Emperor Huizong of Song

Emperor Huizong of Song 宋徽宗
Emperor of the Song dynasty
Reign	23 February 1100 – 18 January 1126
Coronation	23 February 1100
Predecessor	Emperor Zhezong
Successor	Emperor Qinzong
Born	Zhao Ji 7 June 1082
Died	4 June 1135(1135-06-04) (aged 52)
Burial	1137 (Qin Records)
Consorts	Empress Xiangong ​ (died 1108)​ Empress Xiansu ​ (died 1131)​ Empress Mingda ​ (died 1113)​ Empress Mingjie ​ (died 1121)​ Empress Xianren ​ (m. before 1135)​
Issue	See § Family
Era dates Jianzhongjingguo (建中靖國; 1101) Chongning (崇寧; 1102–1106) Daguan (大觀; 1107–1110) Zhenghe (政和; 1111 – October 1118) Chonghe (重和; November 1118 – February 1119) Xuanhe (宣和; February 1119 – 1125) Regnal name Emperor Jiaozhu Daojun (教主道君皇帝) Posthumous name Emperor Tishen Hedao Junlie Xungong Shengwen Rende Xianci Xianxiao (體神合道駿烈遜功聖文仁德憲慈顯孝皇帝) (conferred in 1143) Temple name Huizong (徽宗)
House	House of Zhao
Father	Emperor Shenzong
Mother	Empress Qinci
Signature

Emperor Huizong of Song (7 June 1082 – 4 June 1135), personal name Zhao Ji, was the eighth emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He was also a very well-known calligrapher. Born as the 11th son of Emperor Shenzong, he ascended the throne in 1100 upon the death of his elder brother and predecessor, Emperor Zhezong, because Emperor Zhezong's only son died prematurely. He lived in luxury, sophistication and art in the first half of his life. In 1126, when the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty invaded the Song dynasty during the Jin–Song Wars, Emperor Huizong abdicated and passed on his throne to his eldest son, Zhao Huan who assumed the title Emperor Qinzong while Huizong assumed the honorary title of Taishang Huang (or "Retired Emperor"). The following year, the Song capital, Bianjing, was conquered by Jin forces in an event historically known as the Jingkang Incident. Emperor Huizong, along with Emperor Qinzong and the rest of their family, were taken captive by the Jurchens and brought back to the Jin capital, Huining Prefecture in 1128. The Jurchen ruler, Emperor Taizong of Jin, gave the former Emperor Huizong a title, Duke Hunde (literally "Besotted Duke"), to humiliate him. After his surviving son, Zhao Gou, declared himself as the dynasty's tenth emperor as Emperor Gaozong, the Jurchens used him, Qinzong, and other imperial family members to put pressure on Gaozong and his court to surrender. Emperor Huizong died in Wuguo after spending about nine years in captivity.

Despite his incompetence in rulership, Emperor Huizong was known for his promotion of Taoism and talents in poetry, painting, calligraphy and music. He sponsored numerous artists at his imperial court, and the catalogue of his collection listed over 6,000 known paintings.^[1]

Biography[]

Emperor Huizong, besides his partaking in state affairs that favoured the reformist party that supported Wang Anshi's New Policies, was a cultured leader who spent much of his time admiring the arts. He was a collector of paintings, calligraphy, and antiques of previous dynasties, building huge collections of each for his amusement. He wrote poems of his own, was known as an avid painter, created his own calligraphy style, had interests in architecture and garden design, and even wrote treatises on medicine and Taoism.^[2] He assembled an entourage of painters that were first pre-screened in an examination to enter as official artists of the imperial court, and made reforms to court music.^[2] Like many learned men of his age, he was quite a polymath personality, and is even considered to be one of the greatest Chinese artists of all time. However, his reign would be forever scarred by the decisions made (by counsel he received) on handling foreign policy, as the end of his reign marked a period of disaster for the Song Empire.

Jurchen Invasion[]

Emperor Huizong neglected the military, and the Song dynasty became increasingly weak and at the mercy of foreign invaders, despite his recasting of the symbolic Nine Tripod Cauldrons in 1106 in an attempt to assert his authority.^[3] When the Jurchens founded the Jin Dynasty and attacked the Khitan-led Liao dynasty to the north of the Song, the Song dynasty allied with the Jin Dynasty and attacked the Liao from the south. This succeeded in destroying the Liao, a longtime enemy of the Song.

