Introduction: There were more than 400 emperors in ancient Chinese feudal dynasties, including many kings who created the great unification dynasty , such as Qin Shihuang, Han Wudi, and wise monarchs who worked hard to rule and create prosperous times, such as Emperor Wen of Han, , Emperor Jing of Han, , and Emperor Taizong of Tang , but there were also debauchery emperors such as Emperor Wudi of Ming Dynasty Zhu Houzhao. But there is another type of emperor. Although they did nothing in governing the country, they had high attainments in art. Typical representatives are Li Yu, the late emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and Zhao Ji, the Song Huizong. What we are going to talk about here is the talented emperor Song Huizong.
Frivolous Prince Jun Tianxia
Zhao Ji is the eleventh son of Song Shenzong . His mother is just a low-ranking attendant. The reason why she can leave traces in history is because his son later became the emperor. On May 5, 1082 AD, Song Shenzong saw a portrait of Li Yu, the late emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty, in the Secretariat, and was filled with emotion. Soon, Song Huizong Zhao Ji was born. It is also said that on the eve of Zhao Ji's birth, Song Shenzong also dreamed of Li Houzhu, so there were rumors that Zhao Ji was the reincarnation of Li Yu.
Although the rumors are not credible, Zhao Ji's literary and artistic attainments are indeed quite similar to those of Li Houzhu. When Zhao Ji was three years old, Song Shenzong died, and Crown Prince Zhao Xi succeeded to the throne, which is Song Zhezong . Song Zhezong loved Zhao Ji, his young brother very much, and the relationship between the two brothers has always been very good. As a prince who has not been expected since childhood, Zhao Ji lived a pampered life without having to worry about national affairs, and gradually developed a sloppy and erratic personality.
Song Zhezong
But Zhao Ji is different from the ordinary idle prince who is addicted to the voice, color, dogs and horses, but is obsessed with pens, inkstones, paintings, history, and shooting. Zhao Ji has extraordinary talent in this regard, and he was already famous for his talent when he was only sixteen or seventeen years old. Originally, Zhao Gou could always pursue his ideals in his art kingdom and fully develop his artistic talent. Unfortunately, there were unexpected situations in the world. Song Zhezong, who was in his prime, suddenly passed away, and the huge Northern Song Dynasty , , suddenly lost his backbone.
Song Huizong's calligraphy and painting works
Because Song Zhezong did not leave any descendants, with the support of Empress Dowager and some ruling ministers, Duan Wang Zhao Ji was appointed as the emperor. At that time, Prime Minister Chapter Dun believed that Zhao Ji's behavior was light and could not govern the country well, and opposed Zhao Ji's succession, but in the end he could not defeat the authority of the empress dowager. The civil and military officials in the court would not have thought that Zhang Dun's words came true, and Zhao Ji was really not the reason to be the emperor.
When he ascended the throne, the momentum of the monarch was revived
Song Huizong Zhao Ji was pushed to the throne. Even though he never thought that a calligrapher and painter who was focused on literature and art would engage in the profession of emperors, he had never participated in political affairs and had no experience in this area at all, but he actually wanted to be the emperor in his heart. When Emperor Huizong of Song ascended the throne, he did indeed act like a wise ruler.
Song Huizong
Song Huizong issued an edict to make the people of the world criticize the government and provide suggestions, hoping to use this to eliminate bad policies. Song Huizong had a bit of the style of Emperor Taizong of Tang when accepting advice, and could humbly adopt the opinions put forward by officials and the people. Song Huizong also dealt with some notorious treacherous ministers based on the opinions they put forward, and to a certain extent rectified the court's principles.
Although Song Huizong in the early days could not be said to be a generation of heroes who governed the country and made peace, he was also a wise ruler who worked hard to govern. If he could not change his original intention and insist on being a good emperor for the country and the people, even if he did not have much talent in governing the country, he could at least be a successful ruler and even realize the rejuvenation of the Northern Song Dynasty. However, the facts did not develop as expected.
