Royals › Monarch / Emperor
Zhao Zhen
Fourth Northern Song emperor, whose long reign from 1022 saw the first state-issued paper money, war with the Western Xia and Fan Zhongyan's Qingli reforms
Mural of the event “Qingli Reforms of Fan Zhongyan”, which this person took part in.
Mid Northern Song faced the severe three-redundancies fiscal crisis of redundant officials, redundant troops, and redundant expense, with bureaucracy bloated beyond use and local livelihood in poverty. The court urgently needed top-down institutional renewal to save its ruling crisis.
Also known as Song Renzong · Zhao Shouyi
- Roles
- Monarch / Emperor
Zhao Zhen, first named Shouyi, was the sixth son of Emperor Zhenzong; born to the consort Li and raised by Empress Liu, he was named heir in 1018. He came to the throne at thirteen in 1022, and Empress Dowager Liu governed from behind the screen until her death in 1033. In 1023 the court set up a paper-money office at Yizhou, which issued the first official jiaozi notes the next year. After Li Yuanhao proclaimed himself emperor of Xia in 1038, Song armies lost at Sanchuankou, Haoshuichuan and Dingchuanzhai, and the peace of 1044 bound the Song to yearly gifts of silver, silk and tea. In 1043 he brought in Fan Zhongyan and Fu Bi for the Qingli reforms, which were soon abandoned. He reigned under nine era names from Tiansheng to Jiayou, died in 1063 with the temple name Renzong and was buried at the Yongzhao tomb. The History of the Song (Songshi) calls him respectful, frugal, humane and forgiving by nature.
Life and times
- 1010 CEBorn
Song - 1023World's First Paper Currency
In powerage 13Official issuance of Jiaozi in Song Sichuan, pioneering the world's first fiat paper currency. - 1043Qingli Reforms of Fan Zhongyan
Took partage 33Fan Zhongyan's Qingli program assessed officials, limited inherited privilege, and expanded schools before conservative opposition brought it to an early end.- Fan Zhongyan Demoted over Officials Chart1036age 26In 1036 Fan Zhongyan presented a chart of officials criticising Chief Minister Lü Yijian's appointments, was accused of faction-building, and was sent out to govern Raozhou.
- Fan Zhongyan's Qingli ReformsFan Zhongyan and Fu Bi launched the Qingli Reforms in 1043 CE to prune redundant bureaucracy and reform imperial academy curricula.
- Fan Zhongyan Demoted over Officials Chart
- 1063 CEDied
Family tree
- Direct kinFather
Zhao Zhen
Connections
- Shared events5
- Rulers and officials3
- Others1
