Background
Huizong of Song was born on June 7, 1082 in Kaifeng, China. He was the eleventh son of Emperor Shenzong of Song and Empress Qinci.
calligrapher painter emperor poet
Huizong of Song was born on June 7, 1082 in Kaifeng, China. He was the eleventh son of Emperor Shenzong of Song and Empress Qinci.
Emperor Huizong of Song ascended the throne in 1100. During his reign, the greatly enlarged scholar-official class was deeply divided by factional strife, and was unable to agree on foreign policy or on how to deal with China’s aggressive neighbors to the north. Moreover, Huizong neglected the army, and Song China became increasingly weak and at the mercy of foreign enemies.
When the Jurchen of Manchuria founded the Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) and attacked the Liao kingdom to the north of the Song Empire, the Song court allied with the Jin and attacked the Liao from the south. They succeeded in destroying the Liao kingdom, a long-time enemy of the Song, but this victory left an even more formidable threat, the Jin, on the northern border. Not content with the annexation of the Liao Kingdom and correctly appraising the weakness of the Song Empire, the Jin soon declared war on their former ally, and by the beginning of 1126, they had crossed the Yellow River and come in sight of Bianliang (Kaifeng), the capital of the Song Empire. Stricken with panic, Huizong abdicated on January 18, 1126, in favor of his son, who became Emperor Qinzong.
The Jin cavalry had found, that overcoming the walls of Kaifeng was a difficult undertaking, and encountered fierce resistance from some Chinese officials, who had not despaired, like Huizong. As a result, the Jin raised the siege of Kaifeng and returned north, after forcing the Song Empire to sign a humiliating treaty, which required the payment of a colossal war indemnity and the giving of tribute to Jin every year.
Even the acceptance of such humiliating terms could not save the Song Empire. Within a matter of months, the Jin came south again, and this time, they were determined to overcome the walls of Kaifeng. After a bitter siege, the Jin eventually entered Kaifeng on January 9, 1127, and many days of looting, rapes and massacre followed. Huizong, his son Emperor Qinzong, as well as the entire imperial court and harem were captured by the Jin in the Jingkang Incident. One of the sons of Huizong managed to escape to Southern China where, after many years of struggle, he established the Southern Song Dynasty, of which he was the first Emperor, Emperor Gaozong.
Huizong and Qinzong were demoted to the rank of commoners by the Jin on March 20, 1127. Then, on May 10, 1127, Huizong was deported to northern Manchuria, where he spent the last eight years of his life as a captive in the small city of Wuguo (present-day Yilan County, Heilongjiang Province). He spent his last days, dressed only in a goatskin, huddled in a tiny cellar and unable to eat.
Listerning to the Qin
Five-colored parakeet on a blossoming apricot tree
Golden Pheasant and Cotton Rose Flowers
Groom leading two horses
Listening to the Qin
An Elegant Party
Finches and Bamboo
Dragon Stone
Pigeon on a Peach Branch
Plum and birds
Auspicious Cranes
Women preparing silk (after Zhang Xuan)
An Elegant Party (detail)
Court ladies preparing newly woven silk
Huizong of Song was a collector of paintings, calligraphies and antiques of previous Chinese eras, acquiring large collections of each for his amusement. Also, he personally supervised the production of fine porcelain and the training of court artists. Moreover, the Emperor played guqin.
As a ruler, Huizong of Song was incompetent, and allowed his advisers to make decisions, which hastened the demise of his Empire.
Emperor Huizong of Song had many wives, including Empress Xiangong, Empress Xiansu, Empress Xianren, Empress Mingjie, Empress Mingda and others.