In the second year of Tiancheng (March 21, 927), Zhao Kuangyin was born in Jiamaying, Luoyang (now Dongguan, Zhanghe District, Luoyang City, Henan Province). He was born into a military family. His great ancestor Zhao Tiao served as the county magistrate of Youdu (now Beijing) in the Tang Dynasty; his great ancestor Zhao Jue served as Yushi Zhongcheng in the Tang Dynasty.
It only took him 10 years to go from being an unlettered vagabond to becoming emperor, and he was only 33 years old when he ascended the throne.
Zhao Kuangyin was very kind. After unifying China, he raised all the monarchs he destroyed. And his younger brother Zhao Guangyi was sinister and vicious, poisoning many people to death. Before Zhao Kuangyin died, he also stipulated that future generations would not kill the Chai family, which also reflected his kindness.
Zhao Kuangyin respects knowledge and talents, especially intellectuals. The Northern Song Dynasty was the most respectful dynasty for intellectuals in Chinese history and also the most democratic dynasty.
Zhao Kuangyin changed the political system of China's feudal dynasty. Before him, the politics of the Five Dynasties were extremely unstable, and generals would usurp power at every turn. After him, officials would no longer usurp power in China. Extended information
Zhao Kuangyin (March 21, 927 - November 14, 976), named Yuanlang, nicknamed Xianghaier and Zhao Jiuchong, was born in Zhuojun (now Zhuozhou City, Hebei Province). In Jiamaying, Luoyang (now Dongguan, Zhanhe District, Luoyang, Henan Province).
A military strategist and martial artist from the Five Dynasties to the early Northern Song Dynasty, and the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty (reigned from February 4, 960 to November 14, 976). The second son of Zhao Hongyin (Xuanzu of the Song Dynasty), the commander of the Protector of the Holy Capital in the Later Zhou Dynasty, his mother was Du Shi (Empress Dowager Zhaoxian).
Zhao Kuangyin defected to Guo Wei during the reign of Emperor Yin of the Later Han Dynasty. After the establishment of the Later Zhou Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin began to join the army and was highly regarded by Zhou Shizong Chai Rong. He made many military exploits during the expedition against the Southern Tang Dynasty. When Chai Rong was seriously ill, he appointed Zhao Kuangyin as the inspector in front of the palace and in charge of the forbidden army in front of the palace. Shortly after Emperor Zhou Gong ascended the throne, Zhao Kuangyin was ordered to resist the Northern Han and Khitan coalition forces.
Soon he was proclaimed emperor in the "Chenqiao Mutiny". After the army returned to Beijing, Emperor Gong was forced to abdicate, and Zhao Kuangyin ascended the throne, changing the Yuan Dynasty to Jianlong. The country was named "Song", and the history was called "Song Dynasty" and "Northern Song Dynasty".
In the ninth year of Kaibao (976), Zhao Kuangyin passed away at the age of fifty. After reigning for sixteen years, he was given the posthumous title Emperor Yingwu Shengwen Shende, the temple name Taizu, and was buried in Yongchang Mausoleum. In the first year of Dazhong Xiangfu (1008), he was given the posthumous title and set up a posthumous title. He established the most heroic, military, Ruiwen, divine virtue and holy merits until the Ming Dynasty Emperor Daxiao. There is a poem "Ode to the First Sun" handed down from generation to generation.
Reference: Zhao Kuangyin-Baidu Encyclopedia