Emperor Guangzong (光宗)

Overview

The translated histories identify Emperor Guangzong as a royal family member and ruler. This record brings together 19 passages from 5 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Emperor Guangzong	光宗	Guangzong
Temple name	Guang	光	Guāng
Temple	Guangzong	光宗	Guangzong
Temple name	Guangzong	光宗	Guangzong
Temple	Guangzong	光宗
Temple name	Guangzong	光宗
Title	heir apparent	皇太子
Title	Retired Emperor	太上

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Strongly inferred · songshi:107:s0198, songshi:112:s0114, songshi:469:s0182
Sex: male
Explicit · songshi:110:s0101, songshi:497:s0026

Roles

Royal Family Member
Ruler

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 乾道八年 · Western Year: AD 1172
Explicit · songshi:112:s0114
Source Date: Text: 光、寧之朝 · Western Interval: Start: AD 1189 · End: AD 1194
Explicit event contextual date · songshi:497:s0026
Source Date: Text: 光宗 · Western Interval: Start: AD 1189 · End: AD 1194
Strongly inferred · songshi:112:s0147
Source Date: Text: 光宗即位 · Western Year: AD 1189
Explicit event contextual date · songshi:469:s0182
Source Date: Text: 紹熙五年 · Western Year: AD 1194
Explicit event contextual date · songshi:107:s0198
Source Date: Text: 紹熙五年 · Western Year: AD 1194
Explicit · songshi:110:s0101
Source Date: Text: 紹熙四年 · Western Year: AD 1193
Explicit event contextual date · songshi:469:s0183

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Child of Emperor Xiaozong of Song (宋孝宗)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: heir apparent / 皇太子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Prince of Jia (嘉王)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son

Career and standing

Status: heir-apparent · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾道八年 · Western Year: AD 1172
Explicit · songshi:112:s0114
Role: abdicated · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 紹熙五年 · Western Year: AD 1194
Explicit · songshi:110:s0101

Places and affiliations

Label: Song / 宋 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · songshi:497:s0026
Polity: Song / 宋 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · songshi:112:s0114

Events and relationships

Kind: ritual · Role: participant · Action: accompanied-birthday-congratulations · Other Person Id: Emperor Gaozong (高宗) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾道八年 · Western Year: AD 1172
Explicit · songshi:112:s0114, songshi:112:s0121
Kind: political · Role: ruler · Action: barely-preserved-altars
Explicit · songshi:497:s0026
Kind: ritual · Role: honoree · Action: birthday-festival-established · Label: Chongming Festival / 重明節
Explicit · songshi:112:s0147

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

History of Song, Chapter 107Volume 107 Treatises 60: Rites 10 · 2 passages

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上再三稱善，且曰：「僖祖自不當祧，高宗即位時不曾祧，壽皇即位，太上即位，亦不曾祧，今日豈可容易？ The emperor repeatedly expressed approval and said: "Emperor Xi ought not to be removed; when Gaozong ascended the throne he was not removed, when Emperor Xiaozong ascended, when the Retired Emperor ascended, he was likewise not removed—how can this be done lightly today?

及光宗祔廟，遂復為九世十二室。 When Guangzong's tablet was installed, it again became nine generations and twelve shrines.

History of Song, Chapter 110Volume 110 Treatises 63: Rites 13 · 1 passage

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紹熙五年，光宗內禪，皇子嘉王即皇帝位，並如紹興三十二年故事。 In Shaoxi 5, 1194, Guangzong abdicated, and the prince, the Prince of Jia, immediately ascended the throne; everything followed the precedent of Shaoxing 32.

History of Song, Chapter 112Volume 112 Treatises 65: Rites 15 · 9 passages

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乾道八年，立皇太子，皇帝率皇太子及文武百僚詣德壽宮上壽。 In the eighth year of Qiandao (1172), when the heir apparent was established, the emperor led the heir apparent and all civil and military officials to the Palace of Virtuous Longevity to offer birthday congratulations.

皇帝降輦入次，御史台、閣門、太常寺分引皇太子並文武百僚入詣殿廷，東西相向立定，前導官導皇帝入小次，簾降。 The emperor descended from the carriage and entered the secondary seat. The Censorate, Gate Office, and Court of Imperial Sacrifices led the heir apparent and all civil and military officials into the hall courtyard, where they stood facing each other east and west. The advance guide led the emperor into the small secondary seat and the curtain was lowered.

皇太子並文武百僚並橫行北向立。 The heir apparent and all civil and military officials stood in horizontal ranks facing north.

次舍人揖皇太子並文武百僚躬，典儀曰“再拜”，讚者承傳，在位官皆再拜，搢笏舞蹈，又再拜，皇太子不離位，奏聖躬萬福，各再拜，直身，分東西相向立。 Next the usher bowed to the heir apparent and all civil and military officials. The master of ceremonies said “Bow twice,” the caller transmitted it, and every official present bowed twice, inserted tablets, performed the treading dance, and bowed again. The heir apparent did not leave his place and reported the Retired Emperor’s well-being. Each bowed again, straightened up, and divided to stand facing each other east and west.

