Emperor Gaozong of the Southern Song Dynasty faced a significant dilemma early in his reign: deciding who would succeed him after the untimely death of his only son. This decision was not only crucial for the stability of his reign, but also for the future of the Southern Song Dynasty.
A divine dream and a difficult choice
Shortly after the Southern Song Dynasty was established, Gaozong’s son passed away, leaving the emperor with the heavy burden of selecting an heir. In 1132, he entrusted Zhao Lingchou with the task of finding a suitable successor from among the descendants of the dynasty’s founder, Emperor Taizu. The search narrowed down to two young boys, one plump and the other slender.
When presented with the boys, Gaozong initially favored the plump child and rewarded the slender one with 300 taels of silver to return to his hometown. However, just as the slender boy was about to leave, Gaozong had a change of heart. He asked the boys to stand with their arms crossed, and a cat suddenly appeared at this moment. The plump boy impulsively kicked at the cat, while the slender boy remained still. Gaozong frowned at the chubby child’s impetuousness and chose the slender boy instead.
This slender boy was Zhao Yuan, who was 6 years old at the time. He was brought into the imperial palace and raised by Lady Zhang Jieyu.
Zhao Shen’s convoluted path to the Southern Song Dynasty throne
Though Zhao Yuan spent over 20 years in the palace, he was never formally declared crown prince. This was partly due to Gaozong’s selection of another potential heir, Zhao Boju, who was raised by Lady Wu. This created a situation with two potential successors, complicating Gaozong’s decision.
Gaozong’s mother, Empress Dowager Wei, favored Zhao Boju, and Zhao Yuan found himself at odds with the powerful minister Qin Hui, who frequently slandered him. After Empress Dowager Wei’s death, Gaozong was free to make his own choice, but remained undecided due to the impressive qualities of both boys.
The ultimate test
Gaozong devised a final test to determine each candidate’s worthiness. He gifted 10 beautiful palace maids to each boy and, after some time, recalled the maids. The maids given to Zhao Yuan remained virgins, while those given to Zhao Boju did not. This revelation solidified Gaozong’s decision.
In May 1162, Zhao Yuan was named crown prince and took the name Zhao Shen. A month later, Gaozong abdicated, and Zhao Shen ascended the throne as Emperor Xiaozong.
Emperor Xiaozong’s impactful reign
Critics have called Emperor Gaozong muddle-headed, but his wisdom in choosing his successor proved otherwise. Emperor Xiaozong, Zhao Shen, lived up to the high expectations. He posthumously exonerated the loyal general Yue Fei, reformed military practices, reduced bureaucratic redundancy, promoted agriculture and sericulture, and fostered cultural development. Known for his diligence and frugality, he mourned his predecessor’s death with great devotion, adhering to a three-year mourning period during which he ate only vegetarian food.
Under Emperor Xiaozong’s rule, the Southern Song Dynasty flourished, a period known as the “Qiandao and Chunxi Reigns.” He is remembered as the most accomplished emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, embodying the saying: “Success depends on Heaven, but human effort is essential.”
Translated by Audrey Wang
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