Song Dynasty Emperors

One of China’s imperial empires was the Song Dynasty which started in 960 until 1279. Emperor Taizu founded the dynasty after usurping the Later Zhou’s throne, which ended the Five Dynasties & Ten Kingdoms era.

Northern Song (960 to 1127 A.D)

A general named Zhao Kuangyin founded the Song Dynasty. Claims state that his troops wanted to end their service under the emperor of that time. They urged Zhao to take the throne and ascend as the emperor instead.

Eventually, he ascended the throne as Emperor Taizu, who then established the Song Dynasty. He almost entirely reunited China under his rule, yet made a mistake by appointing people who weakened his army. This led to the Northern Song’s demise and eventually fell to the Jin empire.

Southern Song (1127 to 1279)

When the Jin conquered Northern Song fell, the last emperor’s son fled to the Southern area. There, he established China’s Southern Song that had to offer payment to the Jin Empire. It was a necessary act to maintain the peace between them.

Southern Song offered such payments for over a hundred years. However, it ended when they allied with the Mongols to defeat the Jin Empire. Unfortunately, everything backfired when the Mongols defeated the Jin, attacked the Southern Song, then conquered all of China.

After the Mongol leader, Kublai Khan, conquered the country, he established his empire called the Yuan Dynasty.

Interesting Customs and People During the Song Dynasty

Numerous interesting customs appeared during the Song Dynasty. One of these was the practice of foot-binding among women. Other than these customs, a legendary fighter and general lived during this time, and he was called Yue Fei.

Due to his excellence, Yue Fei had several followers. This enraged the emperor, who became jealous since people looked up to Yue Fei. Despite his skill and prominence, the general was put to death.

Emperor Taizu

960–976 A.D

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The Song of China was known as an imperial dynasty. It began in the year 969 until 1276 and was founded by Zhao Kuangyin. He was better known as Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty.

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Zhao Guangyi

976–997 A.D

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Zhang Jiong was born in the year 939 and lived until the year 997. He was then called Zhao Guangyi from 960 to 997. After his death, he was known as Taizong, which was his temple name.

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Emperor Zhenzong

997–1022 A.D

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Emperor Zhenzong was the third emperor of the Song Dynasty. His given name is Zhao Heng, and he ruled as emperor from 977 to 1022. He was Emperor Taizong’s son and has a temple name which means “True Ancestor”.

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Emperor Renzong

1022–1063 A.D

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Zhao Zhen, who was named Zhao Shouyi, was born in 1010 and lived until 1063. When he became the 4th Song emperor, he was known as Emperor Renzong.

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Emperor Yingzong

1063–1067 A.D

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Emperor Yingzong was the 5th Song dynasty emperor of China. His given name was Zhao Zhongshi, but was changed in 1062 to Zhao Shu by imperial decree. He only reigned for four years, from 1063 to 1067.

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Zhao Xu

1067–1085 A.D

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Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty was given the name Zhao Xu. He was the 6th emperor of China’s Song Dynasty and the successor of Emperor Yingzong, his father.

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Emperor Zhezong

1085–1100 A.D

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Emperor Zhezong was the seventh Song Dynasty emperor of China. He ruled from 1085 until death in the year 1100 and was succeeded by Emperor Huizong, his younger half-brother. This was because Zhezong’s son died prematurely, and he had no one else to take over the throne.

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Huizong emperor

1100–1125 A.D

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Emperor Huizong of Song was born in June 1082 and lived until the year 1135. He was given the name Zhao Ji and was the 8th emperor of China’s Song Dynasty. Huizong of Song was Emperor Shenzong’s 11th son and ascended the throne when his older brother, Emperor Zhezong, died prematurely.

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Emperor Qinzong

1126–1127 A.D

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Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty was given the name Zhao Huan upon birth. He was the 9th emperor of the Song Dynasty and the last of the Northern Song Dynasty.

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Emperor Gaozong

1127–1162 A.D

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Emperor Gaozong of Song was the 10th emperor of the Song Dynasty and the first Southern Song Dynasty emperor. His given name was Zhao Guo, and he was the 9th son of Emperor Huizong.

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Zhao Shen

1162–1189 A.D

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Zhao Shen, or Emperor Xiaozong, was the Song Dynasty’s 11th emperor, as well as the 2nd emperor of Southern Song. He was Emperor Taizu’s first descendant to become the empire’s ruler.

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Emperor Guangzong

1189–1194 A.D

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Emperor Guangzong of the Song was the third son of Emperor Xiaozong. He was the twelfth Song dynasty emperor and the third Southern Song Dynasty emperor.

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Son of Mafu

1194–1224 A.D

Emperor Ningzong of the Song was born in November of 1168 and named Zhao Kuo. For the Song, he was the 13th emperor to rule, while he was the 4th emperor of the Southern Song. Other than Ningzong, he was also known as the Son of Mafu, who ruled from 1194 until his death.

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Emperor Lizong

1224–1264 A.D

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Emperor Lizong of Song was given the name Zhao Yun upon birth. He was the 14th Song Dynasty of China and the 5th emperor of the Southern Song. Emperor Lizong ruled the dynasty for 40 years.

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Duzong Emperor

1264–1274 A.D

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Zhao Qi was commonly known as the Duzong Emperor. He was the 15th Chinese emperor of the Song dynasty and the sixth emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. His rule lasted for ten years, from 1264 until 1274.

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Emperor Gong

1275 A.D

The sixteenth Emperor of Song was Emperor Gong. He was also the seventh emperor of the Southern Song and the son of his predecessor, Emperor Duzong.

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Emperor Duanzong

1276–1278 A.D

Emperor Duanzong of Song was born in the year 1268 and lived until 1278. He was the 17th Song Dynasty emperor and the 8th, as well as the penultimate emperor of the Southern Song.

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Emperor Bing

1278–1279 A.D

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The Song emperor Bing was the 18th and the last emperor of the Song Empire. He was also the 9th, as well as the last ruler of Southern Song. Bing of Song ruled from 1278 to 1279.

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