內侍進禦茶床，尚醞典禦以盤盞、酒注授殿中監、少監，次禮直官引奉盤盞官詣酒尊所北向，殿中監啟盞，殿中少監注酒，奉盤盞官奉酒詣皇帝前北向，禮直官引受盤盞官詣太上皇帝御坐前，西向立，皇太子並文武百僚橫行北向立。 Inner attendants advanced the imperial tea table. The Imperial Cellar Director handed tray, cup, and wine pitcher to the Director and Deputy Director of the Palace Directorate. Next the ritual officer led the tray-and-cup presenter to the wine altar facing north. The Director opened the cup, the Deputy Director poured the wine, and the presenter bore the wine before the emperor facing north. The ritual officer led the receiver before the Retired Emperor’s imperial seat, where he stood facing west, while the heir apparent and all civil and military officials stood in horizontal ranks facing north.

前導官導皇帝詣太上御坐前褥位北向俯伏跪，殿下皇太子並百僚皆躬身。 The advance guide led the emperor to the cushioned place before the Retired Emperor’s imperial seat, where he faced north, prostrated himself, and knelt. Below the hall the heir apparent and all officials bowed.

皇太子並文武百僚橫行北向，皇帝詣褥位北向再拜，在位官皆再拜。 The heir apparent and all civil and military officials stood in horizontal ranks facing north. The emperor went to the cushioned place, faced north, and bowed twice, and every official present bowed twice.

皇帝詣太上御坐東褥位西向立，皇太子、文武百僚再拜，搢笏舞蹈，又再拜訖，內侍舉茶床，奏禮畢官北向俯伏跪奏：“具官臣某言禮畢。” The emperor went to the cushioned place east of the Retired Emperor’s imperial seat and stood facing west. The heir apparent and all civil and military officials bowed twice, inserted tablets, performed the treading dance, and bowed again. When finished, inner attendants raised the tea table. The rites-completion reporter, facing north, prostrated himself, knelt, and reported: “Official of full rank, your subject So-and-so, reports that the rites are complete.”

孝宗以十月二十二日為會慶節，光宗以九月四日為重明節，寧宗以十月十九日為天祐節、尋改為瑞慶節，理宗以正月五日為天基節，度宗以四月九日為乾會節，瀛國公以九月二十八日為天瑞節。 Xiaozong’s birthday was observed on the twenty-second day of the tenth month as the Huiqing Festival; Guangzong’s on the fourth day of the ninth month as the Chongming Festival; Ningzong’s on the nineteenth day of the tenth month as the Tianyou Festival, soon renamed the Ruiqing Festival; Lizong’s on the fifth day of the first month as the Tianji Festival; Duzong’s on the ninth day of the fourth month as the Qianhui Festival; and the Lord of Ying’s on the twenty-eighth day of the ninth month as the Tianrui Festival.

History of Song, Chapter 469Volume 469 Biographies 228: Eunuchs 4: Shao Chengzhang, Lan Gui Kanglu, Feng Yi, Zhang Quwei, Chen Yuan, Gan Bian, Wang Deqian, Guan Li, Dong Songchen · 6 passages

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光宗即位，復召還。 When Guangzong took the throne, Yuan was recalled.

帝以疾不朝重華宮，源與內侍楊舜卿、林億年數有間言。 Ill, the emperor stopped attending Chonghua Palace; Yuan and inner attendants Yang Shunqing and Lin Yinian repeatedly traded slanders.

寧宗即位，命三人俱事光宗於泰安宮。 When Ningzong acceded, all three were ordered to attend Guangzong at Tai'an Palace.

光宗朝，累遷至親衛大夫、保康軍承宣使、提舉佑神觀。 Under Guangzong he rose to Imperial Guard Grandee, Commissioner of Baokang Army, and superintendent of Youshen Abbey.

孝宗大漸，光宗以疾久不朝重華宮。 As Xiaozong lay dying, Guangzong’s illness had kept him from Chonghua Palace for months.

孝宗崩，光宗疾，不能執喪，樞密趙汝愚等請建儲以安人心，光宗禦批又有“念欲退閑”語，丞相留正懼，納祿去，人心愈搖。 When Xiaozong died Guangzong was too ill to mourn; Zhao Ruyu and others urged establishing an heir; Guangzong’s rescript even spoke of “wishing to retire”; Chancellor Liu Zheng quit in fear and the realm shook.

History of Song, Chapter 497Volume 497: Appendix: History of Song Table Revision of Official Titles · 1 passage

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光、寧之朝，僅守宗社，理、度之世，日蹙封疆，顧乃拘信使以渝盟，納畔臣而侵境，由權奸之擅命，啟事釁以召兵。 Under the Guang and Ning reigns they barely preserved the altars of state; under Lizong and Duzong the borders shrank day by day; yet they detained envoys in violation of treaties, welcomed defecting ministers and allowed border incursions—because powerful traitors usurped authority, they provoked incidents and invited war.