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EspañolEMPEROR TAIZU OF SONG
(Redirected from Zhao Kuangyin)
'Emperor Taizu' (March 21, 927–November 14, 976, ), born 'Zhao Kuangyin' (), was the founder of the Song Dynasty of China, reigning from 960 to 976.
His family was of fairly modest origins and cannot be traced back with certainty further than the late Tang dynasty. His ancestor Zhao Ting (828-874) was an official who served in Zhuozhou, in Hebei near to where the family lived. His second son Zhao Ting (851-928) and his son Zhao Jing (872-933) also served as local officials in Hebei. Zhao Jing's son Zhao Hongyin (899-956) decided against a civil career and became a military officer instead. Zhao Hongyin knew that in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period that it would be a military career that will lead to success. As a result, Zhao Kuangyin was trained in martial arts and in the art of war. After his father started to lose his position in the government, Zhao Kuangyin at the age of twenty-one decided to leave because he knew that with his father's position, he could not become successful in the current society. He would wander around various settings in society for two years, which would mold Zhao Kuangyin's more accurate view of society. It was said that one day a Daoist saw that Kuangyin was despite and in his beggar like disguise, yet still had an aura on him. Seeing the aura, he told him to go to the north where there were currently conflicts of war.
Eventually, Zhao Kuangyin served under Later Zhou, which included Zhou Taizu and Zhou Shizong. He eventually rose to commander in chief after Shizong's army was defeated successfully by the Northern Han allied with the Liao. Zhao Kuangyin in that battle would repel and lead the Zhou army to victory. Under Zhou Shizong, Zhao Kuangyin becomes the commander in chief with the most military power and it was during this period that he started gathering all his officials and generals. The last competent Second Zhou Emperor, Shizong (r. 954-960) died leaving an infant boy on the throne. Zhao Kuangyin, as the commander of the Emperor's guard, allegedly reluctantly and only at the urging of his soldiers, took power in a ''coup d'etat''.
In 960, Song Taizu helped reunite most of China after the fragmentation and rebellion between the fall of the Tang dynasty in 907 and the establishment of the Song dynasty. He would conquer all the small countries such as Shu, South Han, and South Tang. The exception was the strong Northern Han in the north at Taiyuan supported by the Khitans. Taizu's strategy was to first take the Southern territories because the South is weaker than the North with the Liao supported Northern Han. During the end of his reign, Taizu personally led the army against Northern Han, but was ultimately forced to retreat after he was stuck against the forts.
He established the core Song Ancestor Rules and Policy for the future emperors. He was remembered for, but not limited to, his reform of the examination system whereby entry to the bureaucracy favoured individuals who demonstrated academic ability rather than by birth. He also created academies that allowed a great deal of freedom of discussion and thought, which facilitated the growth of scientific advance, economic reforms as well as achievements in arts and literature. He is perhaps best known for weakening the military and so preventing anyone else rising to power as he did.
He reigned for sixteen years and died in 976 at the age of forty-nine. Unexpectedly he was succeeded by his younger brother even though he had four living sons. In the traditional historical accounts his mother, the Empress, warned him that just as he rose to power because Zhou Shizong had left an infant on the throne, someone else might usurp the throne (understandable as this what what Taizu did to the Later Zhou dynasty).
There is also an alternate history to Sun Taizu's death. One night while Sung Taizu was looking at the sky at night, the weather suddenly turned for the worse and great winds began to blow. Sung Taizu consulted his astrologer about this immediately; he was told to prepare for the worst. A terrified Taizung ordered his brother Sung Taizong to come to the palace and dismissed all the courtiers and eunuchs. Through the shadows seen from the window the courtiers saw what seemed like Taizu holding an axe, hacking at the snow, while Taizong was ducking here and there. Sung Taizu was also heard to say the words "Good work indeed!" several times. (Pinyin: Haozuo! Haozuo!) Then the shadows disappeared, with the courtiers presuming both had gone into a drunken sleep. The next day it was announced that Taizu had died.
His temple name means "Grand Forefather".
Emperor Taizu created a Shaolin-based fighting style known as ''Tàizǔ Chángquán'' (太祖長拳; literally "Emperor Taizu long fist"). It is the core style of modern day Long Fist and is widely practiced all over the world.
★ List of Song Emperors
★ Architecture of the Song Dynasty
★ Culture of the Song Dynasty
★ Economy of the Song Dynasty
★ History of the Song Dynasty
★ Society of the Song Dynasty
★ Technology of the Song Dynasty
 | |
| Emperor Taizu of Song China | |
|---|---|
| Birth and death: | March 21, 927–November 14, 976 |
| Family name: | Zhào (趙) |
| Given name: | Kuāngyìn (匡胤) |
| Courtesy name (字): | Yuanlang (元朗) |
| Dates of reign: | February 4, 960¹–November 14, 976 |
| Dynasty: | Sòng (宋) |
| Temple name: | Tàizǔ (太祖) |
| Posthumous name: | Never used short |
| Posthumous name: | Emperor Qiyun Liji Yingwu Ruiwen Shende Shenggong Zhiming Daxiao² 啓運立極英武睿文神德聖功 至明大孝皇帝 |
| ''General note: Dates given here are in the Julian calendar''. ''They are not in the proleptic Gregorian calendar''. | |
| ——— | |
| ''1. In control of only Northern China at first, was in control of'' ''most of Southern China only in 975''. ''2. Final version of the posthumous name given in 1017''. | |
'Emperor Taizu' (March 21, 927–November 14, 976, ), born 'Zhao Kuangyin' (), was the founder of the Song Dynasty of China, reigning from 960 to 976.
