Emperor Yingzong of Song
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| Emperor Yingzong of Song | |||||
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| Dynasty | Song (宋) | ||||
Emperor Yingzong (16 February 1032 – 25 January 1067) was the fifth emperor of the Song Dynasty of China. His personal name was originally Zhao Zongshi but he later changed it to Zhao Shu. He reigned from 1063 to 1067. His temple name means "Outstandingly Talented Ancestor".
In 1055 the Emperor Renzong fell ill and as he had no surviving sons there was a threat to the succession. Under prompting from his Court officials Renzong agreed to bring two boys, sons of Imperial clansmen, into the palace. Yingzong was the thirteenth son of Zhao Yunrang (趙允讓) (995–1059), known posthumously as Prince Pu Anyi (濮安懿王). Zhao Yunrang was the first director of the Great Office of [Imperial] Clan Affairs and so the most important clan official at the time. Moreover Yunrang had been raised in the Palace as a potential heir to Zhenzong before Renzong was born in 1010. He was a first cousin of Emperor Renzong. Yingzong's grandfather was Zhao Yuanfen (趙元份) (969–1005), known posthumously as Prince Shang Gongjing (商恭靖王), and younger brother of Emperor Zhenzong. Yingzong's mother, from the Ren (任) family, was the third wife of Prince Pu Anyi, and was titled xianjun¹ of Xianyou (仙遊縣君).
Yingzong's reign is known for controversy over the correct rituals to be performed by the Emperor for his father. Yingzong had been adopted by Renzong and so the ritual sense Renzong was Yingzong's father. In a more strictly biological sense, Zhao Yunrang was Yingzong's father. Some officials wished Zhao Yunrang to be given the title of "Imperial Uncle", however Yingzong sided with Ouyang Xiu and others and granted him the title "Parent". This was not only an early sign of more conflict during Xiaozong's reign but also the Great rites controversy of the Ming Dynasty.
See also
- List of Song Emperors
- Architecture of the Song Dynasty
- Culture of the Song Dynasty
- Economy of the Song Dynasty
- History of the Song Dynasty
- Society of the Song Dynasty
- Technology of the Song Dynasty
Notes
¹ Xianjun is a title literally meaning "first lady of the county," which was given to the wives of a certain category of Chinese civil servants during imperial times.