The myth in death of Zhao Kuangyin founder of Song dynasty China ancient history leaks

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• published: 16 Feb 2014
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Emperor Taizu (born Zhao Kuangyin, Wade-Giles: Chao K'uang-yin; March 21, 927 C.E. -- November 14, 976) was the founder of the Song Dynasty of China, reigning from 960 C.E. to 976 C.E. The Song dynasty lasted until 1279. He reunified China after following a period of political instability and fragmentation. He strengthened the central administration and weakened the power of local warlords. He encouraged free discussion and thought and promoted science, the arts and literature. He reformed the civil service, restoring its original merit-based entry that had been compromised by appointments on the basis of birth. Although he seized power through the military, he introduced reforms that made it much more difficult for this process to be repeated. During the Song dynasty, Confucianism tended to attract state sponsorship and there was a decline of support for Buddhism, which was regarded as foreign. On the other hand, the concept of the universal man also developed during the Song period. His family was of fairly modest origins and cannot be traced back with certainty further than the late Tang Dynasty. His ancestor Zhao Ting (828-874 C.E.) was an official who served in Zhuozhou, in Hebei, near where the family lived. His second son Zhao Ting (851-928) and his son Zhao Jing (872-933) also served as local officials in Hebei. Zhao Jing's son Zhao Hongyin (899-956) decided against a civil career and became a military officer instead. Zhao Kuangyin had little interest in a classical education and also joined the military eventually rising to be the commander of the Palace Army. It was this post that enabled him to rise to power. The last competent Second Zhou Emperor, Shizong (reigned 954-960) died leaving an infant boy on the throne. Zhao Kuangyin, as the commander of the Emperor's guard, allegedly reluctantly and only at the urging of his soldiers, took power in a coup d'etat. In 960 C.E., Zhao reunited China after years of fragmentation and rebellion after the fall of the Tang dynasty in 907 C.E. and established the Song dynasty. He was remembered for, but not limited to, his reform of the examination system whereby entry to the bureaucracy favored individuals who demonstrated academic ability rather than by birth. Zhao also created political institutions that allowed a great deal of freedom of discussion and thought, which facilitated the growth of scientific advance, economic reforms as well as achievements in arts and literature. He is perhaps best known for weakening the military and so preventing anyone else rising to power as he did. Zhao reigned for 16 years and died in 976 at the age of 49. His younger brother unexpectedly succeeded him, even though he had four living sons. In the traditional historical accounts his mother, the Dowager Empress Du, warned him that just as he rose to power because if Zhou Shizong left an infant on the throne, someone else might usurp power if he did not name an adult as his heir. His brother ruled as Song Taizong (976-997 C.E.). In China's folk memory, Song is said to have murdered his brother and invented his mother's advice as justification. Zhao's temple name means "Grand Forefather." The myth in death of Zhao Kuangyin founder of Song dynasty China ancient history leaks ,for more information about china history subscribe and browse channal at http://youtube.com/user/cosmeticmachines as well as business blogger at http://videofilmfiles.blogspot.com