Quick Facts
Biography
Emperor Gaozong of Song (12 June 1107 – 9 November 1187), personal name Zhao Gou, courtesy name Deji, was the tenth emperor of the Song dynasty in China and the first emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. He was the ninth son of Emperor Huizong and a younger brother of Emperor Qinzong. In 1127, during the wars between the Song dynasty and Jurchen-led Jin dynasty, the Song capital Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng) fell to Jin forces in an event historically known as the Jingkang Incident. Emperors Huizong and Qinzong were taken prisoner by the Jurchens, while Zhao Gou managed to escape to southern China. He reestablished the Song dynasty (as the Southern Song dynasty) in Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou) and was proclaimed emperor. He reigned from 1127 until 1162, when he abdicated the throne in favour of his adopted son Zhao Shen (Emperor Xiaozong), and became a Taishang Huang ("Retired Emperor") until his death in 1187.
Life
Emperor Gaozong was the ninth son of Emperor Huizong and a younger brother of Emperor Qinzong. His mother, whose maiden family name was Wei (韋), was a concubine of Emperor Huizong. She was posthumously honoured as Empress Xianren (顯仁皇后; 1080–1159).
Emperor Gaozong was originally a prince during the reigns of his father and brother. After the two emperors were captured by forces of the Jurchen-led Jin Empire in the Jingkang Incident in 1127, he escaped to southern China and reestablished the Song Empire (as the Southern Song dynasty) and was proclaimed emperor. In March 1129, Gaozong nearly lost his throne to a mutiny that was instigated by the palace guards led by Miao Fu and Liu Zheng Yan who were unsatisfied with Gaozong's decision to appoint one of their adversary Wang Yuan, to important imperial post hence would outrank them. Miao, Liu banded together with at least ten thousand palace guards under the pretense that Wang and the eunuchs in court were plotting, mutinied and murdered Wang. They then forced Gaozong to abdicate in favor of his three year old son. The plot came to an abrupt end less than a month later in April 1129 when Miao and Liu was defeated by Gaozong's loyal army and were both executed for treason.
The Great Chu, a puppet state created by the Jin Empire, was abolished when Zhang Bangchang submitted to Emperor Gaozong. During Emperor Gaozong's reign, the Jurchens often attacked his realm. Initially, he employed military leaders such as Li Gang, Zong Ze, Yue Fei, Han Shizhong, and Yu Yunwen to lead the Song forces to hold off the Jurchens. However, after years of fighting and significant military success, Emperor Gaozong settled on a pacifist stance. One of the major reasons behind this was that Emperor Gaozong and the chancellor 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, Emperor Gaozong and Qin Hui plotted to frame Yue Fei for some ambiguous offence and had him put to death. Han Shizhong was also dismissed from his military duties. During Emperor Gaozong's reign, the Song and Jin empires signed the Treaty of Shaoxing, which recognised the Jurchens' claims to the former Song territories they already conquered, in exchange for peace between the two empires.
Emperor Gaozong was also a notable poet and had significant influence on other Chinese poets. Among his surviving works is the Quatrain on Heavenly Mountain.
Emperor Gaozong abdicated in 1162 after reigning for more than 35 years, and passed the throne to his adopted son Zhao Shen (Emperor Xiaozong), because his only son, Zhao Fu (趙旉), died prematurely around the age of two. Emperor Gaozong then assumed the title of Taishang Huang ("Retired Emperor") but remained the de facto ruler until his death in 1187.
Titles from birth
- His Imperial Highness The Prince of Kang 康王
- His Imperial Majesty The Emperor
- His Imperial Majesty The Retired Emperor 太上皇
Wives
- Empress Wu (1115–1197), was first given the title Lady of the Heyi Commandery (和義郡夫人), eventually became empress after the announcement of the death of Empress Ying
