Zhao Guangyi

Also known as Zhao Kuangyi · Zhao Jiong · Song Taizong

Zhao Guangyi was born Zhao Kuangyi, younger brother of the Song founder Zhao Kuangyin; he changed his name to avoid his brother's taboo and changed it again to Zhao Jiong after his own accession. When the founder died suddenly in 976, he took the throne as Prince of Jin, which later gave rise to dark rumours. His reign titles were Taiping Xingguo, Yongxi, Duangong, Chunhua and Zhidao. In 978 the rulers of Wuyue and of Zhangzhou and Quanzhou surrendered their lands, and in 979 he took Taiyuan and ended the Northern Han. Pushing on against the Liao, he was routed at the Gaoliang River, and a three-pronged invasion in 986 failed at Qigouguan and elsewhere, costing the life of the general Yang Ye. He commissioned Li Fang and others to compile the encyclopaedia Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era (Taiping yulan), and an anecdote has him reading three chapters a day, remarking that opening a book always brings some benefit. He died in 997 with the temple name Taizong.