Image Source: Public Domain
About Emperor Qinzong
Lifespan: 1100 – 1161 A.D
Reign Years: 1126 – 1127 A.D
Given Name: Zhao Huan
Reign Name: Qinzong
Image Source: Public Domain
Lifespan: 1100 – 1161 A.D
Reign Years: 1126 – 1127 A.D
Given Name: Zhao Huan
Reign Name: Qinzong
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.
Qinzong was the eldest son and heir to Emperor Huizong. His mother was Empress Wang – the emperor’s empress consort.
After hesitantly ascending to the throne, Qinzong of Song made a train of wrong decisions. These led to the negative outcomes that affected the empire, such as losing the battle during “The Incident of Jingkang”.
The worst that occurred was when Emperor Qinzong perished the empire while still in prime.
Go back in time and follow the timeline and emperors of the Song Dynasty.
Read MoreZhao Huan was the first son of Emperor Huizong of Song. He was nominated as crown prince at the age of 15.
After ten years, the North Jurchen Jin Dynasty attacked the Song Empire. They continued marching towards the capital city to seize its entirety.
Instead of acting on the situation, Emperor Huizong abdicated from his position and forced Zhao Huan to become emperor. Huan disliked the idea of becoming emperor during the crisis but ended up ascending reluctantly to the throne. As this occurred, his father quickly fled to another city.
Zhao Huan then became Qinzong of Song, and the first thing he did was abolish his father’s inefficient prime ministers. This allowed him to nominate more capable and talented individuals for the position.
Rare and unique Chinese antique blue and white porcelain Ming dynasty vase, the lower part of the vase is shaped as a big bowl decorate with foo dogs surrounded by clouds, in the center of the vase phoenix birds are painted in blue surrounded by peony blossom alternatively rendered and in profile.
Buy Now!Remarkable and rare made of high quality blue and white porcelain this dragon vase is from the early Ming dynasty, the vase is decorated with clouds and peony blossom and remarkable work of a dragon in clay. It has a long cover in perfect condition. The clay has a small chip near one of the dragon 3 claw hands
Buy Now!This antique blue and white porcelain plate features a beautiful and complex inverted painting with rich blue tone colors in the center, surrounded by a double ring peony blossom alternatively rendered and in profile, In the outer rim there is a painting in blue on white leaves surrounding the entire plate.
Buy Now!The Jinkang Incident happened from 1125 and lasted until 1127, during the Jin-Song Wars. It was when the Jin Dynasty attacked and took over Bianjing, the capital of the Song Dynasty. Today, Bianjing is known as Kaifeng.
The Jin army attacked then took over the Song territory from the west and north. The northern army quickly advanced to the target area, sacking Qinhuangdao in 1125.
In 1126, they continued conquering other areas, namely Baoding, Zhending, Dingzhou, and Xingtai. Soon after, Jin’s northern army crossed the Yellow River, beginning the Siege of Bianjing, the Song Empire’s capital.
Before getting surrounded, Emperor Huizong abdicated made his son the Song emperor, then escaped with his entourage.
It was an unfortunate moment for Quizong since he was left to handle the invasion. Despite that, he appointed Li Gang to lead their army to fend off and quell the enemy’s attack.
But since Emperor Qinzong wasn’t a decisive ruler, he ended up making poor judgments during his rule. He eventually removed Li Gang from his position, hoping to begin peace talks with the Jin Empire.
The Siege of Bianjing ended when Qinzong gave one of his cities to the Jurchens. He even paid them an annual tribute to maintain the peace in the Song.
Things went back to normal once the Jin Empire’s forces retreated and former Emperor Huizong returned from the countryside.
Despite the peace, a few Song generals suggested that troops be garrisoned along the Yellow River’s borders. Of course, Emperor Qinzong rejected the suggestion since he assumed that the Jin forces wouldn’t return.
Sometime in 1126, two Jin armies arrived in the Song Empire’s territory. Unlike the earlier siege, the western army sacked Datong in a month. So, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, and other cities surrendered, which cleared the path to Bianjing.
Months after, the northern army regrouped before crossing the Yellow River. The group went on a rampage, attacking various cities around Bianjing. These areas included Puyang and Qingfeng, to name a few.
At some point, the two forces of the Jin army regrouped at Bianjing, where they finally captured the capital.
The Jin forces also captured Qinzong, the Song emperor, and his father, former Emperor Huizong. Aside from them, the Jin forces also captured other members of the Imperial Family and officials of the imperial court.
This rare celadon jar from the ancient Song Dynasty features a beautiful all-olive green design, smooth and shiny, with a firm base from which grows an asymmetrically oval body with elegant grooved borders to a modest, slightly raised rim.
Buy Now!This rare preserved Song Dynasty celadon plate has a design devoid of decoration that makes it look like a beautiful, untouched piece of jade. Its bottom rests on a base that grows in layers around a small foot that grows along fine grooved borders.
Buy Now!This rare Song Dynasty ewer possesses an irresistible natural charm that exudes simplicity and grace in every part. It has an uncluttered base with a small foot that gives rise to a firm, sturdy body, devoid of any more decoration than a simple protruding medallion.
Buy Now!The Song emperor Qinzong and his father were demoted to commoners in 1127. Then, they were deported to the Huining Prefecture, which was the Jin empire’s capital.
In 1128, the two were forced to wear mourning outfits while paying homage to the Jin emperor’s ancestors.
Emperor Taizong, the ruler of Jurchen, gave the two former Song emperors humiliating titles. Emperor Qinzong was called “Marquis Chonghun”, while his father was called “Duke Hunde”. The latter means muddle-headed duke, while the former meant muddle-headed marquis.
Sadly, Qinzing of Song died an ill and broken man in the year 1161. He spent two-thirds of his life suffering in the Jin Empire.
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