Ep. 132 | The Song Emperor Huizong (Part 1)
We’re going to begin a new series that will look at political, social, and cultural life in the late Northern Song. The second to last emperor Huizong will serve as our vehicle to examine this period in late 11th and early 12th century China.
The Song Dynasty was another one of those times when China was the most advanced and economically powerful civilization on earth. The period in which Huizong reigned was one of the high points of the dynasty. But in 1127 the emperor’s world will come crashing down with invasions from the north.
Today we begin our look at this emperor.
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Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Bian River | 卞河 | River in Kaifeng |
| Cai Bian | 蔡卞 | Younger brother of Cai Jing. Also a chancellor and famed calligrapher |
| Cai Jing | 蔡京 | Northern Song official, later to play a major role in Huizong’s reign. One of the greatest calligraphers of his day. Brother of Cai Bian |
| Chang’an | 长安 | Near modern day Xian, ancient capital of the Tang |
| Cixi | 慈禧 | Cixi Taihou, a.k.a. Empress Dowager Tzu-Hsi |
| Consort Chen | 陈皇后 | Consort of Shenzong, birth mother of Huizong |
| Consort Liu | 刘皇后 | Consort of Zhezong |
| Empress Dowager Gao | 高太后 | Empress to the Yingzong emperor |
| Empress Dowager Xiang | 向太后 | Empress of Emperor Shenzong |
| Fan Zhongyan | 范仲淹 | Early Reformer of the Song |
| Gaige Kaifang | 改革开放 | Reform and opening up to the world, a policy instituted by Deng Xiaoping in the 80’s |
| Gong County | 巩县 | Former name of Gongyi, where the Song tombs are |
| Gongyi | 巩义 | City where the ancient Song tombs are located |
| Han | 汉朝 | The Han Dynasty |
| Han Zhongyan | 韩忠彦 | Senior chancellor during Huizong’s reign |
| Huizong | 徽宗 | Song Dynasty emperor who reigned 1100-1127 |
| Jin | 晋朝 | The Jin Dynasty |
| Kaifeng | 开封 | Capital of the Northern Song Dynasty, located in Henan. |
| Li Jie | 李誡 | China’s greatest architect of ancient time, author of the 营造法式 Yingzao Fashi |
| Liang Congzheng | 梁从政 | The chief eunuch when Huizong ascended the throne |
| Lin’an | 临安 | Southern Song capital, located near Hangzhou |
| Liu Hunkang | 劉混康 | Great Daoist master. b. 1035, d. 1108 |
| Ouyang Xiu | 欧阳修 | Featured in CHP-071, China’s answer to Leonardo da Vinci. Once a reformer, later conservative |
| Prince of Duan | 端王 | Title of Huizong prior to becoming emperor |
| Prince of Shen | 申王 | 9th son of Shenzong, also known as Bi, the one with weak eyes |
| Qianlong | 乾隆 | Qing dynasty emperor who went on several tours of China |
| Renzong | 仁宗 | 4th Song emperor |
| Shenzong | 神宗 | 6th Song emperor, father of Huizong |
| Sima Guang | 司马光 | Song historian and politician known for his conservative bent |
| Su Dongpo | 苏东坡 | Also known as 苏轼, great politician and local Hangzhou hometown hero |
| Sui | 隋朝 | The Sui Dynasty |
| Sunzi | 孙子 | Wrote the Art of War |
| Taizong | 太宗 | 2nd Song emperor |
| Taizu | 太祖 | Temple name of Zhao Kuangyin, Song founder |
| Tang | 唐朝 | The Tang Dynasty |
| Wang Anshi | 王安石 | Reformer during Shenzong emperor |
| Wang Shen | 王诜 | Considered one of China’s greatest landscape painters. Had early influence on young Huizong’s love of art and lit |
| Wujing Zongyao | 武警总要 | Collection of the Most Important Military Techniques, written 1044, explained gunpowder for the 1st time |
| Yingzao Fashi | 营造法式 | The Song work: Treatise on Architectural Methods. Also known as the State Building Standards |
| Yingzong | 英宗 | 5th Song emperor |
| Yuan | 元朝 | The Mongol Yuan Dynasty |
| Zeng Bu | 曾布 | Junior Chief Councillor and trusted advisor to Huizong as soon as he became emperor |
| Zhang Dun | 章惇 | Chancellor before Cai Jing |
| Zhao Bi | 赵佖 | Older brother of Huizong, the one who had bad eyes |
| Zhao Ji | 赵佶 | Huizong’s given name |
| Zhao Kuangyin | 赵匡胤 | Song dynasty founder, also known by his temple name Taizu 太祖 |
| Zhao Si | 赵似 | Zhao Si, younger brother to Huizong |
| Zhao Ssi | 赵偲 | Zhao Ssi, younger brother to Huizong (spelled with 2 “s” to differentiate from Zhao Si) |
| Zhao Wu | 赵俣 | Zhao Wu, younger brother to Huizong |
| Zhao Xu | 赵頊 | The Shenzong emperor given name (1st tone Xu) |
| Zhao Xu | 赵煦 | The Zhezong emperor given name (4th tone Xu) |
| Zhenzong | 真宗 | 3rd Song emperor |
| Zhezong | 哲宗 | 7th Song emperor, older brother of Huizong |
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