1
英宗體乾應曆隆功盛德憲文肅武睿聖宣孝皇帝，諱曙，濮安懿王允讓第十三子，母曰仙游縣君任氏。 明道元年正月三日生於宣平坊第。 初，王夢兩龍與日並墮，以衣承之。 及帝生，赤光滿室，或見黃龍遊光中。 四歲，仁宗養於內。 寶元二年，豫王生，乃歸濮邸。 帝天性篤孝，好讀書，不爲燕嬉褻慢，服御儉素如儒者。 每以朝服見教授，曰：「師也，敢弗爲禮？」 時吳王宮教授吳充進《宗室六箴》，仁宗付宗正，帝書之屏風以自戒。 景祐三年，賜名宗實，授左監門衛率府副率，累遷右羽林軍大將軍、宜州刺史。 皇祐二年，爲右衛大將軍、岳州團練使。 嘉祐中，宰相韓琦等請建儲，仁宗曰：「宗子已有賢知可付者，卿等其勿憂。」 時帝方服濮王喪。 六年十月辛卯，起爲秦州防禦使、知宗正寺，帝以終喪辭。 奏四上，乃聽。 喪終，復授前命，又辭。 七年八月，許罷宗正，復爲岳州團練使。 戊寅，立爲皇子。 癸未，改今名。 帝聞詔稱疾，益堅辭。 詔同判大宗正事安國公從古等往喻旨，即臥內起帝以入。 甲辰，見清居殿。 自是，日再朝，或入侍禁中。 九月，遷齊州防禦使、鉅鹿郡公。
Emperor Yingzong—full style from Aligning with Heaven through Proclaiming Filiality—personal name Shu, was the thirteenth son of Prince of Pu’an Yunrang; his mother was Lady Ren of Xianyou. Bright Path 1, third of the first month: he was born at the Xuanping mansion. His father dreamed two dragons and the sun falling into his robes. At his birth red light filled the room; some saw a yellow dragon in the glare. At four he was raised in the palace by Renzong. Precious Origin 2, when the heir was born, he returned to the Pu mansion. He was deeply filial, bookish, never frivolous or rude, and dressed as plainly as a scholar. Meeting his tutor in court dress he said, “You are my teacher—I must show full ritual.” Wu Chong’s Six Admonitions for the Clan were set on his screen as a daily warning. Spectacular Blessing 3 brought the name Zongshi and posts from palace gate deputy to Penglai general and Yi prefect. Imperial Blessing 2: right guard general and Yue commander. Jiayou: Han Qi urged naming an heir; Renzong said a worthy son was already at hand. He was then mourning Prince of Pu’an. Year six, tenth month, xinmao: Qin defense and clan directorship were offered; he declined while in mourning. Four memorials later, he was allowed to refuse. After mourning the same posts returned; he refused again. Year seven, eighth month: he left the clan court and returned to Yue command. On wuyin, he was made imperial son. On guiwei, he received his present name Shu. On hearing the edict he pleaded illness and refused harder. Conggu and others were sent to explain; they lifted him from his bed and brought him in. On jiachen, he appeared at Qingju Hall. Thereafter he attended twice daily or served in the inner palace. Ninth month: he became Qi defense commissioner and Duke of Julu.
