Emperor Taizu of Song

Emperor Taizu of Song
Emperor Taizu of Song
Chinese	宋太祖
Literal meaning	"Great Progenitor of the Song"
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Sòng Tàizǔ
Gwoyeu Romatzyh	Sonq Taytzuu
Wade–Giles	Sung4 T‘ai4-tsu3
IPA	[sʊ̂ŋ tʰâɪ.tsù]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Sung Taaihjóu
Jyutping	Sung3 Taai6-zou2
IPA	[sʊŋ˧ tʰaj˧.tsɔw˧˥]
Southern Min
Tâi-lô	Sòng Thài-tsó
Zhao Kuangyin
Traditional Chinese	趙匡胤
Simplified Chinese	赵匡胤
Hanyu Pinyin
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Zhào Kuāngyìn
Gwoyeu Romatzyh	Jaw Kuangyinn
Wade–Giles	Chao4 K‘uang1-yin4
IPA	[ʈʂâʊ kʰwáŋ.în]
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanization	Jiuh Hōngyahn
Jyutping	Ziu6 Hong1-jan6
IPA	[tsiw˨ hɔŋ˥.jɐn˨]
Southern Min
Tâi-lô	Tiō Khong-īn

Era dates
	Jianlong (建隆; 4 February 960 – 3 December 963); Qiande (乾德; 4 December 963 – 15 December 968); Kaibao (開寶; 16 December 968 – 21 January 977)
Posthumous name
	Emperor Qiyun Liji Yingwu Ruiwen Shende Shenggong Zhiming Daxiao (啓運立極英武睿文神德聖功至明大孝皇帝)
Temple name
	Taizu (太祖)

Emperor Taizu of Song
宋太祖
Emperor Taizu of Song ; 宋太祖
	Palace portrait on a hanging scroll, kept in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Republic of China
Emperor of the Song dynasty
Reign	4 February 960 – 14 November 976
Coronation	February 960
Successor	Emperor Taizong
Born	Zhao Kuangyin; 21 March 927; Luoyang, Later Tang dynasty
Died	14 November 976 (aged 49); Bianjing, Northern Song dynasty
Burial	Yongchang Mausoleum (永昌陵, in present-day Gongyi, Henan)
Consorts	Empress Xiaohui; (m. 944; died 958); Empress Xiaoming; (m. 958; died 964); Empress Xiaozhang (m. 968–976)
Issue	Zhao Dezhao; Zhao Defang; Princess Xiansu; Princess Xianjing; Princess Xianhui
Era dates
Era dates
	Jianlong (建隆; 4 February 960 – 3 December 963); Qiande (乾德; 4 December 963 – 15 December 968); Kaibao (開寶; 16 December 968 – 21 January 977)
Posthumous name
	Emperor Qiyun Liji Yingwu Ruiwen Shende Shenggong Zhiming Daxiao (啓運立極英武睿文神德聖功至明大孝皇帝)
Temple name
	Taizu (太祖)
House	Zhao
Dynasty	Song (Northern Song)
Father	Zhao Hongyin
Mother	Empress Dowager Zhaoxian
Signature

Emperor Taizu of Song (21 March 927^[2] – 14 November 976),^[3] personal name Zhao Kuangyin, courtesy name Yuanlang, was the founding emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 960 until his death in 976. Formerly a distinguished military general of the Later Zhou dynasty, Emperor Taizu came to power after staging a coup d'état and forcing Emperor Gong, the last Later Zhou ruler, to abdicate the throne in his favor.

During his reign, Emperor Taizu conquered the states of Southern Tang, Later Shu, Southern Han, and Jingnan, thus reunifying most of China proper. To strengthen his control, he lessened the power of military generals and relied on civilian officials in administration. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Zhao Kuangyi (Emperor Taizong).

^ Lorge, Peter (31 December 2015). The Reunification of China: Peace through War under the Song Dynasty. Cambridge University Press. pp. 4–5. ISBN 9781316432273. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
^ Song Shi, ch. 1.
^ Song Shi, ch. 3.

[Lorge2015-1] Lorge, Peter (31 December 2015). The Reunification of China: Peace through War under the Song Dynasty. Cambridge University Press. pp. 4–5. ISBN 9781316432273. Retrieved 3 February 2018.

[ss1-2] Song Shi, ch. 1.

[ss3-3] Song Shi, ch. 3.

[1]

[2]

[3]