Emperor Taizu of Song
Emperor Taizu of Song (21 March 927 – 14 November 976), personal name Zhao Kuangyin, courtesy name Yuanlang, was the founding emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 960 until his death in 976. Formerly a distinguished military general of the Later Zhou dynasty, Emperor Taizu came to power after staging a coup d'état and forcing Emperor Gong, the last Later Zhou ruler, to abdicate the throne in his favor.
| Emperor Taizu of Song 宋太祖 | |||||||||||||
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Palace portrait on a hanging scroll, kept in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Republic of China | |||||||||||||
| Emperor of the Song dynasty | |||||||||||||
| Reign | 4 February 960 – 14 November 976 | ||||||||||||
| Coronation | February 960 | ||||||||||||
| Successor | Emperor Taizong | ||||||||||||
| Born | Zhao Kuangyin 21 March 927 Luoyang, Later Tang dynasty | ||||||||||||
| Died | 14 November 976 (aged 49) Bianjing, Northern Song dynasty | ||||||||||||
| Burial | Yongchang Mausoleum (永昌陵, in present-day Gongyi, Henan) | ||||||||||||
| Consorts | Empress Xiaohui (m. 944; died 958) Empress Xiaoming (m. 958; died 964) Empress Xiaozhang (m. 968–976) | ||||||||||||
| Issue | Zhao Dezhao Zhao Defang Princess Xiansu Princess Xianjing Princess Xianhui | ||||||||||||
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| House | Zhao | ||||||||||||
| Dynasty | Song (Northern Song) | ||||||||||||
| Father | Zhao Hongyin | ||||||||||||
| Mother | Empress Dowager Zhaoxian | ||||||||||||
| Signature | |||||||||||||
| Emperor Taizu of Song | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chinese | 宋太祖 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Great Progenitor of the Song" | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Zhao Kuangyin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 趙匡胤 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 赵匡胤 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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During his reign, Emperor Taizu conquered the states of Southern Tang, Later Shu, Southern Han, and Jingnan, thus reunifying most of China proper. To strengthen his control, he lessened the power of military generals and relied on civilian officials in administration. He was succeeded by his younger brother, Zhao Kuangyi (Emperor Taizong).