2
八年，仁宗崩。 夏四月壬申朔，皇后傳遺詔，命帝嗣皇帝位。 百官入，哭盡哀。 韓琦宣遺制。 帝御東楹見百官。 癸酉，大赦，賜百官爵一等，優賞諸軍，如乾興故事。 遣王道恭告哀於契丹。 帝欲亮陰三年，命韓琦攝冢宰，宰臣不可，乃止。 乙亥，帝不豫。 遣韓贄等告即位於契丹。 丙子，尊皇后曰皇太后。 己卯，詔請皇太后同聽政。 壬午，皇太后御小殿垂簾，宰臣覆奏事。 乙酉，作受命寶。 丁亥，以皇子右千牛衛將軍仲鍼爲安州觀察使、光國公。 熒惑自七年八月庚辰不見，命宰臣祈禳，至是月己丑見於東方。 庚子，立京兆郡君高氏爲皇后。 五月戊午，以富弼爲樞密使。 戊辰，初御延和殿。 以疾未平，命宰臣祈福於天地、宗廟、社稷及寺觀，又祈于嶽瀆名山。 六月辛卯，契丹遣蕭福延等來祭吊。
Year eight: Renzong died. Fourth month, new moon renshen: the empress’s will made him emperor. The bureaucracy entered and wept. Han Qi read the testament. He received officials at the eastern pillar. On guiyou, amnesty, rank gifts, and army rewards followed Qianxing precedent. Wang Daogong told the Khitan of Renzong’s death. He wanted three years of mourning; Han Qi as acting ritual chief was blocked by the cabinet. On yihai, the emperor sickened. Han Zan announced the accession to the Khitan. On bingzi, the empress became dowager. On jimao, the dowager was asked to co-rule. On renwu, the dowager screened the small hall while ministers reported. On yiyou, the Mandate-receiving seal was cast. On dinghai, Zhongzhen became An commissioner and Duke of Guangguo. Mars unseen since year seven, eighth month—after prayers it reappeared in the east this month on jichou. On gengzi, Lady Gao of Jingzhao became empress. Fifth month, wuwu: Fu Bi took military affairs. On wuchen, he first sat in Yanhe Hall. Still ill, ministers prayed at Heaven, Earth, temple, altars, monasteries, and sacred rivers. Sixth month, xinmao: Khitan mourners arrived.
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秋七月壬子，初御紫宸殿。 帝自六月癸酉不御殿，至是始見百官。 癸亥，歲星晝見。 乙丑，星大小數百西流。 戊辰，百官請大行皇帝諡于南郊。 八月癸巳，以生日爲壽聖節。
Seventh month, renzi: he first held court in Zichen Hall. Since sixth month guiyou he had not held court; now he received ministers. On guihai, Jupiter shone in daylight. On yichou, hundreds of stars streamed west. On wuchen, ministers sought Renzong’s posthumous title at the southern suburb. Eighth month, guisi: his birthday became Shousheng festival day.
4
九月辛亥，以光國公仲鍼爲忠武軍節度使、同中書門下平章事、淮陽郡王，改名頊。 戊午，上仁宗諡冊于福寧殿。
Ninth month, xinhai: Zhongzhen became Zhongwu commissioner, chancellor, Huaiyang prince, and took the name Xu. On wuwu, Renzong's posthumous title was read in Funing Hall.
5
冬十月甲午，葬仁宗於永昭陵。 十一月丙午，祔於太廟。 大風霾。 己酉，減東西二京罪囚一等，免山陵役戶及靈駕所過民租。 辛亥，契丹遣蕭素等來賀即位。
Tenth month, jiawu: Renzong was buried at Yongzhao. Eleventh month, bingwu: Renzong entered the ancestral temple. Great dust storms swept the land. On jiyou, capital prisoners won one grade of relief; tomb corvée and spirit-route rents were forgiven. On xinhai, Khitan envoys came for the accession.
6
十二月己巳，初御邇英閣，召侍臣講讀經史。 乙亥，淮陽郡王頊出閣。 是歲，於闐、西南蕃來貢。
Twelfth month, jisi: he first sat at Ziyi Pavilion for classic lectures. On yihai, Huaiyang prince Xu left the inner quarters. That year, Khotan and southwestern peoples paid tribute.
7
治平元年春正月丁酉朔，改元。 戊戌，太白晝見。 己亥，壽聖節，百官及契丹使初上壽於紫宸殿。 甲寅，賞知唐州趙尚寬修溝堰、增戶口，進一官，賜錢二十萬。
Zhiping 1, first month new moon dingyou: a new reign era began. On wuxu, Venus shone in daylight. On jihai, Shousheng Day—the court and Khitan envoys first offered longevity in Zichen Hall. On jiayin, Tang prefect Zhao Shangkuan, who had dredged canals and grown the registers, won a rank and two hundred thousand cash.
