Emperor Guangzong of Song

Emperor Guangzong of Song
宋光宗
Emperor of the Song dynasty
Reign 18 February 1189 – 24 July 1194[lower-alpha 1]
Coronation 18 February 1189
Predecessor Emperor Xiaozong
Successor Emperor Ningzong
Born Zhao Dun
30 September 1147[lower-alpha 1]
Died 17 September 1200(1200-09-17) (aged 52)[lower-alpha 1]
Era dates
Shaoxi (紹熙; 1190–1194)
Posthumous name
Xundao Xianren Minggong Maode Wenwen Shunwu Shengzhe Cixiao Huangdi
(循道憲仁明功茂德溫文順武聖哲慈孝皇帝)
Temple name
Guangzong (光宗)
House House of Zhao
Father Emperor Xiaozong
Mother Empress Chengmu
Emperor Guangzong of Song
Chinese 宋光宗
Literal meaning "Bright Ancestor of the Song"
Zhao Dun
Traditional Chinese 趙惇
Simplified Chinese 赵惇

Emperor Guangzong of Song (30 September 1147 – 17 September 1200), personal name Zhao Dun, was the 12th emperor of the Song dynasty in China and the third emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. He was the third son of his predecessor, Emperor Xiaozong. His mother was Emperor Xiaozong's first wife, Lady Guo (郭氏; 1126–1156), who was posthumously honoured as "Empress Chengmu" (成穆皇后).

During his childhood, Guangzong either suffered from bipolar or severe neurosis.[1]

Emperor Xiaozong abdicated in favor of Emperor Guangzong in 1194 which Emperor Guangzong later described his crowning as king and then Emperor Guangzong as a "double celebration" which gave the city of Chongqing its present-day name in honour of Guangzong. According to Xu Wei, the Nanxi style of theatre began in Emperor Guangzong's reign. Guangzong listened to some treacherous officials and dismissed the popular military leader Xin Qiji. His spouse, Empress Li Fengniang became notorious in Chinese history for being ruthless and shrewd, and for ruling the state through her husband, who became known a "henpecked weakling" dominated by his wife.[2] During his reign, it was the Empress who de facto ruled the Song Empire.[2] Furthermore, Guangzong gave into drinking in his middle years which deteriorated his mental state.[1] He was forced to give up his throne to Zhao Kuo, his only surviving son in 1194 by his grandmother, Grand Empress Dowager Wu, as he refused to attend the funeral procession of his father, Emperor Xiaozong due to the influence of his wife Empress Li Fengniang. He collapsed and died in 1200 near Shaoxing, Zhejiang possibly from melancholy as he was mentally ill or became sick and died.[3]

Family

  • Parents:
    • Zhao Shen (孝宗 趙眘; 1127 – 1194)
    • Posthumous empress Guo (成穆皇后 郭氏; 1126 – 1156)
  • Consorts and Issue:
  1. Empress Li (慈懿皇后 李鳳娘; 1144 – 1200), personal name Fengniang
    1. Zhao Ting (趙挺)
    2. Zhao Kuo (寧宗 趙擴; 1168 – 1224)
  2. Unknown
    1. Princess Wen'an (文安公主)
    2. Princess Hezheng (和政公主)
    3. Princess Qi'an (齊安公主)

See also

  1. Chinese emperors family tree (middle)
  2. List of emperors of the Song dynasty
  3. Architecture of the Song dynasty
  4. Culture of the Song dynasty
  5. Economy of the Song dynasty
  6. History of the Song dynasty
  7. Society of the Song dynasty
  8. Technology of the Song dynasty
  9. Jin–Song Wars

References

  1. 1 2 Davis, Richard L. "Troubles in Paradise: the Shrinking Royal Family in the Southern Song" (PDF). National Palace Museum.
  2. 1 2 Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Sue Wiles: Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644
  3. ↑ Davis, Richard L. "Troubles in Paradise: the Shrinking Royal Family in the Southern Song" (PDF). The National Palace Museum.
  1. 1 2 3 Dates given here are in the Julian calendar. They are not in the proleptic Gregorian calendar.
  • Toqto'a, et al., eds. (1343). History of Song. Volume 36: Biography of Emperor Guangzong.
Emperor Guangzong of Song
Born: 1147 Died: 1200
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Emperor Xiaozong		 Emperor of the Song Dynasty
1189–1194		 Succeeded by
Emperor Ningzong
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