Abdication[]

A hanging painting of Emperor Huizong.

However, an enemy of the even more formidable Jin dynasty was now on the northern border. Not content with the annexation of the Liao domain, and perceiving the weakness of the Song army, the Jurchens soon declared war on their former ally, and by the beginning of 1126, the troops of the Jin "Western Vice-Marshal" Wolibu crossed the Yellow River and came in sight of Bianjing, the capital of the Song Empire. Realizing his mistakes, Huizong took the blame for everything that went wrong and stricken with panic, Emperor Huizong intended to flee but was convinced by his officials to abdicate first and then flee.^[4][5] Huizong then feigned a stroke because Huizong in his words said that "I must use the excuse of illness. I am afraid of disorder breaking out."^[6] He then abdicated on 18 January 1126 in favour of his eldest son, Zhao Huan who is historically now known as Emperor Qinzong (欽宗).

However, Qinzong sternly refused the throne, even pushing the robes off. Huizong, still feigning a stroke, wrote with his left hand "If you do not accept, you are unfilial." Qinzong said in response "If I accept, then I am unfilial." Even when Huizong summoned his empress, Qinzong still declined until Huizong ordered his eunuchs to forcibly put him on the throne.^[5] Qinzong finally gave in eventually accepting the throne.^[5] Huizong then departed the capital to flee in the countryside.^[7]

Capture[]

Pigeon on a Peach Branch(桃鳩圖, [ja]), by Emperor Huizong

Overcoming the walls of Bianjing was a difficult undertaking for the Jurchen cavalry, and this, together with fierce resistance from some Song officials who had not totally lost their nerve, as Emperor Huizong had, and Qinzong giving a town, resulted in the Jurchens lifting the siege of Bianjing and returning north. The Song Empire, however, had to sign a humiliating treaty with the Jin Empire, agreeing to pay a colossal war indemnity and to give a tribute to the Jurchens every year. From 1126 until 1138, refugees from the Song Empire migrated south towards the Yangtze River.^[8] Huizong returned from the countryside and resumed his normal activities after hearing that the siege was lifted although he was effectively under house arrest by Qinzong.

But even such humiliating terms could not save the Song dynasty. Within a matter of months, the troops of both Jurchen vice-marshals, Wolibu and Nianhan,^[9] were back south again, and this time they were determined to overcome the walls of Bianjing after Qinzong wanted to form an Anti-Jin alliance with two Liao nobles who were actually on the Jurchens side. After a bitter siege, the Jurchens eventually entered Bianjing on 9 January 1127, and many days of looting, rapes, and massacre followed. Most of the entire imperial court and harem were captured by the Jurchens in an event known historically as the Jingkang Incident, and transported north, mostly to the Jin capital of Shangjing (in present-day Harbin). After Qinzong was captured, Emperor Huizong, was persuaded to turn himself in, however, they captured Huizong.^[6] When Huizong got to see Qinzong, they cried and hugged each other with Huizong stating "If you had listened to the old man, we would have avoided this disaster."^[10]

One of the many sons of Emperor Huizong, Zhao Gou was not present in Bianjing where he went to Southern China where, after many years of struggle, he would establish the Southern Song Dynasty, of which he was the first ruler, Emperor Gaozong.

Emperors Huizong and the former Emperor Qinzong were demoted to the rank of commoners by the Jurchens on 20 March 1127. Then on 10 May 1127, Emperor Huizong was deported to Heilongjiang, where he spent the last eight years of his life as a captive. In 1128, in a humiliating episode, the two former Song Emperors had to venerate the Jin ancestors at their shrine in Shangjing, wearing mourning dress.^[11] The Jurchen ruler, Emperor Taizong, granted the two former Song emperors degrading titles to humiliate them: Emperor Huizong was called "Duke Hunde" (昏德公; literally "Besotted Duke") while Emperor Qinzong was called "Marquis Chonghun" (重昏侯; literally "Doubly Besotted Marquis").^[11]

