Emperor Xizong (熙宗)

Overview

Emperor Xizong was a Third emperor of the Jin dynasty.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Emperor Hongji Zuowu Zhuangjing Xiaocheng	弘基纘武莊靖孝成皇帝
Temple name	Minzong	閔宗	Mǐnzōng

Life and dates

Death

Cause Regicide · Authority Wanyan Liang (完顏亮)
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passage 193

Attested activity

AD 1138 熙宗天眷元年十月
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 45, passage 36
AD 1140 天眷三年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 43, passages 8, 117
AD 1140 三年…河南
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 45, passage 38
AD 1187 大定二十七年四月一日
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 32, passage 205
AD 1189 大定二十九年三月
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 38, passage 80
AD 1186 大定二十六年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 32, passage 205

Show 23 more source-backed claims

AD 1162 大定二年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 33, passage 157
AD 1161 大定元年十一月十六日
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 32, passages 190, 197
AD 1179 大定十九年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 32, passages 189, 199
AD 1179 大定十九年四月
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 33, passage 173
AD 1175 大定十五年三月戊申
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 33, passage 162
AD 1174 大定十四年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 33, passage 161
AD 1139 天眷二年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 78, passage 67
AD 1135 to AD 1161 熙宗、海陵之世
Directly stated · History of Jin 46, passage 9
AD 1135 to AD 1149 熙宗之世
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 59, passage 545
AD 1139 熙宗天眷二年九月
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 33, passage 2
AD 1135 to AD 1149 熙宗時
Directly stated · History of Jin 38, passage 67
AD 1143 熙宗皇統三年三月
Directly stated · History of Jin 50, passage 217
AD 1142 熙宗皇統二年五月
Directly stated · History of Jin 50, passage 3
AD 1142 熙宗皇統二年十月
Directly stated · History of Jin 50, passage 58
AD 1148 熙宗皇統八年
Directly stated · History of Jin 52, passage 181
AD 1144 熙宗皇統四年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 46, passage 117
AD 1147 皇統七年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 33, passage 3
AD 1147 皇統七年四月戊午
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 69, passage 112
AD 1142 皇統二年
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 69, passage 165
AD 1142 皇統二年六月
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 38, passages 67, 69
AD 1145 皇統五年十月三日
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 32, passages 51, 72
AD 1141 皇統元年二月
Directly stated · History of Jin 35, passage 244
AD 1141 皇統間…皇統制
Dated from the passage context · History of Jin 45, passage 39

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Emperor Taizu of Jin (金太祖)
eldest grandson 長孫 · 2 generations
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passage 190
Spouse of Empress Dao (悼皇后)
consort 后
empress 皇后
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passage 199; History of Jin 33, passage 162
Child of Emperor Huizong (徽宗)
father 父
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 32, passages 5, 72
Child of Jingxuan (景宣)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Jin 59, passage 545
Parent of Daoji (道濟)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Jin 59, passage 556
Parent of Ji'an (濟安)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Jin 59, passage 556
Sibling of Yuan (元)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · History of Jin 69, passage 117
Sibling of Younger brother of Emperor Xizong (熙宗之弟)
younger brother 弟
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 32, passage 192

had no heir 無嗣
Kinship Role heirs · Count 0 · Negated true
Directly stated · History of Jin 33, passage 157
Kinship Role sons · Count 2
Directly stated · History of Jin 59, passage 556

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Emperor Hongji Zuowu Zhuangjing Xiaocheng 弘基纘武莊靖孝成皇帝
Augmented
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passage 199
Emperor Minzong Wuling 閔宗武靈皇帝
Posthumously conferred
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passage 197
Xizong 熙宗
Temple name changed
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passage 205
not styled Ancestor 不稱宗
Temple name · Negated title ancestor true
Directly stated · History of Jin 33, passages 157, 159

Places and affiliations

Jin 金
Relation Ruled
Directly stated · History of Jin 46, passage 9
Jin 金
Relation Ruled
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 59, passage 2
Polity Jin 金 · Relation Associated with
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 32, passage 199
Polity Jin 金 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · History of Jin 38, passage 67; History of Jin 43, passages 7-8; History of Jin 45, passage 36; History of Jin 52, passage 181
Polity Jin 金 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · History of Jin 35, passage 244
At Yan 燕 · Relation Visited
Directly stated · History of Jin 43, passage 8

