Song, Liao, and Jin · Ruler

Gaozong 高宗

Attested AD 1127 - AD 1162

Passages: 23
Chapters: 2
Histories: 1

Overview

Gaozong was a ruler.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Posthumous name	Guangyao Shousheng Supreme Emperor	光堯壽聖太上皇帝	Guangyao Shousheng Taishang Huangdi

Life and dates

Age

朕在位三十六年
Years 36 · Reckoning Years on the throne
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 59

Attested activity

AD 1162 紹興三十二年六月
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 144, passage 135
AD 1162 紹興三十二年六月十日
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 50
AD 1162 高宗
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 4
AD 1127 to AD 1162 高宗將迎韋太后
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 144, passage 128

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Empress Dowager Wei (韋太后)
empress dowager 太后
Strongly inferred · History of Song 144, passage 128
Spouse of Supreme Empress (太上皇后)
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 50
Child of Emperor Huizong (徽宗)
father 父
Strongly inferred · History of Song 110, passages 47, 146
Parent of Emperor Xiaozong of Song (宋孝宗)
son 子 · Adoptive parentage
father 父 · Adoptive parentage
father 父
Sources vary in certainty · History of Song 144, passages 134, 140; History of Song 110, passages 50, 69
Child of Worthy Consort Wei (韋賢妃)
mother 母
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 146

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Guangyao Shousheng Supreme Emperor 光堯壽聖太上皇帝
Received · From Source Date: Text: 紹興三十二年 · Western Year: AD 1162
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passages 167, 170
Supreme Emperor 太上皇帝
Received · From Source Date: Text: 紹興三十二年六月十日 · Western Year: AD 1162
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 50
AD 1162 紹興三十二年六月十一日
Abdicated
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passages 50, 53

Places and affiliations

Polity Song 宋 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · History of Song 144, passage 128
At Deshou Palace 德壽宮 · Relation Resided at · From Source Date: Text: 紹興三十二年六月十日 · Western Year: AD 1162
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passages 50, 73

Works and attributed material

Edict · Author
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passages 50-51
Speech · Speaker · With Chen Kangbo (陳康伯)
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passages 59, 61

Events and relationships

Abdicated inner palace
AD 1162 紹興三十二年六月十一日 · Ritual · Abdicatee · With Emperor Xiaozong of Song (宋孝宗)
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passages 53, 55, 59
Declined escort twice
Administrative · Retired emperor
Directly stated · History of Song 144, passage 138
Received honorific patent
AD 1162 紹興三十二年八月十四日 · Ritual · Recipient
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passages 170, 178, 180
Welcomed empress dowager wei
Ritual · Ruler · With Empress Dowager Wei (韋太后)
Directly stated · History of Song 144, passage 128

Assessments and attributes

Assessment benevolent and sagely crown prince known throughout the realm · Mode named-speaker Speaker Chen Kangbo (陳康伯) · About Person Id Emperor Xiaozong of Song (宋孝宗)
Directly stated · History of Song 110, passage 60

References in the histories

Search passages

History

23 passages

History of Song, Chapter 110Volume 110 Treatises 63: Rites 13 · 19 passages

○上尊號儀高宗內禪儀上皇太后皇太妃冊寶儀 ○ Ceremonies for conferring honorific titles, for Gaozong's abdication, and for presenting seals and regalia to the empress dowager and imperial consort dowager

高宗內禪。 Gaozong's Abdication.

紹興三十二年六月十日禦劄：“皇太子可即皇帝位，朕稱太上皇帝，退處德壽宮，皇后稱太上皇后。 On the tenth day of the sixth month of Shaoxing 32, 1162, an imperial note read: "The crown prince may immediately ascend the throne. I shall be styled Supreme Emperor and retire to Deshou Palace; the empress shall be styled Supreme Empress.

內侍扶掖皇帝至禦榻，涕泣再三，不坐，內侍傳太上皇帝聖旨，請皇帝升御坐，皇帝升御坐東側坐。 Inner attendants supported the emperor to the imperial couch. He wept repeatedly and would not sit. Inner attendants conveyed the Supreme Emperor's edict requesting that he ascend the throne. The emperor ascended and sat on the east side of the throne.

俟宰臣以下再拜舞蹈、三稱萬歲、起居、稱賀畢，康伯等升殿奏：“臣等言：願陛下即御坐，以正南面，上副太上皇帝傳授之意。” When the chief ministers and others had finished bowing twice, performing the dance, shouting "Long live the emperor!" three times, reporting on his health, and offering congratulations, Kangbo and the others ascended the hall and said: "We beg Your Majesty to take the throne at once and face due south, in fulfillment of the Supreme Emperor's intent in passing on the succession."

宰執文武百僚赴祥曦殿，候太上皇帝登輦，扈從至德壽宮而退。 Chief ministers and all civil and military officials went to Xiangxi Hall, waited for the Supreme Emperor to mount his carriage, escorted him to Deshou Palace, and then withdrew.

前導官導皇帝入小次，簾降，俟太上皇帝即御坐，小次簾卷，前導官導皇帝升殿東階，詣殿上折檻前，奏請拜，皇帝再拜訖，前導官導皇帝稍前，躬奏聖躬萬福訖，復位，再拜訖，導皇帝詣太上皇帝御坐之東，西向立。 Advance officers led the emperor into the small resting pavilion and lowered the curtain. When the Supreme Emperor had taken the throne, the curtain was raised. Advance officers led the emperor up the eastern steps to before the folding balustrade and requested that he bow. After the emperor bowed twice, they led him slightly forward to report on the Supreme Emperor's health, then led him back to bow twice again, and finally to stand east of the Supreme Emperor's throne, facing west.