8
三月壬寅，命修秦悼王塚，置守護官。 戊午，錄囚。 辛酉，雨土。
Third month, renyin: the tomb of Prince Zhao was restored and staffed with guardians. On wuwu, prisoners were reviewed. On xinyou, earth fell from the sky.
9
夏四月癸未，放宮女百三十五人。 甲午，祈雨于相國天清寺、醴泉觀。 賜諸軍錢有差。
Fourth month, guiwei: one hundred thirty-five palace women were set free. On jiawu, rain prayers were held at Tianqing and Liquan. The armies received graded cash gifts.
10
五月己亥，浚二股河。 戊申，皇太后還政。 庚戌，初日御前後殿。 壬子，詔：「皇太后稱聖旨，出入儀衛如章獻太后故事。 其有所須，內侍錄聖旨付有司，覆奏即行。」 丙辰，上皇太后宮殿名曰慈壽。 己未，熒惑犯太微上將。 壬戌，以病癒，命宰臣謝天地、宗廟、社稷及宮觀。
Fifth month, jihai: the Two-Channel River was dredged. On wushen, the dowager handed back rule. On gengxu, he first held day and night court in the front and rear halls. On renzi: the dowager was to be styled by "sacred decree," with Zhangxian-era escort. Her requests went by eunuch-recorded sacred decree to the offices, then straight to execution after report. On bingchen, the dowager's palace was named Cishou. On jiwei, Mars crossed the Supreme Palace's Grand Marshal. On renxu, recovered, he ordered thanks at Heaven, temple, altars, and abbeys.
11
閏月戊辰，輔臣進爵一等。
Intercalary sixth month, wuchen: the chief ministers rose one rank.
12
六月己亥，以淮陽郡王頊爲潁王，祁國公顥爲保甯軍節度使、同中書門下平章事、東陽郡王，鄠國公頵爲左衛上將軍。 增宗室教授。 丁未，增同知大宗正事一員。 辛亥，作睦親、廣親宅。 辛酉，太白晝見。 壬戌，歲星晝見。
Sixth month, jihai: Xu became Ying prince; Hao became Baoning commissioner and Dongyang prince; Yun became left guard senior general. More tutors were added for the imperial clan. On dingwei, the great clan court gained another co-director. On xinhai, the Mujin and Guangqin mansions were built. On xinyou, Venus shone in daylight. On renxu, Jupiter shone in daylight.
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八月甲辰，錄周世宗後。 甲寅，太白入太微垣。 乙卯，遣兵部員外郎呂誨等四人充賀契丹太后生辰、正旦使，刑部郎中章岷等四人充賀契丹主生辰、正旦使。 丙辰，內侍都知任守忠坐不法，貶保信軍節度副使、蘄州安置。 丁巳，以上供米三萬石振宿、亳二州水災戶。
Eighth month, jiachen: survivors of Later Zhou Shizong were enrolled. On jiayin, Venus entered the Supreme Palace Enclosure. On yimao, Lu Hui's party would greet the Khitan dowager; Zhang Min's party, the Khitan emperor. On bingchen, eunuch Ren Shouzhong fell for misconduct to a Qizhou exile post. On dingsi, thirty thousand piculs of tribute grain fed Suzhou and Bozhou flood victims.
14
九月丁卯，復武舉。 庚午，詔夏國精擇使人，戒勵毋紊彝章。
Ninth month, dingmao: the military exam was restored. On gengwu, Xia was told to send proper envoys and keep to ritual.
15
冬十月丙申，詔中外近臣、監司舉治行素著可備升擢者二人。
Tenth month, bingshen: near-throne officials were to nominate two proven administrators each.