Works and attributed material

Edict · Author · Mode quotation
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passages 190-197
Edict · Author
Directly stated · History of Jin 45, passage 36
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Jin 35, passages 244-245

Events and relationships

Allowed grain for office in famine
AD 1143 熙宗皇統三年三月 · Administrative · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Jin 50, passage 217
Western Xia envoy audience changed to major bow 夏使入見改為大起居
Ritual · Ruler · Changed xia envoy audience to major bow
Directly stated · History of Jin 38, passage 67
Elevated to grand ancestral temple
AD 1179 大定十九年四月 · Ritual · Honoree
Directly stated · History of Jin 33, passage 173
Granted song petition for border markets
AD 1142 熙宗皇統二年五月 · Administrative · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Jin 50, passage 3
Offered sacrifice
AD 1141 皇統元年二月戊子 · Ritual · Officiant · At Temple of the Cultured Sagely King 文宣王廟
Directly stated · History of Jin 35, passage 244
Ordered premium grain purchase
AD 1142 熙宗皇統二年十月 · Administrative · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Jin 50, passage 58

Show 7 more source-backed claims

Ordered silk redemption of bondservants
AD 1144 皇統四年 · Legal · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Jin 46, passage 117
Reign context
AD 1148 熙宗皇統八年 · Administrative · Reigning ruler · Topic provincial ministers proposed reforming civil-track ministry-clerk selection 省臣奏定制文資省令史勾補
Directly stated · History of Jin 52, passages 181-182
Separate temple established
AD 1162 大定二年 · Ritual · Honoree
Directly stated · History of Jin 33, passage 157
Visited Yan with an imperial procession planned largely by Liu Kuo
Ritual · With Liu Kuo (劉筈)
Directly stated · History of Jin 78, passage 67
Visited
Imperial progress · Principal · At Yan 燕 · Outcome First employed the full imperial procession (法駕)
Directly stated · History of Jin 43, passage 8
Relation Received testamentary mandate from · Person Emperor Taizong (太宗)
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passage 190
Relation Granted degree to · Person Han Duo (韓鐸)
Directly stated · History of Jin 78, passage 187

Assessments and attributes

Assessment ruled by deferring to ministers; abolished Qi; pacified Song; later used excessive punishments · Mode edict Source Person Id Emperor Shizong of Jin (金世宗)
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passages 191-192

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · History of Jin 33, passage 2
Sacred birthday on the seventh day of the seventh month; observance moved because of Jingxuan's death anniversary; foreign congratulations later received on the seventeenth day of the first month.
Related Person Id Jingxuan (景宣)
Directly stated · History of Jin 38, passage 80
reigned for fifteen years
Directly stated · History of Jin 32, passage 190
From Emperor Minzong 閔宗 · To Wuling 武靈 · Temple designation changed; not styled Ancestor (不稱宗)
Directly stated · History of Jin 33, passage 157
From Emperor Wuling 武靈 · To Xiaocheng 孝成
Directly stated · History of Jin 33, passage 161

References in the histories

Search passages

History

39 passages

History of Jin, Chapter 32Volume 32 Treatises 13: Rites 5: Conferring of Posthumous Titles · 6 passages

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舉冊官對舉冊，讀冊官中書令一拜起，跪，搢笏，讀冊文曰：「孝孫嗣皇帝臣某，謹拜手稽首奉玉冊玉寶，恭上尊諡曰應乾興運昭德定功睿神莊孝仁明大聖武元皇帝。」 The officials lifting the register held it between them; the reader, the Director of the Secretariat, bowed once, rose, knelt, inserted his tablet, and read the text of the register: 'The filial grandson, the succeeding emperor, your subject [name], reverently bows with joined hands and prostrates himself to present jade registers and jade seals, and reverently confers the posthumous title Emperor Yingqian Xingyun Zhaode Dinggong Ruishen Zhuangxiao Renming Dasheng Wuyuan.'

大定十九年，奉上孝成皇帝諡號。 In Dading 19 the court presented the posthumous title of Emperor Xiaocheng.

