--- title: "Song Dynasty Emperors (960–1279): Northern and Southern Song" url: https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/ language: en description: "The eighteen emperors of the Song dynasty (960–1279), from Taizu to Emperor Bing: the Northern and Southern Song, the fall to the Jin and to the Mongols." alternates: zh-Hant: https://realrareantiques.com/zh-hant/song-dynasty-emperors/ zh-Hans: https://realrareantiques.com/zh-hans/song-dynasty-emperors/ --- # Song Dynasty Emperors The Song dynasty ruled China from 960 to 1279. It was founded by the general Zhao Kuangyin, who seized the throne of the Later Zhou and reigned as Emperor Taizu, bringing the era of the Five Dynasties to an end. Its eighteen emperors are divided between the Northern Song and the Southern Song. **Dates:** 960 to 1279 **Rulers:** 18 ## Northern Song (960–1127) Zhao Kuangyin was proclaimed emperor by his own troops in 960, reigning as [Emperor Taizu](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-taizu/). He and his brother and successor, Taizong, reunited most of China under the new dynasty, with its capital at Kaifeng. Wary of the generals who had toppled so many dynasties before him, Taizu placed the army firmly under civilian control. The policy gave the Song a long period of stable civil government, but it is often blamed for the dynasty's military weakness. In 1127 the Jurchen Jin captured Kaifeng, along with the retired emperor Huizong and his son Qinzong, and the Northern Song came to an end. ## Southern Song (1127–1279) Huizong's son Zhao Gou escaped the fall of Kaifeng and re-established the dynasty in the south as [Emperor Gaozong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-gaozong/), eventually settling the court at Hangzhou, then called Lin'an. To secure peace, the Southern Song agreed to pay the Jin a large annual tribute of silver and silk. In the thirteenth century the Song allied with the Mongols against the Jin, and in 1234 the Jin state was destroyed. The alliance soon turned against the Song: the Mongols invaded, and the armies of Kublai Khan, who had proclaimed the Yuan dynasty in 1271, captured Hangzhou in 1276. The last Song emperor, the child [Emperor Bing](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-bing/), died at the naval Battle of Yamen in 1279. For collectors the Song is one of the great periods of Chinese ceramics, and the [Song dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty/) page describes its principal wares in more detail. ## Customs and People of the Song Dynasty The Song period saw the spread of foot-binding among women, a custom that would persist for centuries. It is also the age of Yue Fei, the general celebrated for his campaigns against the Jin. At the height of his success, Yue Fei was recalled while the court, led by the chancellor Qin Hui, pursued peace with the Jin. He was imprisoned on charges now regarded as false and put to death in 1142, and he has been honoured ever since as a model of loyalty. ## Timeline of reigns, 960–1279 1. [Emperor Taizu](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-taizu/) 2. [Emperor Taizong of Song](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/zhao-guangyi/) 3. [Emperor Zhenzong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-zhenzong/) 4. [Emperor Renzong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-renzong/) 5. [Emperor Yingzong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-yingzong/) 6. [Emperor Shenzong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/zhao-xu/) 7. [Emperor Zhezong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-zhezong/) 8. [Huizong Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/huizong-emperor/) 9. [Emperor Qinzong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-qinzong/) 10. [Emperor Gaozong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-gaozong/) 11. [Emperor Xiaozong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/zhao-shen/) 12. [Emperor Guangzong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-guangzong/) 13. [Emperor Ningzong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/son-of-mafu/) 14. [Emperor Lizong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-lizong/) 15. [Duzong Emperor](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/duzong-emperor/) 16. [Emperor Gong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-gong/) 17. [Emperor Duanzong](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-duanzong/) 18. [Emperor Bing](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-bing/) ### Northern Song - [Emperor Taizu960–976 · 建隆 乾德 開寶A general who founded the Song in 960 and placed the army firmly under civil control.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-taizu/) - [Emperor Taizong of Song976–997 · 太平興國 雍熙 端拱 …Completed the reunification of China and expanded the civil examinations.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/zhao-guangyi/) - [Emperor Zhenzong997–1022 · 咸平 景德 大中祥符 …The kiln town of Jingdezhen takes its name from his Jingde era, when it began supplying the court.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-zhenzong/) - [Emperor Renzong1022–1063 · 天聖 明道 景祐 …The longest Song reign, an age of great scholar-officials such as Fan Zhongyan and Ouyang Xiu.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-renzong/) - [Emperor Yingzong1063–1067 · 治平An adopted heir whose short reign was consumed by a court dispute over honouring his birth father.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-yingzong/) - [Emperor Shenzong1067–1085 · 熙寧 元豐Backed Wang Anshi's New Policies, the most ambitious reform programme of the Song.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/zhao-xu/) - [Emperor Zhezong1085–1100 · 元祐 紹聖 元符Revived his father's reforms once he ruled in his own right after the regency of Empress Dowager Gao.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-zhezong/) - [Huizong Emperor1100–1126 · 建中靖國 崇寧 大觀 …A gifted painter and calligrapher whose court favoured Ru ware, and who lost the north to the Jurchen.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/huizong-emperor/) - [Emperor Qinzong1126–1127 · 靖康Captured with his father when the Jurchen took Kaifeng in 1127, ending the Northern Song.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-qinzong/) ### Southern Song - [Emperor Gaozong1127–1162 · 建炎 紹興Re-established the dynasty in the south with its capital at Hangzhou, where the Guan kilns served the court.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-gaozong/) - [Emperor Xiaozong1162–1189 · 隆興 乾道 淳熙Widely regarded as the ablest Southern Song ruler, bringing peace and prosperity to the south.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/zhao-shen/) - [Emperor Guangzong1189–1194 · 紹熙Ill health and a quarrel with his father led the court to force his abdication.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-guangzong/) - [Emperor Ningzong1194–1224 · 慶元 嘉泰 開禧 …Ruled through powerful ministers such as Han Tuozhou, whose northern campaign against the Jin failed.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/son-of-mafu/) - [Emperor Lizong1224–1264 · 寶慶 紹定 端平 …Allied with the Mongols to destroy the Jin, only to face the Mongols himself.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-lizong/) - [Duzong Emperor1264–1274 · 咸淳Left government to Jia Sidao while the Mongols besieged Xiangyang.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/duzong-emperor/) - [Emperor Gong1274–1276 · 德祐A child emperor who surrendered Hangzhou to the Mongols in 1276 and later became a Buddhist monk in Tibet.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-gong/) - [Emperor Duanzong1276–1278 · 景炎Proclaimed by loyalists in Fuzhou, he died while the court fled south along the coast.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-duanzong/) - [Emperor Bing1278–1279 · 祥興The last Song emperor, who died at the naval battle of Yamen in 1279.](https://realrareantiques.com/song-dynasty-emperors/emperor-bing/) ## Pieces from this period - Song Dynasty Porcelain [Ewer with a Pale Glaze and a Ridged Shoulder, Song Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/song-dynasty-ewer-with-a-pale-glaze/)Song DynastyPrice on request - Song Dynasty Porcelain [Celadon Vase with Two Loop Handles and Carved Lotus, Song Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/antique-song-dynasty-celadon-vase-elephant-shaped-handles/)Song DynastyPrice on request - Song Dynasty Porcelain [Celadon Jar with a Fluted Melon-Shaped Body, Song Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/antique-chinese-song-dynasty-celadon-jar/)Song DynastyPrice on request - Song Dynasty Porcelain [Celadon Vase with Carved Peony Medallions, Song to Yuan Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/v-rare-antique-chinese-porcelain-vase-song-yuan-dynasty/)Song to YuanPrice on request Looking for something specific? 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