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十一月乙亥，科陝西戶三丁之一，刺以爲義勇軍，凡十三萬八千四百六十五人，各賜錢二千。 諫官司馬光累上疏諫之，不允。 戊寅，復內侍養子令。 十二月乙巳，雨土。 丙辰，契丹遣耶律烈等來賀壽聖節，蕭禧等來賀明年正旦。 是歲，畿內、宋、亳、陳、許、汝、蔡、唐、潁、曹、濮、濟、單、濠、泗、廬、壽、楚、杭、宣、洪、鄂、施、渝州、光化、高郵軍大水，遣使行視，疏治振恤，蠲其賦租。 西蕃瞎氊子瞎欺米征內附。 二年春正月甲戌，振蔡州。
Eleventh month, yihai: one in three Shaanxi men became Brave Righteous troops—138,465 men, each paid two thousand cash. Sima Guang protested again and again; the throne would not yield. On wuyin, eunuchs could adopt sons again. Twelfth month, yisi: earth fell from the sky. On bingchen, Khitan envoys came for Shousheng and for New Year's Day. That year, great floods struck the capital circuit and dozens of prefectures; inspectors dredged, relieved, and cancelled rents. Western tribesman Zha Qimizheng of the Zhaizi came in. Year two, first month, jiaxu: Cai was relieved.
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二月甲辰，大風，晝冥。 丁未，錄囚。 是月，賜禮部奏名進士、明經諸科及第出身三百六十一人。
Second month, jiachen: a windstorm darkened noon. On dingwei, prisoners were reviewed. That month, 361 degree-holders from jinshi and classics routes received posts.
18
三月己巳，班《明天曆》。
Third month, jisi: the Tomorrow Calendar was issued.
19
夏四月戊戌，詔議崇奉濮安懿王典禮。 辛丑，詔監司、知州歲薦吏毋徒充數。 丙午，奉安仁宗御容于景靈宮。 丁未，白氣起西方。
Fourth month, wuxu: the court was to debate rites for Prince of Pu'an Yi. On xinchou, prefects were ordered to recommend real talent, not fill quotas. On bingwu, Renzong's portrait entered Jingling Palace. On dingwei, white vapor rose in the west.
20
五月癸亥，詔以綜核名實勵臣下。 丙子，詔自今皇子及宗室屬卑者，勿授以檢校師、傅官。 乙酉，詔宗室封王者子孫襲爵。
Fifth month, guihai: edict to match name with deed and spur ministers. On bingzi, honorary tutor posts were barred to low clan princes. On yiyou, enfeoffed princes' heirs would inherit their nobility.
21
六月壬辰，錄囚。 己酉，詔尚書集三省、御史台議奉濮安懿王典禮。 甲寅，罷尚書省集議，令有司博求典故，務在合經。 詔遣官與契丹定疆界。
Sixth month, renchen: prisoners were reviewed. On jiyou, the three departments and censorate would debate Pu rites. On jiayin, the state conference was disbanded for a broader search for classical precedent. Envoys were dispatched to delimit the Khitan border.
22
秋七月癸亥，富弼罷。 丙寅，詔減乘輿服御。 丙子，放宮女百八十人。 丁丑，太白晝見。 己卯，群臣五上尊號，不允。 庚辰，張昪罷，以文彥博爲樞密使。
Seventh month, guihai: Fu Bi fell. On bingyin, the throne cut back imperial wardrobe. On bingzi, one hundred eighty palace women were freed. On dingchou, Venus shone in daylight. On jimao, ministers five times offered honorifics; he refused. On gengchen, Zhang Bian fell and Wen Yanbo took military affairs.