元年十一月十六日，詔曰：「前君乃太祖之長孫，受太宗之遺命，嗣膺神器，十有五年。 On the sixteenth day of the eleventh month of the first year an edict stated: 'The former ruler was the eldest grandson of Emperor Taizu; he received Emperor Taizong's testamentary mandate, succeeded to the throne, and reigned for fifteen years.

宜上諡號曰閔宗武靈皇帝。」 The posthumous title Emperor Minzong Wuling should be conferred.'

今擬增上閔宗尊諡曰弘基纘武莊靖孝成皇帝，仍加諡悼皇后曰悼平皇后。」 It is now proposed to augment Minzong's posthumous title to Emperor Hongji Zuowu Zhuangjing Xiaocheng, and to add for Empress Dao the title Empress Daoping.'

二十六年，敕再議閔宗廟號，禮官擬上「襄、威、敬、定、桓、烈、熙」七字，奉旨用「熙」字，乃以明年四月一日，遣官奏告太廟及閔宗本室，易新廟號。 In year 26 an edict ordered further deliberation on Minzong's temple name; ritual officials proposed seven characters—'xiang,' 'wei,' 'jing,' 'ding,' 'huan,' 'lie,' and 'xi'—and by imperial order 'xi' was chosen; on the first day of the fourth month of the following year officials were sent to announce at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and at Minzong's own chamber, adopting the new temple name.

History of Jin, Chapter 33Volume 33 Treatises 14: Rites 6: Original Shrines, Invocation Ceremonies, Pilgrimages, Other Temples · 8 passages

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熙宗天眷二年九月，又以上京慶元宮為太祖皇帝原廟。 In the ninth month of Xizong's second Tianjuan year, the Qingyuan Palace in the Upper Capital was also designated as the original shrine of Emperor Taizu.

大定二年，有司擬奏閔宗無嗣，合別立廟，有司以時祭享，不稱宗，以武靈為廟號。 In Dading 2, the responsible offices proposed that because Emperor Minzong had no heir a separate temple should be established, with seasonal sacrifices performed by the offices; he would not be styled "Ancestor," and the temple name would be Wuling.

今武靈皇帝既不稱宗，又不與祫享，其廟擬於太廟東墉外隙地建立。」 Now Emperor Wuling is neither styled Ancestor nor included in the di and xia sacrifices; his temple is proposed for vacant ground outside the east wall of the Grand Ancestral Temple."

十四年，廟成，以武靈後諡孝成，又謂之孝成廟。 In the fourteenth year the temple was completed; posthumously Emperor Wuling was given the title Xiaocheng, and the temple was also called the Temple of Xiaocheng.

十五年三月戊申，奉安武靈皇帝及悼皇后。 On the day wushen of the third month of the fifteenth year, Emperor Wuling and Empress Dao were ceremonially installed.

今武靈皇帝廟庭與太廟地步不同，難以容設宮縣樂舞，並樂器亦是闕少，看詳恐合依唐讓皇帝祫享典故，樂用登歌，所有牲牢樽俎同太廟一室行禮。 Now the forecourt of Emperor Wuling's temple differs in size from the Grand Ancestral Temple, making it difficult to accommodate palace music and dance, and musical instruments are also lacking. On examination they should follow the Tang precedent for Emperor Rang's di and xia offering, using elevated song; all victims, wine vessels, and stands should follow the rites of one chamber of the Grand Ancestral Temple.

今添武靈皇帝別廟行禮，合無依已奏定共用三犢，或增添牛數。」 Now that rites are added at the separate temple of Emperor Wuling, should they follow what was already memorialized and approved—three calves in all—or should the number of cattle be increased?"

奏奉敕旨：「太廟、別廟共用三犢，武靈皇帝廟樂用登歌，差官奏告，並准奏」。 A memorial received imperial command: "The Grand Ancestral Temple and separate temple shall share three calves; Emperor Wuling's temple shall use elevated song; officials shall be dispatched to report to the temple—all approved as memorialized."

History of Jin, Chapter 35Volume 35 Treatises 16: Rites 8: Consecration of Shrines to a Sages; Temple to the Warrior King Cheng of Zhou; Monarchs of Past Ages; Halls to Various Spirits in Changbai Shan, Dafang Shan, Amur River, Jia Yin Hou; Spirits of the Lu River; Spirits of Zhao Yin Shun; Spirits of Zhen an Gong, Rui Shen Gongl; Worshipping, Sacrifices, Vists, and State Ceremonies at Zhen Xian Jun Wang Temple · 1 passage

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皇統元年二月戊子，熙宗詣文宣王廟奠祭，北面再拜，顧儒臣曰：「為善不可不勉。 On wuzi day in the second month of Huangtong 1, Emperor Xizong went to the Temple of the Cultured Sagely King to offer sacrifice, bowed twice facing north, turned to the Confucian officials and said: "One must not fail to exert oneself in doing good.

