Today in history, March 23, 1022, the third emperor of the Song Dynasty, Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng passed away
Song Zhenzong
March 23, 1022 , Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng passed away. Song Zhenzong Zhao Heng was the third emperor of the Song Dynasty and the third son of Song Taizong. His mother was Empress Li of Yuande. His first name was Zhao Dechang, later changed to Zhao Yuanxiu and Zhao Yuankan.
Zhao Hengli was granted the title of King of Han, King of Xiang and King of Shou, and he once served as the prefect of Kaifeng. In the first year of Zhidao (995), he was established as the prince and changed his name to Heng. In the third year of Zhidao (997), Zhao Heng ascended the throne. When Zhao Heng came to the throne, he appointed Li Hang and others as prime ministers and were diligent in political affairs. In the first year of Jingde (1004), the Liao Dynasty invaded. Prime Minister Kou Zhun tried his best to persuade Zhao Heng to conquer it himself. The two sides fought in Chanzhou, and the situation was favorable to the Song Dynasty. However, Zhao Heng was afraid of the Liao's momentum, and considering that the two sides had been at war for a long time with mutual success and defeat, he agreed to make an alliance and reconcile in Chanyuan on the condition that the Liao should be given a certain amount of gold and silver as "year-old coins" every year, which was known as "Chanyuan" in history. alliance". During this period, the Northern Song Dynasty entered a period of economic prosperity, known as the "Xianping Rule" in history.
In the later period of Zhao Heng's reign, he appointed Wang Qinruo and Ding Wei as prime ministers. The two often confused the government and the public with their theories about the auspicious signs in heavenly books. Zhao Heng also indulged in the matter of enshrining Zen, building palaces and temples extensively, wasting people and money, which deepened social conflicts and made the problem of "internal and external troubles" in the Northern Song Dynasty increasingly serious.
In the first year of Qianxing (1022), Zhao Heng died at the age of fifty-five and reigned for twenty-five years. His posthumous title is Emperor Wenming Zhangsheng Yuanxiao, and his temple name is Zhenzong. Buried in Yongding Mausoleum. Later, the posthumous titles were accumulated to the title of Fu Ji Gu Sheng Gong, Deming Ming, Wu Ding, Zhang Sheng, Yuan Xiao, Emperor.
Zhao Heng is good at literature and calligraphy. The famous proverb "There is a house of gold in the book, and there is a beauty like jade in the book" comes from his "Li Xue Pian". Its purpose was to encourage scholars to study for imperial examinations and participate in political affairs, so that the Song Dynasty could recruit wise men to govern the world. There are three hundred volumes of "Yu Zhi Ji", and only six volumes of "Yu Jing Ji" remain today. "Complete Poems of the Song Dynasty" contains twenty-two of his poems.