainslie T Embree and Carol Gluck Armonk N Y M E Sharpe p 839 840 Richard W Bulliet Pamela Kyle Crossley Daniel R Headrick Steven Hirsch Lyman Johnson 1 February 2008 The Earth and Its Peoples A Global History Brief Edition Volume I To 1550 A Global History Cengage Learning pp 279 ISBN 978 0 618 99238 6 China archeology and art digest Volume 3 Issue 4 Art Text HK Ltd 2000 p 354 Emperor ZhenzongHouse of Zhao 960 1279 Born 997 Died 1022Regnal titlesPreceded byEmperor Taizong Emperor of the Song Dynasty997 1022 Succeeded byEmperor RenzongEmperor of China997 1022 With the Empress Consort Liu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Emperor Zhenzong amp oldid 1185939029, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