Nature is difficult to move, and the tyrant ruler
In fact, many systems of the Song Dynasty have reached the peak of the world, and their economy and technology have reached unprecedented prosperity. But why was the Song Dynasty so humiliated in history? On the one hand, it was because of the rise of the ethnic minority regime, and trampling on Chinese civilization with force and barbarity, and on the other hand, it was because of the emperors and ministers of the Song Dynasty.The system is dead, but the matter is done by humans. If the monarch is wise and loyal ministers are in power, then the politics will be clear; if the monarch is foolish and treacherous, then the natural politics will be corrupt.
The situation of Song Huizong exaggerating the turbidity and promoting the good and the good at the beginning did not last long, after all, he was still very young when he was the emperor. Young people are passionate and impulsive, but they are very energetic, but they are hard to endure hardships. What's more, Song Huizong has no ambitions. As the saying goes, the country is easy to change and his nature is difficult to change. Soon Song Huizong exposed his nature of greed for pleasure. He was extremely extravagant and wanted to satisfy his own selfish desires, and he used the national treasury to build luxurious palaces and gardens.
When Emperor Huizong of Song ascended the throne, he issued an edict to open up the road of speech, but because he was not patient to read the suggestions of officials and the people one by one, he simply agreed. In this way, not only did he lose his original role, but he also made the court chaotic and politically corrupt.
Song Huizong also had his own way of promoting officials. Simply put, whoever can contribute to his preferences will get the opportunity to get promoted and make a fortune. Cai Jing was good at calligraphy and became the prime minister, Gao Qiu became the Grand Marshal, and Tong Guan was good at collecting rare treasures and became a high-ranking official. What's even more ridiculous is that because Emperor Huizong of Song advocated Taoism, he also included those Taoist priests in the system and paid their salaries.
In terms of diplomacy and military affairs, Song Huizong's methods were even more clumsy. Liao, which had confronted the Northern Song Dynasty at that time, had declined, and the Jurchens in the north rose. There was Liao as a buffer between the Northern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty, and it was not easy for the Jin Dynasty to attack the Song Dynasty. Song Huizong actually wanted to join forces with Jin to fight against Liao, and joined forces with the wolf-aggressive Jin to attack the corrupt and declined Liao. Even if he wanted to avenge his previous shame, he had to consider the consequences of his cold lips. No wonder later generations would think that Song Huizong himself ruined the Northern Song Dynasty.
Jin, Liao, Northern Song
Is the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty a fault of Song Huizong
To be fair, there is no doubt that Song Huizong was a foolish monarch. Song Huizong was indeed not a material for governing the country, but it would not be so serious if he was the culprit of the fall of the Northern Song Dynasty. After all, the demise of a country is caused by many factors, and it cannot be caused by the monarch alone, no matter how foolish and incompetent he is.
The Northern Song Dynasty was destroyed
First of all, there were great problems in the policies of the Northern Song Dynasty at the beginning of its founding. Needless to say, it is important to emphasize culture over military affairs. When ethnic minority forces rise, it is inevitable that they will suppress military generals when victory is less and more defeat is more inevitable. The other is the literati and officials' advice to exempt them from punishment, which also caused a large number of parties and political chaos in the Northern Song Dynasty. What's more serious is that when the enemy troops were at the city, internal fighting was still taking place between the literati and officials.
Northern Song Dynasty has declined since Song Zhenzong . Conservatives adhere to the rules and do nothing, and the social ills exposed are becoming more and more obvious. After Wang Anshi's reform failed, the government became increasingly corrupt, and peasant uprisings were one after another in various places. Song Huizong accepted a country full of problems.
The demise of the Northern Song Dynasty is indeed a necessary connection with Song Huizong, but Song Huizong only accelerated the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty at best. If so, the reason for the demise of the Northern Song Dynasty is attributed to him, it would be a bit unfair.
Conclusion: American professor Yi Peixia believes that during the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song, China was almost the most advanced country in the world, and he led the Song Dynasty to reach cultural prosperity. Song Huizong was not a good emperor who governed the country and was safe, but a great calligrapher and painter. The Northern Song Dynasty might not need a talented emperor, but the art world needed a talented emperor to carry forward art.
