Emperor Taizu of Song

Qiándé (干 德) 963-968

Kāibǎo (开 宝) 968-976

Taizu (Chinese太祖; born March 21, 927 in Luoyang, † November 14 976 in Kaifeng ) was the founder and first emperor of the ( Northern ) Song dynasty (4 February 960).

Zhao Kuangyin, the maiden name of the later ruler, has long served as a soldier and commander under the last emperors of the Later Zhou Dynasty Taizu and Shi Zong. Under the latter, he was promoted to Field Marshal, so the highest military command vehicle. After initial defeats of the Zhou army against the Northern Han Dynasty Zhao has seen victories and became chief of the Imperial Guard. After the death of Emperor Shi Zong he pulled together all the commanders and generals, and was by proclamation which he allegedly accepted reluctantly as a loyal soldier, the new emperor of China. Zhao Kuangyin beat off Gongdi ( 952-960 ) by the eight year old son of the late Emperor. Song Taizu demanded according to the dynasty history of the song by his Mitputschisten that Gongdi no hair should be curved. Bloodshed would have meant a bad omen for the Taoist embossed Song Taizu. Gongdi still lived for several years in the imperial palace Song Taizu in Kaifeng.

With the justified by Zhao Song Dynasty, the fragmentation of China in the 10th century should end permanently (so-called Five Dynasties ) after the fall of the Tang Dynasty 907. These conquered and united the new emperor all small southern part of states ( Shu, Southern Han, Southern Tang ). His hope then to subdue the strong Northern States of the Han and Liao, however, should not be fulfilled. Next Song Taizu broke the power of the military governors, abolished the separation of military and civil administration and imputed the army directly to the central administration. He wanted to prevent anyone - like him - the throne usurped, which occupied him for life. The changes made to finance the increase in military spending extra coinage led to the rise in inflation and thus aggravated the economic situation.

Song Taizu founded academies and schools with largely unrestricted opportunities for discussion and exchange of ideas - a first idea of freedom in the Middle Kingdom. The growth and spread of scientific progress, economic reform and cultural and artistic achievements were promoted by or made ​​possible. In addition, the emperor led the foundation of the " Dynastic rules and policies of the song ", which should have validity for the next emperor. Furthermore, Song Taizu is said to have created as a soldier named after him and now modified globally applied fighting style that is based on Shaolin techniques (Chinese太祖 长拳, Pinyin Tàizǔ Changquan, Taizu long fist ').