Song, Liao, and Jin · Ruler

Emperor Taizu 太祖

Taizu

Attested AD 960 - AD 976

Passages: 2
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Emperor Taizu was a ruler.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 960 to AD 976 太祖之興
Directly stated · History of Song 253, passage 269

Places and affiliations

Polity Song 宋 · Relation Founded
Directly stated · History of Song 253, passages 269, 272

Events and relationships

Permitted Zhe hereditary succession
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Song 253, passage 272
Rose to power
Political · Founder
Directly stated · History of Song 253, passage 269

References in the histories

History of Song, Chapter 253Volume 253 Biographies 12: Zhe Deyi, Feng Jiye, Wang Chengmei, Li Jizhou, Sun Xingyou · 2 passages

太祖之興，雖不勤遠略，而向之陸梁跋扈而不可制者，莫不竭忠效節，雖奔走僵仆而不避，豈人心之有異哉？ When Taizu rose, though he did not pursue distant conquests, men who had once been violent and ungovernable now served with loyal zeal, facing death without flinching—was human nature itself so different?

太祖嘉其嚮化，許以世襲，雖不無世卿之嫌，自從阮而下，繼生名將，世篤忠貞，足為西北之捍，可謂無負於宋者矣。 Taizu honored their submission and allowed hereditary rule; though that invited the suspicion of a hereditary fief, from Congruan onward the family produced famous generals generation after generation, loyal bulwarks of the northwest who did not fail the Song.