The Song male Chinese princes who were captured were given Khitan women to marry from the Liao dynasty palace by the Jin Jurchens, who had also defeated and conquered the Khitan. The original Chinese wives of the Song princes were confiscated and replaced with Khitan ones. One of the Song Emperor Huizong's sons was given a Khitan consort from the Liao palace and another one of his sons was given a Khitan princess by the Jin at the Jin Supreme capital. The Jin Jurchens continued to give new wives to the captured Song royals, the grandsons and sons of Song Emperor Huizong after they took away their original Chinese wives.^[12] The Jin Jurchens told the Chinese Song royals that they were fortunate because the Liao Khitan royals were being treated much worse by the Jurchen than the Song Chinese royals. Jurchen soldiers were given the children of the Liao Khitan Tianzuo Emperor as gifts while the Song Emperor was allowed to keep his children while he was in captivity.^[13]

In 1137, the Jin Empire formally notified the Southern Song Empire about the death of the former Emperor Huizong.^[11] Emperor Huizong, who had lived in opulence and art for the first half of his life, died a broken man in faraway northern Heilongjiang in June 1135, at the age of 52.

A few years later (1141), as the peace negotiations leading up to the Treaty of Shaoxing between the Jin and the Song empires were proceeding, the Jin Empire posthumously honored the former Emperor Huizong with the neutral-sounding title of "Prince of Tianshui Commandery" (天水郡王), after a commandery Tianshui in the upper reaches of the Wei River, which is the traditional Junwang (郡望, zh) of the surname Zhao.

Art, calligraphy, music, and culture[]

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"Chong Ning Tongbao" in the style of Emperor Huizong's Slender Gold calligraphy.

Emperor Huizong was a great painter, poet, and calligrapher. He was also a player of the guqin (as exemplified by his famous painting 聽琴圖 Listening to the Qin); he also had a Wanqin Tang (萬琴堂; "10,000 Qin Hall") in his palace.

The emperor took huge efforts to search for art masters. He established the "Hanlin Huayuan" (翰林畫院; "Hanlin imperial painting house") where top painters around China shared their best works.

The primary subjects of his paintings are birds and flowers. Among his works is Five-Colored Parakeet on Blossoming Apricot Tree. He also recopied Zhang Xuan's painting Court Ladies Preparing Newly Woven Silk, and Emperor Huizong's reproduction is the only copy of that painting that survives today.

Emperor Huizong invented the "Slender Gold" (瘦金體) style of calligraphy. The name "Slender Gold" came from the fact that the emperor's writing resembled gold filament, twisted and turned.

One of the emperor's era names, Xuanhe, is also used to describe a style of mounting paintings in scroll format. In this style, black borders are added between some of the silk planes.

In 1114, following a request from the Goryeo ruler Yejong, Emperor Huizong sent to the palace in the Goryeo capital at Gaeseong a set of musical instruments to be used for royal banquet music. Two years later, in 1116, he sent another, even larger gift of musical instruments (numbering 428 in total) to the Goryeo court, this time yayue instruments, beginning that nation's tradition of aak.^[14]

Emperor Huizong was also a great tea enthusiast. He wrote the Treatise on Tea, the most detailed and masterful description of the Song sophisticated style of tea ceremony.

Emperor Huizong's famous descendant was Zhao Mengfu through his daughter Zhao Jinluo.

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  Women preparing silk, a Chinese silk painting by Emperor Huizong of Song, early 12th century.

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  Emperor Huizong of Song, Ladies making silk, (a remake of an 8th-century original by artist Zhang Xuan)

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  Emperor Huizong of Song, Ting Qin Tu (Chinese: 聽琴圖, literally "Listening to the Qin"

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  Emperor Huizong of Song (Poem and Calligraphy)

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  Emperor Huizong of Song, Plum and Birds

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  Emperor Huizong of Song, Golden Pheasant and Cotton Rose Flowers

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  Emperor Huizong of Song, Dragon Stone

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  Emperor Huizong of Song, Cranes 1112

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  Emperor Huizong of Song, Classic Thousand-character Grass script

Legacy[]

The painter Zeng Fanzhi regards Listening to the Qin as "the most beautiful painting from the Song dynasty. For more than 10 years, I’ve been observing the beauty of the pine tree in that painting."^[15]

Family[]