23
八月庚寅，京師大雨，水。 癸巳，賜被水諸軍米，遣官視軍民水死者千五百八十人，賜其家緡錢，葬祭其無主者。 乙未，以雨災，詔責躬乞言。 初，學士草詔曰：「執政大臣，其惕思天變。」 帝書其後曰：「雨災專以戒朕不德，可更曰'協德交修'。」 己亥，以水災，罷開樂宴。 壬子，以工部郎中蔡抗等充賀契丹生辰使，侍御史趙鼎等充賀契丹正旦使。 乙卯，減袞冕制度。 丙辰，陝西置壯城兵。
Eighth month, gengyin: the capital flooded. On guisi, drowned troops and civilians were compensated and the ownerless buried. On yiwei, a rain-disaster edict confessed fault and sought remonstrance. At first the draft read, "Chief ministers, heed Heaven's warning." He added in his own hand: "The rain warns only my want of virtue—say instead that we will cultivate virtue together." On jihai, the flood canceled the Opening Music banquet. On renzi, Cai Kang's mission would greet the Khitan emperor's birthday; Zhao Ding's, New Year's Day. On yimao, twelve-symbol regalia was simplified. On bingchen, Shaanxi raised Stronghold troops.
24
九月壬戌，雨，罷大宴。 己巳，以災異風俗策制舉人。 壬午，太白犯南斗。 乙酉，以久雨，遣使祈于嶽瀆名山大川。
Ninth month, renxu: rain canceled the great feast. On jisi, the palace exam tested disaster-omens and local custom. On renwu, Venus crossed the Southern Dipper. On yiyou, long rain sent prayers to sacred mountains and rivers.
25
冬十月乙巳，雨木冰。
Tenth month, yisi: glaze-ice weighed the trees.
26
十一月庚午，朝饗景靈宮。 辛未，饗太廟。 壬申，有事南郊，大赦。 上皇太后冊。 冊皇后。 以齊州爲興德軍節度。 辛巳，加恩百官。 十二月辛亥，太白晝見。 是歲，蔣、波、繡、雲、龍賜等州來貢。
Eleventh month, gengwu: morning rites at Jingling. On xinwei, the ancestral temple was fed. On renshen, the southern suburb and a great amnesty. The dowager received her book of investiture. The empress received her book of investiture. Qizhou became Xingde circuit. On xinsi, officials received grace gifts. Twelfth month, xinhai: Venus shone in daylight. That year, southwestern prefectures sent tribute.
27
三年春正月丙辰朔，契丹遣使耶律仲達等來賀正旦。 戊午，契丹遣使蕭惟輔等來賀壽聖節。 丙寅，幸降聖院，謁神御殿。 癸酉，契丹改國號爲遼。 己卯，溫州火，燒民屋萬四千間，死者五千人。 丁丑，皇太后下書中書門下：「封濮安懿王宜如前代故事，王夫人王氏、韓氏、任氏，皇帝可稱親。 尊濮安懿王爲皇，夫人爲後。」 詔遵慈訓。 以塋爲園，置守衛吏，即園立廟，俾王子孫主祠事，如皇太后旨。 辛巳，詔臣民避濮安懿王諱，以王子宗懿爲濮國公。 壬午，黜御史呂誨、範純仁、呂大防。
Year three, first month new moon bingchen: Khitan envoys came for New Year's Day. On wuwu, Khitan envoys came for Shousheng. On bingyin, he visited Jiangsheng Monastery and the spirit hall. On guiyou, Khitan renamed itself Liao. On jimao, a Wenzhou fire took fourteen thousand homes and five thousand lives. On dingchou, the dowager wrote: enfeoff Pu Yi by ancient precedent; the emperor might call Wang, Han, and Ren kin. Pu Yi was raised to emperor; his consorts to empresses. An edict obeyed her compassionate order. His tomb became a guarded park-temple, its rites led by his descendants as she wished. On xinsi, Pu Yi's taboo was proclaimed and Zongyi made Duke of Pu. On renwu, censors Lu Hui, Fan Chunren, and Lü Dafang fell.
28
二月乙酉朔，白虹貫日。
Second month, new moon yiyou: a white halo cut the sun.
