Emperor Taizong of Song

Emperor Taizong of Song
Palace portrait on a hanging scroll, kept in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Emperor of the Song dynasty
Reign	15 November 976 – 8 May 997
Predecessor	Emperor Taizu
Successor	Emperor Zhenzong
Born	Zhao Kuangyi (939–960) Zhao Guangyi (960–977) Zhao Jiong (977–997) (939-11-20)20 November 939 Kaifeng, Henan, China
Died	8 May 997(997-05-08) (aged 57) Kaifeng, Henan, China
Burial	Gongyi, Henan, China
Empresses	Empress Shude Empress Yide Empress Mingde Empress Yuande
Concubines	Consort Sun Consort Zang Consort Fang Consort Zhu Consort Wang Consort Gao Consort Shao Consort Li Consort Wu
Issue Detail	Zhao Yuanzuo Zhao Yuanxi Zhao Heng Zhao Yuanfen Zhao Yuanjie Zhao Yuanwo Zhao Yuandai Zhao Yuanyan Zhao Yuanyi Princess of Teng Princess of Xu Princess of Bin Princess of Yang Princess of Yong Princess of Wei Princess of Jing
Era dates Taiping Xingguo (太平興國; 976–984) Yongxi (雍熙; 984–988) Duangong (端拱; 988–989) Chunhua (淳化; 990–994) Zhidao (至道; 995–997) Posthumous name Zhiren Yingdao Shengong Shengde Wenwu Ruilie Daming Guangxiao Huangdi (至仁應道神功聖德文武睿烈大明廣孝皇帝) (awarded in 1017) Temple name Taizong (太宗)
House	House of Zhao
Father	Zhao Hongyin
Mother	Empress Dowager Du

Emperor Taizong of Song (20 November 939 – 8 May 997), personal name Zhao Jiong, was the second emperor of the Song dynasty in China. He reigned from 976 to his death in 997. He was a younger brother of his predecessor, Emperor Taizu. His personal name was originally Zhao Kuangyi but he changed it to Zhao Guangyi in 960 and then finally to Zhao Jiong in 977.

Emperor Taizong is remembered as a hardworking and diligent emperor. He paid great attention to the welfare of his people and made the Song Empire more prosperous. He adopted the policies previously enacted by Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou dynasty, which include increasing agricultural production, broadening the imperial examination system, compiling encyclopaedias, expanding the civil service and further limiting the power of jiedushis. He also reunified China proper by conquering Northern Han, the last kingdom in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.

Emperor Taizong succeeded the throne in 976 after the death of his elder brother, Emperor Taizu, who was 49 and had no recorded illness. It is rather unusual in Chinese history for a brother rather than the son to succeed the throne, so the event fueled popular belief that foul play was involved.

According to official history, Empress Dowager Du before her death in 961 asked the 34-year-old Emperor Taizu to promise that his brother will succeed him so as to ensure the continuation of the Song dynasty. She reportedly asked Emperor Taizu, "Do you know why you came to power? It was because Later Zhou had a seven-year-old emperor!" The so-called "Golden Shelf Promise" (金匱誓書) was also allegedly recorded and sealed, by secretary Zhao Pu and reopened after Emperor Taizong's succession to prove the latter's legitimacy.