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Xiangong, of the Wang clan (顯恭皇后 王氏; 1084–1108)
  • Zhao Huan, Qinzong (欽宗 趙桓; 1100–1156), first son
  • Princess Rongde (榮德帝姬; b. 1103), personal name Jinnu (金奴), second (second) daughter
    • Married Cao Cheng (曹晟; 1104–1127) in 1115
    • Married Wanyan Chang (完顏昌; d. 1139) in 1127
    • Married Wanyan Dan (1119–1150) in 1139
• Empress Xiansu, of the Zheng clan (顯肅皇后 鄭氏; 1079–1131)
  • Princess Jiade (嘉德帝姬; 1100–1141), personal name Yupan (玉盤), first (first) daughter
    • Married Ceng Yin (曾夤; b. 1100) in 1115, and had issue (two daughters)
    • Married Wanyan Zongpan (完顏宗磐; d. 1139), the first son of Wanyan Sheng, in 1127
    • Married Wanyan Dan (1119–1150) in 1139
  • Zhao Cheng, Prince Yan (兗王 趙檉; 1101), second son
  • Princess Shoushu (壽淑帝姬), fourth daughter
  • Princess Ande (安德帝姬; 1106–1127), personal name Jinluo (金羅), eighth (third) daughter
    • Married Song Bangguang (宋邦光; b. 1106), and had issue (one daughter)
    • Married Wanyan Dumu (完顏阇母; 1090–1129), the 11th son of Wanyan Helibo, in 1127
  • Princess Rongshu (榮淑帝姬), 11th daughter
  • Princess Chengde (成德帝姬; b. 1110), personal name Hu'er (瑚兒), 13th (fifth) daughter
    • Married Xiang Zifang (向子房; b. 1110)
• Empress Mingda, of the Liu clan (明達皇后 劉氏; d. 1113)
  • Princess Anshu (安淑帝姬), sixth daughter
  • Princess Maode (茂德帝姬; 1106–1128), personal name Fujin (福金), ninth (fourth) daughter
    • Married Cai Tiao (蔡鞗; b. 1107), the fifth son of Cai Jing, in 1120, and had issue (one son)
    • Married Wanyan Zongwang (完顏宗望; d. 1127), the second son of Wanyan Min, in 1127
    • Married Wanyan Xiyin (d. 1140) in 1127
  • Zhao Yu, Prince Yi (益王 趙棫; 1107–1137), eighth son
  • Zhao Mo, Prince Qi (祁王 趙模; 1107–1138), 11th son
  • Princess Xunde (洵德帝姬; b. 1110), personal name Fujin (富金), 14th (sixth) daughter
    • Married Tian Pi (田丕; b. 1110)
    • Married Wanyan Sheyema (完顏設也馬), the first son of Wanyan Zonghan, in 1127
  • Zhao Zhen, Prince Xin (信王 趙榛; 1111–1139), 18th son
• Empress Mingjie, of the Liu clan (明節皇后 劉氏; 1088–1121)
  • Zhao Yang, Prince Jian'an (建安王 趙柍; 1115–1127), 25th son
  • Princess Hefu (和福帝姬; b. 1116), personal name Jinzhu (金珠), 29th (17th) daughter
  • Zhao Yi, Duke Jia (嘉公 趙椅; 1118–1130), 26th son
  • Zhao Si, Duke Ying (英公 趙楒; b. 1120), 28th son
• Empress Xianren, of the Wei clan (顯仁皇后 韋氏; 1080–1159)
  • Zhao Gou, Gaozong (高宗 趙構; 1111–1187), ninth son
• Guifei, of the Wang clan (懿肅貴妃 王氏; d. 1117)
  • Princess Huishu (惠淑帝姬), fifth daughter
  • Princess Kangshu (康淑帝姬), tenth daughter
  • Zhao Zhi, Prince Shen (莘王 趙植; 1108–1148), 12th son
  • Princess Roufu (柔福帝姬; 1111–1142), personal name Huanhuan (嬛嬛), 20th (tenth) daughter
    • Married Wanyan Zongwang (完顏宗望; d. 1127), the second son of Wanyan Min, in 1127
    • Married Wanyan Zongxian (完顏宗賢; d. 1150) in 1127
    • Married Wanyan Sheng (1075–1135) in 1127
    • Married Wanyan Zongxian (完顏宗賢; d. 1150)
    • Married Xu Hai (徐還)
  • Princess Xianfu (賢福帝姬; 1112–1127), personal name Jin'er (金兒), 26th (15th) daughter
  • Zhao Ji, Duke Chen (陳公 趙機; 1114), 22nd son
• Guifei, of the Wang clan (貴妃 王氏)
  • Zhao Kai, Prince Yun (鄆王 趙楷; 1101–1130), third son
  • Princess Chongde (崇德帝姬; d. 1121), seventh daughter
    • Married Cao Shi (曹湜) in 1119
  • Princess Baoshu (保淑帝姬), 12th daughter
  • Princess Xishu (熙福帝姬), 16th daughter
  • Zhao Chan, Duke Xiang (相公 趙梴; 1112–1137), 23rd son
• Guifei, of the Qiao clan (貴妃 喬氏; b. 1081)
  • Zhao Qi, Prince Jing (景王 趙杞; 1104–1138), sixth son
  • Zhao Xu, Prince Ji (濟王 趙栩; b. 1106), seventh son
