Zhao Zhen the Emperor Renzong of Song — A Benevolent Monarch and An Excellent Artist

Zhao Zhen (1010 — 1063), also named Zhao Shouyi, respected as Emperor Renzong of Song, was extraordinarily kind and thoughtful and one of the most benevolent and open-minded emperors in the history of China.

As the monarch with the longest reign period (41 years) of the Song Dynasty, his empire reached great prosperity when population and revenue all dramatically increased, and art, science, and literature flourished.

Emperor Zhao Zhen fostered an environment conducive to brilliance, resulting in numerous extraordinary masterpieces. Additionally, he was revered as a great calligrapher and poet in Chinese culture.

Calligraphy of Emperor Zhao Zhen "Lan Ting Xu"

Calligraphy Tablet of Emperor Zhao Zhen "Lan Ting Xu" — Lan Ting, Zhejiang Province

Powerful Empress Liu and the Secret Birth Mother of Zhao Zhen

Zhao Zhen was the son of Emperor Zhao Heng, whose favorite imperial concubine, Liu, did not have any children.

Sometime later, Liu’s imperial maid Li was pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy named Zhao Zhen.

Liu announced that this baby was her son and raised him carefully.

In some gossip, Liu stole this baby after a series of schemes and lies, while others believed that the emperor and Li both approved her to be this boy’s mother.

After having a baby boy, Liu was promoted to Queen.

Li, the birth mother of Zhao Zhen, was given some royal titles but was required to keep a distance from her son. She could see Zhao Zhen on important occasions but could barely talk to him.

After she passed away, she was promoted to a high-rank Imperial Concubine and buried using a queen’s etiquette.

Zhao Zhen knew nothing about his birth mother until Li and Liu passed away.

Portrait of Zhao Zhen the Emperor Renzong of Song, by Court Artist of the Song Dynasty — Taipei Palace Museum

Conflicts with Empress Dowager Liu

After Emperor Zhao Heng's passing, Zhao Zhen ascended to the throne at the tender age of 12.

Hence, Liu, respected as Empress Zhangxian Mingsu (968 — 1033), started reigning the empire as the most powerful regent.

Liu raised Zhao Zhen quite well, though she had been extremely strict.

As Zhao Zhen grew up, more disagreements and conflicts between him and the empress dowager appeared.

However, Liu was a strong, firm, and excellent politician. She had been suppressing the young emperor on almost everything until she passed away about a decade later.

Emperor Zhao Zhen, on the contrary, had been considered a kind, talented, immature monarch and couldn’t make decisions for his love life.

Part of Ceremonial Guard of Emperor Zhao Zhen in "Da Jia Lu Bu Tu Shu", Painted Around 1053 to 1065 — National Museum of China

Unwanted Queens of Emperor Renzong of Song

When Zhao Zhen was young, he fell in love with a beautiful girl whom Empress Dowager Liu disliked.

Hence, Liu assigned her ex-husband’s son to marry this girl.

Then Liu commanded Zhao Zhen to marry a highborn girl named Guo as his queen, though Guo was very arrogant and impolite.

Once, when Guo was arguing with another imperial concubine, she accidentally hurt Emperor Zhao Zhen when he tried to stop the quarrel.

At that time, Empress Dowager Liu had already passed away. Hence, Zhao Zhen used this as an opportunity to take the queen’s title back.

Under the strong suggestions of his officials, Zhao Zhen nominated Cao as his new queen, another noble girl they believed qualified as the queen of the Song Empire.

As expected, Empress Cao (1016 — 1079) was decent, intelligent, and respected by everyone.

Portrait of Empress Cao (Or Empress Ci Sheng Guang Xian), by Court Artist of the Song Dynasty — Taipei Palace Museum

However, Emperor Zhao Zhen had been in love with another girl named Zhang.

He considered Zhang the love of his life and planned to abolish Empress Cao and nominate her as the new queen.

Most officials strongly disagreed because Zhang wasn't from a noble family.

Until Lady Zhang passed away, despite all the disagreements, Emperor Zhao Zhen insisted on giving her a queen's crown and buried her using a queen's ceremony.

Though honorable and powerful as an emperor, Zhao Zhen never could award the queen's crown to his truly beloved woman.

Flourishing Reign of Emperor Renzong

Regarding political issues, Emperor Renzong of Song was not very strong-willed either.

Emperor Zhao Zhen once attempted to implement a new reform that threatened the interests of many nobles.

Under strong opponents of those nobles, this reform lasted less than two years.

He didn’t apply those reformative policies as he wished; however, Emperor Zhao Zhen brought his civilians almost half a century of peace and prosperity.

The economy, science, art, and literature all flourished during this period, marking the first implementation of paper currency in China's history.

Part of the Painting (Qingming Shang He Tu) Along the River During the Qingming Festival of the Song Dynasty

Part of the Painting (Qingming Shang He Tu) Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Artist Zhang Zeduan of the Song Dynasty

Part of the Genre Painting of the Capital City (Bianjing or Kaifeng) of the Song Dynasty by Artist Zhang Zeduan

Part of Painting "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" (Qingming Shang He Tu), Genre Painting of the Capital City of the Song Dynasty, by Artist Zhang Zeduan (1085 — 1145) — Palace Museum

Genuine Benevolence Towards Everyone

As a powerful emperor of a formidable kingdom, Zhao Zhen's benevolence stood out as extraordinary and unparalleled. His kind, dignified, and considerate demeanor was meticulously recorded in historical annals.

His imperial censors always surrounded him and gave him unpleasant suggestions or criticisms, sometimes their saliva even sprayed onto his face, but he always politely negotiated with or listened to them and never got angry.

Moreover, he never blamed or retaliated against anyone for their offensive sayings.

Besides being kind to his officials, Emperor Zhao Zhen was even quite thoughtful to his servants.

When he was hungry at night or thirsty during a walk, he never asked the servants to offer whatever he needed.

From his perspective, waking up people at night or asking them to get water from a distant place would make people tired and bring them lots of trouble.

Hence, he was the first emperor in the history of China to get the posthumous title of benevolence (Ren), Confucianism's most respected, noble virtue.

Jade Decoration with Dragon Patterns of the Song Dynasty — Tianjin Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Legacy of Zhao Zhen the Emperor Renzong of Song

Throughout history, Emperor Zhao Zhen was sometimes criticized for being too soft to have the ability to implement his right reformative policies completely, even though he could modestly listen to suggestions and critical ideas.

Others, however, believed that Zhao Zhen was an excellent emperor, who was extremely kind, polite, frugal, and talented, and brought his people peaceful and wealthy lives.

According to documented history, following the passing of Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen, large numbers of people, even those in remote areas, mourned his death and spontaneously organized numerous memorial ceremonies in his honor.

King of the Liao Empire (907 — 1125), Song's former enemy, was quite sad and wept at Zhao Zhen's departure; he then established a memorial palace for Zhao Zhen to show his grief and respect.

Indeed, Emperor Zhao Zhen was not renowned for expanding territory or enacting sweeping reforms.

However, he was undeniably a benevolent monarch with a compassionate heart, endeared by nearly all who knew him.

Lotus Shaped Azure Glaze Censer of the Song Dynasty — Henan Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage and Archeology (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Next Story: A Wonderful Art Professor and A Humiliated Prisoner — Emperor Zhao Ji