History of Jin, Chapter 38Volume 38 Treatises 19: Rites 11: Ceremonies for Receiving Foreign Emissaries; Music for Banquets; Farewell Rituals; Ceremonies for Newly Appointed Officials · 2 passages

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熙宗時，夏使入見，改為大起居。 During the reign of Emperor Xizong, the Western Xia envoy's audience was changed to use the major bow of respect.

時右丞相襄言：「伏見熙宗聖誕七月七日，以景宣忌辰避之，更為翌日，複用正月十七日受外國賀。 At that time the Right Chancellor Xiang said: "I observe that Emperor Xizong's sacred birthday fell on the seventh day of the seventh month, but because of Jingxuan's death anniversary it was moved to the following day, and foreign congratulations were again received on the seventeenth day of the first month.

History of Jin, Chapter 43Volume 43 Treatises 24: Carriages and Clothing 1: Emperor's Carriages, Empress' and Consorts' Carriages; Crown Prince's Carriages; Princes, Dukes, and Below Carriages and Saddlery; Carriages and Clothing 2: Emperors' Robes and Crowns; Clothing for Those Accompanying the Emperor; Empresses' Crown and Clothing; Crown Princes' Crown and Clothing; Dress for the Imperial Clan, Families of Imperial Consorts, and Titled Nobility; Court Dress for Officials; Ceremonial Clothing; Official Clothing; Carriages and Clothing 3: Tailoring · 1 passage

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熙宗幸燕，始用法駕。 When Emperor Xizong visited Yan, he first employed the full imperial procession.

History of Jin, Chapter 45Volume 45 Treatises 26: Punishment · 1 passage

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熙宗天眷元年十月，禁親王以下佩刀入宮。 In the tenth month of the first year of Tianjuan under Emperor Xizong, imperial princes and those below them were forbidden to carry swords into the palace.

History of Jin, Chapter 46Volume 46 Treatises 27: Finance and Economics 1: Thorough Examination and Organization of Registered Residences · 2 passages

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熙宗、海陵之世，風氣日開，兼務遠略，君臣講求財用之制，切切然以是為先務。 Under Xizong and Hailing the realm grew cosmopolitan; court and emperor together obsessed over fiscal institutions, making finance their foremost concern.

熙宗皇統四年詔陝西、蒲、解、汝、蔡等州歲饑，百姓流落典雇為驅者，官以絹贖為良，丁男三匹，婦人幼小二匹。 In Xizong's fourth year of Huangtong, famine in Shaanxi, Pu, Jie, Ru, Cai, and other prefectures drove people to pawn themselves as bond servants; the state redeemed them with silk—three bolts for adult men, two for women and children.

History of Jin, Chapter 50Volume 50 Treatises 31: Finance and Economics 5: Monopoly Markets, State Purchase of Grain, Rice Fields, Agricultural Land Administration, Buying of Titles or Pardons With Grain and Selling of Ordination Certificates · 3 passages

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熙宗皇統二年五月，許宋人之請，遂各置於兩界。 In the fifth month of Xizong's Huangtong 2 (1142), the court granted the Song petition and set up markets on both sides of the frontier.

熙宗皇統二年十月，燕、西、東京、河東、河北、山東，汴京等路秋熟，命有司增價和糴。 In the tenth month of Xizong's Huangtong 2 (1142), after the harvest in Yan, Western, Eastern Capital, Hedong, Hebei, Shandong, and Bianjing circuits, officials were ordered to buy grain at premium prices.

熙宗皇統三年三月，陝西旱饑，詔許富民入粟補官。 In the third month of Xizong's Huangtong 3 (1143) drought and famine struck Shaanxi; wealthy households were allowed to buy offices with grain.

