Zhao Xu

Also known as Song Shenzong · Zhao Zhongzhen · Song Shenzong

Zhao Xu, first named Zhongzhen, was the eldest son of Emperor Yingzong of Song. Born in 1048, he took the throne early in 1067 and reigned under the era names Xining and Yuanfeng. In 1069 he made Wang Anshi assistant councillor and set up a finance planning commission, and the court went on to issue the green-sprouts loans, hired-service levy, baojia mutual-security system and state trade bureau. From 1072 he backed Wang Shao's campaign that recovered Xi, He and neighbouring prefectures in the northwest, and in the Yuanfeng years he reorganised the offices of state on the model of the Tang Six Statutes, putting the new scheme into force in 1082. A five-pronged offensive against Western Xia in 1081 achieved nothing, and the fall of Yongle fortress the next year cost heavy losses. He died in the third month of 1085, aged thirty-eight, with the temple name Shenzong. He gave Sima Guang's history its title, Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government (Zizhi tongjian), and wrote its preface.