Emperor Huizong of Song
Emperor of the Song Dynasty
- Lived
- 1082–1135
- Country
- Song dynasty
Updated September 2026
About Emperor Huizong of Song
Emperor Huizong of Song, personal name Zhao Ji, was the eighth emperor of the Song dynasty of China. The 11th son of Emperor Shenzong, he ascended the throne in 1100 following the death of his elder brother, Emperor Zhezong. His reign was marked by the dominance of chancellor Cai Jing, who sidelined political opponents including Sima Guang and Su Shi. Huizong promoted Taoism while suppressing Buddhism. He expanded social welfare programs but also pursued a lavish lifestyle and extensive building projects, contributing to widespread peasant uprisings. He allied with the Jin dynasty against the Liao dynasty, but after the Jin conquered the Liao and invaded Song territory, Huizong abdicated in favor of his eldest son, Emperor Qinzong, in 1126. The following year, Jin forces captured the Song capital Bianjing and took Huizong, Qinzong, and much of the imperial family captive in the Jingkang Incident, marking the end of the Northern Song dynasty. The Emperor Taizong of Jin gave Huizong a title, Duke Hunde, to humiliate him. Huizong in Wuguocheng after nearly a decade in captivity.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.