• Guifei, of the Cui clan (貴妃 崔氏; 1091–1130)
  • Princess Daomu (悼穆帝姬), personal name Jinxian (金仙), 15th daughter
  • Princess Dunfu (敦福帝姬), personal name Sanjin (三金), 21st daughter
  • Zhao Chun, Prince Han (漢王 趙椿; 1112–1113), 19th son
  • Princess Renfu (仁福帝姬; 1112–1127), personal name Xiangyun (香雲), 23rd (12th) daughter
  • Princess Yongfu (永福帝姬; b. 1112), personal name Fubao (佛保), 25th (14th) daughter
  • Princess Ningfu (寧福帝姬; b. 1114), personal name Chuanzhu (串珠), 28th (16th) daughter
    • Married Wanyan Zongjuan (完顏宗雋; d. 1139), the sixth son of Wanyan Min, in 1127, and had issue (one son)
    • Married Wanyan Dan (1119–1150) in 1139
• Guifei, of the Wang clan (貴妃 王氏; 1092–1127)
  • Zhao E, Prince Yi (沂王 趙㮙; 1110–1132), 15th son
  • Princess Shenfu (申���帝姬), 27th daughter
• Xianfei, of the Yang clan (賢妃 楊氏; d. 1115)
  • Princess Shunshu (順淑帝姬), third daughter
  • Zhao Shi, Prince He (和王 趙栻; 1111–1128), 17th son
• Wanrong, of the Wang clan (婉容 王氏)
  • Princess Huifu (惠福帝姬 趙珠珠; b. 1112), personal name Zhuzhu (珠珠), 24th (13th) daughter
    • Married Wanyan Xiebao (完顏斜保), the second son of Wanyan Zonghan, in 1127, and had issue (one son)
• Wanrong, of the Yan clan (婉容 閻氏; 1109–1133), personal name Baose (寶瑟)
  • Zhao Zhu (趙柱; b. 1130), 34th son
• Zhaoyuan, of the Zheng clan (昭媛 鄭氏), personal name Meiniang (媚娘)
  • Zhao Tan (趙檀; b. 1131), 35th son
• Xiurong, of the Han clan (修容 韓氏)
  • Princess Baofu (保福帝姬; 1112–1127), personal name Xianlang (仙郎), 22nd (11th) daughter
• Jieyu, of the Wang clan (婕妤 王氏)
  • Zhao Ji (趙極; b. 1127), 33rd son
• Cairen, of the Qiao clan (才人 喬氏)
  • Princess Xiande (顯德帝姬; b. 1111), personal name Qiaoyun (巧雲), 17th (seventh) daughter
    • Married Liu Wenyan (劉文彥)
• Unknown
  • Zhao Ji, Prince Jing (荊王 趙楫; 1102–1103), fourth son
  • Zhao Shu, Prince Su (肅王 趙樞; 1103–1130), fifth son
  • Zhao Cai, Prince Bin (邠王 趙材; 1107–1116), tenth son
  • Zhao Pu, Prince Yi (儀王 趙樸; 1109–1123), 13th son
  • Zhao Di, Prince Xu (徐王 趙棣; b. 1109), 14th son
  • Zhao Gong, Prince Yun (鄆王 趙栱; 1110–1112), 16th son
  • Zhao Wo, Prince Ankang (安康王 趙楃; b. 1112), 20th son
  • Zhao Jian, Prince Guangping (廣平王 趙楗; b. 1112), 21st son
  • Zhao Yue, Duke Ying (瀛公 趙樾; 1115–1131), 24th son
  • Zhao Dong, Duke Wen (溫公 趙棟; b. 1119), 27th son
  • Zhao Tong, Duke Yi (儀公 趙桐; 1121–1148), 29th son
  • Zhao Bing, Duke Chang (昌公 趙柄; 1122–1132), 30th son
  • Zhao Cong, Duke Run (潤公 趙樅; b. 1123), 31st son
  • Zhao Xiang, Duke Han (韓公 趙相; b. 1125), 32nd son
  • Princess Shunde (順德帝姬; 1111–1137), personal name Yingluo (纓絡), 18th (eighth) daughter
    • Married Xiang Ziyi (向子扆; b. 1111)
    • Married Wanyan Zonghan (1080–1137) in 1127
    • Married Wanyan Shengunai (完顏什古乃) in 1137
  • Princess Yifu (儀福帝姬; b. 1111), personal name Yuanzhu (圓珠), 19th (ninth) daughter
    • Married Wanyan Zongbi (d. 1148)
  • Princess Lingfu (令福帝姬; b. 1118), personal name Jinyin (金印), 30th (18th) daughter
    • Married Wanyan Dan (1119–1150)
  • Princess Huafu (華福帝姬; b. 1119), personal name Saiyue (賽月), 31st (19th) daughter
    • Married Wanyan Dan (1119–1150)
  • Princess Qingfu (慶福帝姬; b. 1121), personal name Jingu (金姑), 32nd (20th) daughter
    • Married Wanyan Dan (1119–1150)
  • Princess Chunfu (純福帝姬; b. 1124), personal name Jinling (金鈴), 33rd (21st) daughter
    • Married Wanyan Sheyema (完顏設也馬), the first son of Wanyan Zonghan
    • Married Wang Chengdi (王成棣)
  • Princess Gongfu (恭福帝姬), personal name Xiaojin (小金), 34th daughter
  • Princess Quanfu (全福帝姬), 35th daughter
    • Married Li Dunfu (李敦复)

