Zhao Shen
Wise Southern Song emperor
Emperor Xiaozong(孝宗) of Song, Zhao Shen(赵昚) (November 27, 1127 – June 28, 1194), courtesy name Yuanyong(元永), was the 11th emperor of the Song Dynasty and the second emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty (reigned from July 20, 1162, to February 18, 1189). Zhao Shen was born in Xiuzhou Qingshan Gate (now part of Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province), originally named Bozong. He was a seventh-generation descendant of Song Dynasty founder Zhao Kuangyin(赵匡胤), and his biological father was Zhao Zicheng(赵子偁). In the second year of Shaoxing (1132), he was raised in the palace by Emperor Gaozong Zhao Gou, and the following year his name was changed to Yuan(瑗). In the fifth year of Shaoxing (1135), he was granted the title Duke of Jianguo. In the 12th year of Shaoxing (1142), he was promoted to Prince of Pu'an and moved out of the palace. In the 30th year of Shaoxing (1160), he was made a prince of the royal family, granted the title Prince of Jian, and his name was changed to Wei(玮). In the 32nd year of Shaoxing (1162), he was made crown prince and renamed Shen(昚). In the same year, Emperor Gaozong abdicated in favor of Zhao Shen, returning the Song throne to the line of the dynasty’s founder. When Zhao Shen ascended the throne, he was ambitious and took bold actions: he rehabilitated Yue Fei, employed Zhang Jun, and launched the "Longxing Northern Expedition" to reclaim the Central Plains. However, after suffering a crushing defeat, he had no choice but to make the "Longxing Peace Agreement" with the Jin Dynasty, restoring peace between the Song and Jin states. After that, he focused on domestic affairs, reorganized the bureaucracy, eliminated redundant officials, prioritized financial management, and helped the people in need. The Southern Song Dynasty experienced a period of stability, historically dubbed the "Qiánchún Rule." Zhao Shen is also regarded as the most capable and wise emperor of the Southern Song, with historians praising him as "the foremost among the emperors of the Southern Court." In the 16th year of Chunxi (1189), Zhao Shen, claiming that he had mourned for Emperor Gaozong for three years, abdicated in favor of Crown Prince Zhao Dun and was honored as the "Supreme Emperor Shou Sheng." However, Zhao Dun proved to be unfilial, causing Zhao Shen to fall into depression after abdication, and he passed away in the fifth year of Shaoxi (1194) at the age of 68. His temple name was Xiaozong, and his posthumous title was Emperor Zhewen Shenwu Chengxiao (later expanded to Emperor Shaotong Tongdao Guande Zhaogong Zhewen Shenwu Mingsheng Chengxiao), and he was buried in Yongfu Mausoleum.