29
三月庚申，彗星晨見於室。 辛酉，黜諫官傅堯俞、御史趙鼎、趙瞻。 戊辰，上親錄囚。 庚午，以彗，避正殿，減膳。 辛未，以黜呂誨等詔內外。 癸酉。 以災異責躬，詔轉運使察獄訟、調役利病大者以聞。 辛巳，彗晨見於昴，如太白，長丈有五尺。 壬午，孛于畢，如月。
Third month, gengshen: a comet at dawn in the Room mansion. On xinyou, Fu Yaoyu and censors Zhao Ding and Zhao Zhan fell. On wuchen, he personally reviewed prisoners. On gengwu, the comet drove him from the main hall and cut his meals. On xinwei, an edict explained the dismissal of Lu Hui's party. On guiyou, the third month turned toward mid-spring. Blaming himself for omens, he told transport commissioners to report on prisons and corvée abuses. On xinsi, a comet at dawn in the Pleiades blazed like Venus, fifteen chi long. On renwu, a broom star at the Net glowed moon-bright.
30
夏四月丙午，詔有司察所部左道、淫祀及賊殺善良不奉令者，罪毋赦。
Fourth month, bingwu: officials must root out heterodox cults and lawless killers without mercy.
31
五月甲子，罷知雜御史、觀察使以上歲舉人。 乙丑，彗至張而沒。 戊辰，謂宰相曰：「朕欲與公等日論治道，中書常務有定制者，付有司行之。」 六月己酉，錄囚。
Fifth month, jiazi: supervising censors and circuit commissioners lost their yearly nomination roles. On yichou, the comet reached Zhang and disappeared. On wuchen he told the cabinet: "Let us debate governance daily; routine papers can go to the clerks." Sixth month, jiyou: prisoners were reviewed.
32
秋七月乙丑，進濮王子孫及魯王孫爵一等。
Seventh month, yichou: Pu and Lu princes' descendants rose one rank.
33
八月庚子，遣傅卞等賀遼主生辰，張師顏等賀正旦。
Eighth month, gengzi: Fu Bian greeted the Liao emperor's birthday; Zhang Shiyan, New Year's Day.
34
九月壬子朔，日有食之。 癸亥，定待制、諫官、朝官少卿郎中遷選歲月補員格。 庚辰，禁妃嬪、公主以下薦服親之夫。
Ninth month, solar eclipse on renzi new moon. On guihai, promotion timetables were fixed for court remonstrators and directors. On gengchen, consorts and princesses could not peddle kin as husbands.
35
冬十月壬午朔，以仙游縣君任氏墳域爲園。 乙酉，詔兩日一御邇英閣。 丁亥，詔禮部三歲一貢舉。 甲午，詔宰臣、參知政事舉才行士可試館職者各五人。
Tenth month, new moon renwu: his mother Lady Ren's tomb became a park. On yiyou, he ordered Ziyi lectures every other day. On dinghai, the palace exam became triennial. On jiawu, each minister was to name five men fit for archive posts.
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十一月戊午，帝不豫，禱於大慶殿。 己未，宰相始奏事。 辛酉，降天下囚死罪一等，流以下釋之。 十二月乙未，宰相祈于天地、宗廟、社稷。 壬寅，立潁王頊爲皇太子。 癸卯，大赦。 賜文武官子爲父後者勳一轉。 遼遣蕭靖等來賀正旦、壽聖節。 是歲，遣使以違約數寇責夏國，諒詐獻方物謝罪。
Eleventh month, wuwu: he sickened; prayers rose in Daqing Hall. On jiwei, the cabinet at last reported affairs to him. On xinyou, death sentences dropped one grade; exiles and below went free. Twelfth month, yiwei: ministers prayed at Heaven, temple, and altars. On renyin, Ying prince Xu became crown prince. On guimao, great amnesty. Officials whose sons bore their line won one merit turn. Liao envoys came for New Year's Day and Shousheng. That year, Xia was rebuked for treaty raids; Liangzuo sent apology gifts.