| Contents |
| Ancestry and early life |
| Accomplishments |
| Throne transmission |
| Martial Arts |
| See also |
Ancestry and early life
His family was of fairly modest origins and cannot be traced back with certainty further than the late Tang dynasty. His ancestor Zhao Ting (828-874) was an official who served in Zhuozhou, in Hebei near to where the family lived. His second son Zhao Ting (851-928) and his son Zhao Jing (872-933) also served as local officials in Hebei. Zhao Jing's son Zhao Hongyin (899-956) decided against a civil career and became a military officer instead. Zhao Hongyin knew that in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period that it would be a military career that will lead to success. As a result, Zhao Kuangyin was trained in martial arts and in the art of war. After his father started to lose his position in the government, Zhao Kuangyin at the age of twenty-one decided to leave because he knew that with his father's position, he could not become successful in the current society. He would wander around various settings in society for two years, which would mold Zhao Kuangyin's more accurate view of society. It was said that one day a Daoist saw that Kuangyin was despite and in his beggar like disguise, yet still had an aura on him. Seeing the aura, he told him to go to the north where there were currently conflicts of war.
Eventually, Zhao Kuangyin served under Later Zhou, which included Zhou Taizu and Zhou Shizong. He eventually rose to commander in chief after Shizong's army was defeated successfully by the Northern Han allied with the Liao. Zhao Kuangyin in that battle would repel and lead the Zhou army to victory. Under Zhou Shizong, Zhao Kuangyin becomes the commander in chief with the most military power and it was during this period that he started gathering all his officials and generals. The last competent Second Zhou Emperor, Shizong (r. 954-960) died leaving an infant boy on the throne. Zhao Kuangyin, as the commander of the Emperor's guard, allegedly reluctantly and only at the urging of his soldiers, took power in a ''coup d'etat''.
Accomplishments
In 960, Song Taizu helped reunite most of China after the fragmentation and rebellion between the fall of the Tang dynasty in 907 and the establishment of the Song dynasty. He would conquer all the small countries such as Shu, South Han, and South Tang. The exception was the strong Northern Han in the north at Taiyuan supported by the Khitans. Taizu's strategy was to first take the Southern territories because the South is weaker than the North with the Liao supported Northern Han. During the end of his reign, Taizu personally led the army against Northern Han, but was ultimately forced to retreat after he was stuck against the forts.
He established the core Song Ancestor Rules and Policy for the future emperors. He was remembered for, but not limited to, his reform of the examination system whereby entry to the bureaucracy favoured individuals who demonstrated academic ability rather than by birth. He also created academies that allowed a great deal of freedom of discussion and thought, which facilitated the growth of scientific advance, economic reforms as well as achievements in arts and literature. He is perhaps best known for weakening the military and so preventing anyone else rising to power as he did.
Throne transmission
He reigned for sixteen years and died in 976 at the age of forty-nine. Unexpectedly he was succeeded by his younger brother even though he had four living sons. In the traditional historical accounts his mother, the Empress, warned him that just as he rose to power because Zhou Shizong had left an infant on the throne, someone else might usurp the throne (understandable as this what what Taizu did to the Later Zhou dynasty).
There is also an alternate history to Sun Taizu's death. One night while Sung Taizu was looking at the sky at night, the weather suddenly turned for the worse and great winds began to blow. Sung Taizu consulted his astrologer about this immediately; he was told to prepare for the worst. A terrified Taizung ordered his brother Sung Taizong to come to the palace and dismissed all the courtiers and eunuchs. Through the shadows seen from the window the courtiers saw what seemed like Taizu holding an axe, hacking at the snow, while Taizong was ducking here and there. Sung Taizu was also heard to say the words "Good work indeed!" several times. (Pinyin: Haozuo! Haozuo!) Then the shadows disappeared, with the courtiers presuming both had gone into a drunken sleep. The next day it was announced that Taizu had died.
His temple name means "Grand Forefather".
Martial Arts
Emperor Taizu created a Shaolin-based fighting style known as ''Tàizǔ Chángquán'' (太祖長拳; literally "Emperor Taizu long fist"). It is the core style of modern day Long Fist and is widely practiced all over the world.
See also
★ List of Song Emperors
★ Architecture of the Song Dynasty
★ Culture of the Song Dynasty
★ Economy of the Song Dynasty
★ History of the Song Dynasty
★ Society of the Song Dynasty
★ Technology of the Song Dynasty
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