Huizong Emperor

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About Huizong Emperor

Lifespan: 1082 – 1135 A.D

Reign Years: 1100 – 1125 A.D

Given Name: Zhao Ji

Reign Name: Huizong

Huizong Emperor – Song Dynasty

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.

The Song Emperor Huizong was best remembered and known as the patron of the arts. He was also a skilled calligrapher and painter.

The Rule of Huizong

From 1100 to 1126, Emperor Huizong was far from being called a model and ideal emperor. He neglected his army while it grew weaker and slowly fell at the mercy of their foreign enemies.

At the start of 1126, the Jin Dynasty from the north attacked Kaifeng. This area was the Song Empire’s capital.

Because of the situation, Huizong of Song panicked and fled, abandoning his duties as emperor. Luckily, the court consisted of some brave officials who defended the capital with all their might. Their courage prevented the Jin from occupying the well-fortified capital city of Kaifeng.

A Questionable Political Reign

The reign of Song Emperor Huizong was quite fatal to the dynasty. He promoted Daoism in his court and found comfort in the arts. The emperor was even fond of amorous affairs and focused on constructing a new and lavish palace garden.

He was too busy with acquiring colorful stones, exotic pets, and rare plants for the garden. Huizong did this while neglecting his task of managing the state.

When it came to the political disputes, these commenced and were left unresolved. And when it came to Emperor Huizong’s favorite eunuchs, they received exceptional governmental power.

As time passed, Huizong was threatened and grew wary of the expanding north Liao Empire. With that, he allied with the Jurchens of Manchuria.

They battled against the Liao, but this victory was entirely illusionary. It was because the Jurchens were the real problem of the Song.

Arts, Music, Calligraphy, and Culture

To escape from the states’ affairs, the Song Emperor Huizong sought pleasure from the arts and letters. He was technically a skilled poet and calligrapher. As a painter, his own works of flowers and birds were accurately colored, detailed, and composed perfectly.

Huizong of Song made great effort to search for great masters. He was able to establish the Hanlin Huayuan or the Hanlin Imperial Painting House. This was a place where top painters in China shared their best works.

The emperor even invented the Slender Gold, which was a type of calligraphy. This name surfaced since Emperor Huizong’s writing was like a gold filament that’s turned and twisted.

Aside from these, he was also a tea enthusiast. He created the Treatise on Tea, which was the most masterful and detailed description of the Song’s sophisticated tea ceremony.

Antique Chinese Song dynasty Celadon Jar

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.

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Song Dynasty Antique Celadon Plate

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.

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Rare Song Dynasty Qingbai Ewer

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.

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End of Huizong’s Rule

The regime was forced to sign humiliating treaties, and they even had to pay tribute to the Jin Empire. Despite these, the Jin still took over the capital, capturing Emperor Huizong and most of those in his court.

Fortunately, his son, who was better known as Emperor Gaozong, was able to escape and create the Southern Song Dynasty. Here, he turned the beautiful city of Hangzhou into the capital.

Due to the growing crisis, the emperor abdicated in favor of his son, Zhao Huan or Emperor Qinzong. He only reigned for less than two years.

In the year 1127, the Jurchens were able to end the Bei Song Dynasty. In the process, they also attacked and conquered Kaifeng.

During the attack, Huizong of Song and his son were captured. They were exiled in Manchuria and lived in terrible conditions until they died. After the abdication of Huizong, his eldest son became emperor and was known as Emperor Qinzong.