Quick Facts
Biography
Zhao Defang (趙德芳) (959–981), was an imperial prince of imperial China's Song Dynasty. He was the fourth son of Emperor Taizu and the younger brother of Zhao Dezhao.
His great-great-great-great-grandson was Emperor Xiaozong of Song.
Biography
In 976, Zhao Defang had his first official appointment as the Defense Commissioner of Guizhou, which was quickly followed by appointments of Prefect of Xingyuan (興元, today's Hanzhong), Military Commissioner of Shannanxi Circuit (山南西道, around today's Sichuan) and chancellor. In the winter of 978 he was named Grand Commandant of Inspection (檢校太尉). He died in 981 from an unnamed illness at the young age of 23. Emperor Taizong, his uncle, visited his coffin in tears and cancelled imperial court meetings for 5 days to commemorate him.
In fiction
In popular stories, including the Generals of the Yang Family legends and Seven Heroes and Five Gallants, Zhao Defang is known as the "Eighth Prince" (八王爺) or "Eighth Virtuous Prince" (八賢王), but this character seems to be a "merger" between Zhao Defang and Zhao Defang's cousin Zhao Yuanyan.
The breakdown:
| Zhao Defang (fictional) | Zhao Defang (historical) | Zhao Yuanyan (historical) |
|---|---|---|
| Emperor Taizu's son Emperor Taizong's nephew Emperor Zhenzong's cousin | Emperor Taizu's son Emperor Taizong's nephew Emperor Zhenzong's cousin | Emperor Taizu's nephew Emperor Taizong's son Emperor Zhenzong's brother |
| nicknamed "Eighth Virtous Prince" | Emperor Taizu's 4th son no reputation | Emperor Taizong's 8th son known for his virtues |
| already an adult during Emperor Taizong's reign (976–997) | born in 959 | born in 985 |
| served during Emperor Zhenzong's reign (997–1022) served and died during Emperor Renzong's reign (1022–1063) | died in 981 | died in 1044 |
The "Eighth Virtuous Prince" in Seven Heroes and Five Gallants was clearly based on the historical Zhao Yuanyan, who
- was the only paternal uncle during Emperor Renzong's reign
- had conflicts with Empress Dowager Liu
- eventually revealed the secret about the Emperor Renzong's real birth mother (see Consort Li)