Zhao Ji

> "*What a masterpiece!*"
> ― Zhao Ji after being captured (may not be accurate)
>
>

趙佶

Emperor Huizong of Song
宋徽宗皇帝

**Zhao Ji**, known by his temple name **Huizong**, was a Chinese artist as well as an Emperor.

## Royal Life

His father was Shenzong and his mother was Empress Qinci. He was born on May 5, 1082, but back then it was a very unlucky birthdate so Zhao Ji was sent out of the palace to drive away bad luck. He came back when he was old. Zhao Ji later made his official birthdate October 10.

He was not expected to be Emperor and so he wasn't given the education required for Emperors. He however won the favor of the Empress Dowager Xiang. When his brother Zhao Xu died, the influential Zhang Dun (章惇) supported his younger brother Zhao Shi (趙似) to be the next Emperor but Empress Dowager Xiang vetoed it and appointed Zhao Ji the next Emperor.

### The Art Part

He was a great poet and artist and he had a polymath personality.

Zhao Ji was one of China's best artists. He even made his own calligraphic style named Slender Gold, which was basically calligraphy that resembled crooked gold filament and looked as sharp as bamboo. According to legend, Zhao Ji painted his own eyes.

### The Ruling Part

He was the 6th ruler of the Song Dynasty. Emperor Huizong was a incompetent ruler and this left a lasting influence in his life but he made it up with his talents though. He had many sons including Qinzong. He succeeded his brother Zhezong and just did idiotic things. He literally did not care for the military and actually lowered it contributing to his downfall.

A minister named Fan Zhixu (范致虛) said that Zhao Ji was born in the Year of Dog so he had to protect his 'ancestors'. Zhao Ji banned the slaying of dogs which would be echoed in Japan by Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. Unlike Tsunayoshi, Zhao Ji's ban received criticism and he was forced to repeal it.

He helped the Jin Dynasty against the Liao Dynasty but then got betrayed by Taizong of Jin who invaded the Song.

#### Abdication

Scared of being captured, he abdicated to his son Zhao Huan and fled to the countryside. Although he fled to the countryside, he returned at the RIGHT time to be captured.

## Capture

He entered before the Jin attacked again and during an event called the Jingkang incident, he was captured with Zhao Huan. You thought this was end for the royal line but Zhao Gou saved it but then had no heirs as his child died prematurely. Zhao Ji and Zhao Huan wore sheepskin and forced to bow at Taizong’s ancestors. He also gained the humiliating name of Duke Hunde which meant ‘Besotted Duke’.

Somehow, a guy named Cao Xun (曹勛) managed to escaped from the Jurchens, but it is unknown if he carried a vest that Zhao Ji gave him which was meant for Zhao Gou, since the vest carried a message, "Hurry and rescue your parents." Before Zhao Ji gave Cao Xun the vest, he showed it to all the other former officials, which caused them to cry. Zhao Ji incited Cao Xun to remember him and tell Zhao Gou giving Cao Xun a handkerchief which had Zhao Ji's tears soaked into it and said "Let the Emperor know I miss my homeland and grieve deeply." It is unknown whether Cao Xun ever told Zhao Gou. During his imprisonment, Zhao Ji fathered even more children. The Jurchens treated Zhao Ji well as he was permitted to recite & write poems and read books. His condition further improved when Emperor Xizong of Jin came into power, and since he wanted peace, he gave Zhao Ji and his relatives a sum of money. He died before the name Prince of Tianshui Commandery was given to him.

He was a great artist but his decisions were bad.

## Death

His death was from an illness but what's disturbing is that when he was found, his body was STIFF and COLD. The Jurchens decided to burn his body. After a while they threw the body into water in order to make it into KEROSENE (Lamp Oil). Zhao Huan was traumatized and prepared to commit suicide but the Jurchens said if he jumped into the pit, it would NOT make kerosene.

## Titles

Prince of Suining (遂寧王)

Prince of Duan (端王)

Emperor of the Song dynasty (宋皇帝; 1100-1126)

## Quotes

"Hurry and rescue your parents." (你快來援救父母。)

"Do not forget the pain of my Northern journey." (不要忘了我北行的痛苦。)

"Let the Emperor know I miss my homeland and grieve deeply." (讓皇上深知我思念故國而哀痛淚下的情景。)

 In Popular Culture

Zhao Ji appears as a character in a Koei Game.

## Fun Facts

Zhao Ji's personal name literally means 'auspicious and strong'.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://kknews.cc/history/yaj8b.html
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 https://kknews.cc/history/93y894j.html
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://kknews.cc/history/5egnpj6.html
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.sohu.com/a/218642214\_460860
5. ↑ http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/painting-zhao-ji.php
6. ↑ Fan Zhixu: 狗是陛下的本命屬相，屠殺狗是大不敬的行為，應該徹底禁止。
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 https://kknews.cc/history/pxrr55e.html
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 https://kknews.cc/history/o2b3mpm.html
9. ↑ https://pic.pimg.tw/san830/1392481893-2217015931.png