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四年春正月庚戌朔，群臣上尊號曰體乾膺曆文武聖孝皇帝。 降天下囚罪一等，徒以下釋之。 大風霾。 辛亥，蠲京師逋曲錢。 丁巳，帝崩于福甯殿，壽三十六。 諡曰憲文肅武宣孝皇帝，廟號英宗。 帝自居睦親宅，孝德著聞。 濮安懿王薨，以所服玩物分諸子，帝所得悉以與王府舊人既葬而辭去者。 宗室有假金帶而以銅帶歸，主吏以告，帝曰：「真吾帶也。」 受之。 命殿侍鬻犀帶，直錢三十萬，亡之，帝亦不問。 初辭皇子，請潭王宮教授周孟陽作奏，孟陽有所勸戒，即謝而拜之。 奏十餘不允，始就召，戒舍人曰：「謹守吾舍，上有適嗣，吾歸矣。」 既爲皇子，慎靜恭默，無所猷爲，而天下陰知其有聖德。 即位，每命近臣，必以官而不以名，大臣從容以爲言，帝曰：「朕雖宮中命小臣，亦未嘗以名也。」 一日，語神宗曰：「國家舊制，士大夫之子有尚帝女，皆升行以避舅姑之尊，義甚無謂。 朕嘗思此，寤寐不平，豈可以富貴之故，屈人倫長幼之序也？ 可詔有司革之。」 會疾不果，神宗述其事焉。
Year four, first month new moon gengxu: ministers offered the full honorific title. All crimes fell one grade; penal servants and below went free. Dust storms again swept the land. On xinhai, capital wine-shop arrears were forgiven. On dingsi, he died in Funing Hall at thirty-six. Posthumous name: Sagacious Governance, Solemn Martiality, Proclaiming Filiality; temple name Yingzong. In the Mujin mansion his filial piety was legendary. At Pu Yi's death he shared the heirlooms, then gave his share to old household servants who had quit after the funeral. A kinsman swapped a gold belt for copper; told of it, he said, "That is my belt." He took it without fuss. He had a rhinoceros belt sold for three hundred thousand; when it vanished, he never asked. Declining imperial sonship, he had Tan tutor Zhou Mengyang draft his memorial and bowed to Mengyang's rebuke. Ten refusals failed before he answered the call, telling staff: "Guard my rooms—an heir exists; I go home." As imperial son he was stillness itself, yet the realm sensed his sage virtue. He addressed even close attendants by office, not name—"Even palace pages get titles from me," he told the ministers. He told Shenzong how sons-in-law were promoted in rank to dodge a mother-in-law's seniority—a senseless twist of kinship. I have brooded on it—how can wealth warp the order of elders and juniors? Let the offices reform it." Illness stopped him; Shenzong finished what he began.
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贊曰：昔人有言，天之所命，人不能違。 信哉！ 英宗以明哲之資，膺繼統之命，執心固讓，若將終身，而卒踐帝位，豈非天命乎？ 及其臨政，臣下有奏，必問朝廷故事與古治所宜，每有裁決，皆出群臣意表。 雖以疾疹不克大有所爲，然使百世之下，欽仰高風，詠歎至德，何其盛也！ 彼隋晉王廣、唐魏王泰窺覦神器，矯揉奪嫡，遂啟禍原，誠何心哉！ 誠何心哉！
Praise: The ancients said what Heaven decrees, man cannot defy. Truly so! Yingzong's clear mind took the succession yet he refused as if for life—and still became emperor. Was that not Heaven's mandate? In power he asked every memorial what precedent and antiquity required; his judgments consistently surprised the court. Illness limited his deeds, yet posterity would admire and hymn his height—how grand! Yet Sui's Yang Guang and Tang's Li Tai coveted the throne, twisted succession, and loosed disaster—what were they thinking? What hearts had they!