Ancestry[]

See also[]

1. Chinese emperors family tree (middle)
2. List of emperors of the Song dynasty
3. Architecture of the Song dynasty
4. Culture of the Song dynasty
5. Economy of the Song dynasty
6. History of the Song dynasty
7. Society of the Song dynasty
8. Technology of the Song dynasty

References[]

• Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. (2013). Emperor Huizong (Harvard University Press; 2013) 661 pages; scholarly biography online review
• Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. (1999). The Cambridge Illustrated History of China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-66991-X (paperback).
• Ebrey, Walthall, and Palais (2006). East Asia: A Cultural, Social, and Political History. Boston: Houghton and Mifflin.
• Jing-shen Tao (1976) The Jurchen in Twelfth-Century China. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-95514-7.
• Herbert Franke, Denis Twitchett. Alien Regimes and Border States, 907–1368 (Cambridge History of China, vol. 6). Cambridge University Press, 1994. ISBN 0-521-24331-9. Partial text on Google Books.
• Huiping Pang (2009), "Strange Weather: Art, Politics, and Climate Change at the Court of Northern Song Emperor Huizong," Journal of Song-Yuan Studies, Volume 39, 2009, pp. 1–41. ISSN 1059-3152.
• Levine, Ari Daniel (2009). "The Reigns of Hui-tsung (1100–1126) and Ch'in-tsung (1126–1127) and the Fall of the Northern Sung". In Paul Jakov Smith; Denis C. Twitchett (eds.). The Cambridge History of China: Volume 5, The Sung dynasty and Its Precursors, 907–1279. Cambridge University Press. pp. 556–643. ISBN 978-0-521-81248-1.

Please see: References section in the guqin article for a full list of references used in all qin related articles.