Caotaihou
ConsortsQueen Renzong, who raised Yingzong as a child. Yingzong listened behind the curtain while he was ill, and returned to power the following year. Shenzong once criticized the new law, and interceded for Su Shi in the Wutai Shi case.
Dynasties of ChinaNorthern SongNorthern Song lineage
YingzongZhao Shu
Zhiping · Reign 1063—1067
He succeeded to the throne through the clan, but fell ill for a long time after taking the throne. He reigned for less than four years, and a "Pu Yi" dispute arose over the title of his biological father.
IBiography
- Reign
- 4 years
- Reign era
- Zhiping
- Order of accession
- Ruler #5 · Northern Song lineage
- Life dates
- 1032—1067
- Titles
- Temple name: Yingzong · Buried at Yonghouling Mausoleum
Zhao Shu, formerly known as Zongshi, was the thirteenth son of King Pu Zhao Yunrang. He was raised in the palace by the childless Renzong when he was young. After Renzong gave birth to a son, he was sent back to King Pu's mansion. All Renzong's sons died young. After repeated persuasion by Han Qi, Sima Guang and other ministers, he was established as the prince in 1062 and given the name Zhao Shu. Renzong ascended the throne after Renzong died of illness the following year.
Yingzong fell seriously ill not long after he came to the throne and behaved abnormally. Caotaihou was left behind the curtain to oversee the affairs of state. The two palaces were at odds for a time, but Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu intervened to mediate. In 1064, the Queen Mother withdrew the curtain and returned to power. After that, he wanted to honor his biological father, King Pu, as the "Emperor Kao", which triggered a fierce debate among the courtiers. He also wanted to cheer up and ordered Sima Guang to set up a bureau to compile a general history. However, he died of illness in the first month of 1067 in less than four years at the age of thirty-six.
IITimeline
Before accession
PeopleRaising in the palace
When he was four years old, he was brought into the palace by the childless Renzong and raised by Queen Cao. Four years later, Renzong gave birth to a son, and he was sent back to King Pu's mansion. However, all Renzong's sons died young after that.
PoliticsEstablished as a prince
After repeated persuasion by ministers such as Han Qi and Sima Guang, Renzong issued an edict to establish Zong as the prince and named him Zhao Shu. He repeatedly refused due to illness, and was finally forced to enter the palace.
During the reign · 1063—1067
PoliticsEnthronement and Curtain
He ascended the throne in April, but fell seriously ill a few days later. His speech and behavior were abnormal, and Caotaihou listened behind the curtain. While Yingzong was ill, he was often rude to the Queen Mother, and the relationship between the two palaces was tense. Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu tried to reconcile it.
PoliticsThe Queen Mother withdraws the curtain
Yingzong's condition improved, and chief minister Han Qi asked the Queen Mother to return to power. He immediately ordered the curtains to be removed, and Yingzong officially took charge.
PoliticsPuyi
Over whether Yingzong should call his biological father King Pu "Huang Kao" or "Huang Bo", the prime ministers Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu had a dispute with Taiwanese admonishers Sima Guang, Lu Hui and others. In 1066, Yingzong called his biological father "kin" according to Caotaihou's handwriting, and Lu Hao and others were demoted.
CultureEstablishing a bureau to compile general history
Sima Guang submitted eight volumes of "Tongzhi", and Yingzong ordered him to set up a bookstore, select his own assistants, borrow books from the secret pavilion, and continue to compile the deeds of past emperors and ministers. This book was later named "Zizhi Tongjian" by Shenzong.
PeopleYingzong died of illness
He died of illness in the Funing Hall in the first month of the year at the age of thirty-six, and reigned for less than four years. The eldest son, Zhao Xu, ascended the throne as Shenzong.
IIIPeople of this reign
Han Qi
PoliticsHe served as an official in the three dynasties of Renzong, Yingzong and Shenzong. He advocated the establishment of Yingzong as his heir, reconciled the two palaces, promoted the queen mother to withdraw the curtain, and supported Yingzong in the Pu discussion.
Ouyang Xiu
PoliticsIn the Yingzong Dynasty, he was appointed as the counselor of political affairs. In the Pu discussion, he insisted on calling King Pu "kin". He was fiercely attacked by Taiwanese admonishers and was soon released.
Sima Guang
PoliticsHe once urged Renzong to establish an heir as soon as possible. In Pu's discussion, he insisted on calling King Pu "Huang Bo", and was ordered by Yingzong to set up a bureau to compile a general history, which later became "Zizhi Tongjian".