History of Jin, Chapter 52Volume 52 Treatises 33: Selection of Officials 2: Civil and Military Selection · 1 passage

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文資者，舊惟聽左司官舉用，至熙宗皇統八年，省臣謂：「若止循舊例舉勾，久則善惡不分而多僥倖。」 The civil track had relied only on Left Secretariat recommendations. In Emperor Xizong's Huangtong 8 (1148) provincial ministers said, "If we only follow the old precedent for recommendations, in time good and bad will not be distinguished and opportunism will multiply."

History of Jin, Chapter 59Volume 59 Tables 1: Imperial Family · 2 passages

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右景宣子，與熈宗，凡三人。 Listed at right: sons of Jingxuan—three in all, with Xizong.

右熈宗子二人。 Listed at right: two sons of Xizong.

History of Jin, Chapter 69Volume 69 Biographies 7: Taizu Sons: Zong Jun Formerly Named Eluguan, Zong Jie Formerly Named Meiliye, Zong Qiang Formerly Named Alu, Son: Shuang (Formerly Named Alin) Kexi, a Suo, Zong Min Formerly Named Alubu, Yuan Formerly Named Changsheng · 10 passages

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同知延安尹李惟忠，與熙宗弑逆，構殺韓王亨，世宗疏斥之。 Li Weizhong, Vice Director of Yan'an, had taken part in the plot that murdered Xizong and had engineered the death of Prince of Han Hen; Shizong had cast him aside.

時熙宗屢殺大臣，宗敏憂之，謂海陵曰：「主上喜殘殺，而國家事重，奈何。」 In those days Xizong was slaughtering ministers one after another. Zong Min, uneasy, said to Hailing: "The sovereign delights in bloodshed, yet the realm hangs in the balance—what can be done?"

及弑熙宗，使葛王宗敏。 After he killed Xizong, he had the Prince of Ge summon Zong Min.

熙宗被酒，酌酒賜元，元不能飲，上怒，仗劍逼之，元逃去。 Xizong, already drunk, poured wine and pressed it on Yuan. Yuan could not drink. The emperor flew into a rage, sword in hand, and drove at him; Yuan fled.

而辯與秉德初意不在海陵，常勝乃熙宗之弟，辯答曰：「無胙王常勝乎。」 Bian and Bingde had not first thought of Hailing. Changsheng was Xizong’s own brother. Bian said: "What of the Prince of Zu, Changsheng?"

河南軍士孫進自稱「皇弟按察大王」，熙宗疑「皇弟」二字或在常勝也，使特思鞫之，無狀。 Sun Jin, a soldier in Henan, called himself "Younger Brother, Inspector King." Xizong wondered whether "younger brother" meant Changsheng and set Tesi to question him; nothing was proved.

海陵知熙宗有疑常勝心，因此可以除之，謂熙宗曰：「孫進反有端，不稱他人，乃稱皇弟大王。 Hailing saw that Xizong already doubted Changsheng and that here was his chance. He told Xizong: "Sun Jin’s revolt has a thread to pull—he named no one else but Younger Brother the King.

熙宗以為然，使唐括辯、蕭肄按問特思，特思自誣服，故出常勝罪。 Xizong agreed and set Tangguo Bian and Xiao Yi to press Tesi; Tesi confessed under torture, and Changsheng was condemned.

阿楞弟撻楞，熙宗本無意殺之，海陵曰：「其兄既已伏誅，其弟安得獨存。」 Aleng’s brother Taleng—Xizong had not meant to kill him. Hailing said: "The elder brother is already dead—can the younger live alone?"

熙宗以海陵為忠，愈益任之，而不知其詐也。 Xizong thought Hailing faithful and relied on him ever more heavily, never seeing the fraud.

History of Jin, Chapter 78Volume 78 Biographies 16: Liu Yanzong and His Sons E and Kuo; Kuo's Son Zhonghui; Liu Yi; Shi Liai; Han Qixian and His Son Duo · 2 passages

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天眷二年，改左宣徽使，熙宗幸燕，法駕儀仗筈討論者為多。 In Tianjuan year 2 he became Left Palace Secretariat Commissioner; when Emperor Xizong visited Yan, Kuo did most of the planning for the imperial procession and ceremonial regalia.

熙宗聞其有儒學，賜進士第，除宣徽判官。 When Xizong heard of his learning in the Confucian classics, he granted Duo the jinshi degree and made him a judge of the Palace Secretariat.