太上皇帝駕興，皇帝從，入見太上皇后，如宮中之儀。 When the Supreme Emperor's carriage set out, the emperor followed and entered to see the Supreme Empress according to inner-palace ceremony.

帝始禦後殿，宰臣陳康伯等奏：“臣等朝德壽宮，太上皇宣諭，車駕每至宮，必於門外降輦，已再三勉諭，既行家人之禮，自宜至殿上降輦。” When the emperor first proceeded to the rear hall, Chief Minister Chen Kangbo and others reported: "When we attended at Deshou Palace, the Supreme Emperor instructed that whenever Your Majesty's carriage arrives at the palace you must dismount outside the gate. He has urged this repeatedly. Since this is a family rite, you should naturally dismount at the hall."

帝曰：“太上有旨不須五日一朝，隻朝朔望，朕心未安，宜令有司詳議。 The emperor said: "The Supreme Emperor has instructed that attendance every five days is not required and that visits should be limited to the new and full moons. I am not at ease with this and order the relevant offices to deliberate further.

於是禮部、太常言：“除朝朔望外，乞於每月初八、二十三日詣德壽宮起居，如宮中儀。” The Ministry of Rites and the Temple of Rites then proposed: "Apart from attendance on the new and full moons, we request visits to Deshou Palace on the eighth and twenty-third of each month to report on the Supreme Emperor's health, using inner-palace ceremony."

自後皆遵此製，如值雨、盛暑、祁寒，臨期承太上特旨乃免。 Thereafter this regulation was followed. Visits were excused only when rain, extreme heat, or severe cold intervened and the Supreme Emperor issued a special edict on the appointed day.

十一月冬至，上詣德壽宮稱賀上壽，禮畢，入見太后，如宮中禮。 On the winter solstice in the eleventh month the emperor proceeded to Deshou Palace to offer congratulations and wish the Supreme Emperor long life. When the rites were complete, he entered to see the empress dowager according to inner-palace ceremony.

乾道元年二月朔，帝詣德壽宮，恭請太上、太后至延祥觀燒香，太上與帝乘馬，太后於後乘輿； On the first day of the second month of Qiandao 1, 1165, the emperor went to Deshou Palace and respectfully invited the Supreme Emperor and the empress dowager to Extended Felicity Abbey to burn incense. The Supreme Emperor and the emperor rode on horseback while the empress dowager followed in a carriage;

自後帝詣德壽宮恭請太上、太后至南內，或幸延祥觀靈隱寺天竺寺、恭進太上聖政、冊命皇太子，起居稱謝。 Thereafter the emperor went to Deshou Palace to respectfully invite the Supreme Emperor and the empress dowager to the Southern Inner Palace, or took them to Extended Felicity Abbey, Lingyin Temple, and Tianzhu Temple, or respectfully presented the Supreme Emperor's Sagely Governance, or invested the crown prince, reporting on their health and offering thanks.

今茲高世之舉，視堯有光，恭請上太上皇帝尊號曰光堯壽聖太上皇帝，太上皇后尊號曰壽聖太上皇后。” Now this exalted act surpassing the age shines when compared with Yao. We respectfully request conferring on the Supreme Emperor the honorific title Guangyao Shousheng Supreme Emperor and on the Supreme Empress the honorific title Shousheng Supreme Empress."

皇帝再拜稱賀曰：“皇帝臣某稽首言：伏惟光堯壽聖太上皇帝陛下冊寶告成，鴻名肇正，與天同壽，率土均歡。” The emperor bowed twice and offered congratulations, saying: "The emperor, your subject, kowtows and reports: Humbly considering that Your Majesty the Guangyao Shousheng Supreme Emperor's patent and seal are now complete and the great name newly established, may you share Heaven's longevity; throughout the land all rejoice equally."

皇帝再拜訖，西向立，次太傅以下再拜稱賀致詞曰：“攝太傅、尚書左仆射臣康伯等稽首言：伏惟光堯壽聖太上皇帝陛下肅臨寶位，誕受丕稱，獨推天父之尊，普慰帝臣之願。” When the emperor had finished bowing twice, he stood facing west. The Grand Preceptor and those below then bowed twice and offered congratulations with a formal address: "Acting Grand Preceptor and Director of the Left Secretariat, your subject Kangbo and others kowtow and report: Humbly considering that Your Majesty the Guangyao Shousheng Supreme Emperor solemnly presides over the throne and has newly received this great title, uniquely extending the honor due Heaven's father and universally fulfilling the wishes of the emperor's ministers."

次侍中承旨宣答曰：“光堯壽聖太上皇帝聖旨：倦勤滋久，佚老是圖，勉受嘉名，但增感慰。” The Palace Attendant then received instructions and proclaimed the reply: "The Guangyao Shousheng Supreme Emperor's edict: Weariness in diligence has long grown; retirement and old age are my aim. I reluctantly accept this fine name, but my gratitude and consolation only increase."

History of Song, Chapter 144Volume 144 Treatises 97: Ceremonial Guards 2 · 4 passages

高宗將迎韋太后於郊，因製常行儀仗，用黃麾仗二千二百六十五人。 When Emperor Gaozong prepared to welcome Empress Dowager Wei at the suburbs, he established routine traveling ceremonial regalia using 2,265 men of the yellow-command guard.

太上皇儀衛。 Ceremonial Guards for the Retired Emperor.

先是，紹興三十二年六月，詔：“上皇日常朝殿，差禦龍直四十三人，執仗排立，並設傘扇，鳴鞭。 Earlier, in the sixth month of Shaoxing 32, an edict stated: "For the Retired Emperor's daily audience, detail forty-three Imperial Dragon Direct to stand in ranks bearing weapons, with parasols and fans deployed and the ceremonial whip sounded.

兩奉上皇旨，卻而不受，故復有是詔。 The Retired Emperor declined twice, which led to this renewed edict.