A Dynasty in Crisis: The Jin Invasion and Imperial Instability
The early 12th century marked one of the most turbulent periods in Song Dynasty history. In 1127, the Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty sacked the Song capital of Kaifeng, capturing Emperor Qinzong and his father Huizong in the catastrophic Jingkang Incident. This left Zhao Gou, later known as Emperor Gaozong, as the sole surviving heir to establish the Southern Song regime. Amid constant military threats and court relocations from Nanjing to Hangzhou, Gaozong faced another profound crisis—the lack of a male heir to secure dynastic continuity.
His only son, Zhao Fu (posthumously titled Crown Prince Yuanyi), born in 1127 to Consort Pan, became the fragile hope for succession. Contemporary records describe the prince as sickly from birth, a condition exacerbated by his father’s wartime preoccupations. The imperial court’s nomadic existence, fleeing Jin forces across southern China, provided little stability for the child’s upbringing.
The Fatal Accident That Changed History
In the autumn of 1129, a seemingly minor incident triggered monumental consequences. Three-year-old Zhao Fu, while in the temporary palace at Jiankang (modern Nanjing), knocked over a golden incense burner. The loud crash reportedly sent the already frail prince into convulsions. Within days, the heir apparent was dead—an event that plunged Gaozong into profound grief and the dynasty into a succession crisis.
The prince was hastily buried near Jiankang’s Iron Pagoda Temple, a temporary arrangement reflecting the court’s transient state. This tragedy forced Gaozong to confront an uncomfortable truth: after nearly two centuries of rule by Emperor Taizong’s descendants (since 976), the imperial lineage might need to return to the bloodline of Taizong’s brother, the dynasty’s founder Zhao Kuangyin (Emperor Taizu).
The Great Succession Debate: Restoring Taizu’s Line
By 1132, with no other sons born and pressure mounting from officials like Fan Zongyin, Gaozong initiated an unprecedented selection process. The emperor publicly declared his intention to honor Taizu by choosing an heir from his descendants—a political masterstroke that simultaneously addressed succession concerns and healed a century-old dynastic rift.
Officials like Lou Yinliang of Shangyu County submitted bold memorials arguing that Taizu’s descendants had been unjustly marginalized. The search eventually identified 1,645 eligible candidates from Taizu’s “Bo” generation. After multiple elimination rounds, two finalists remained in 1132: a portly child and a slender six-year-old named Zhao Bo Cong (later Zhao Shen).
The selection process took a dramatic turn during final evaluations. When a cat wandered between the candidates, the heavier child kicked it, while Bo Cong remained composed. Gaozong reportedly remarked, “How can someone so impulsive bear the weight of empire?” This seemingly trivial behavioral test determined the future emperor—a decision that would shape Southern Song politics for decades.
Court Intrigues and the Making of an Emperor
Bo Cong’s palace upbringing unfolded amid intense factional struggles. Assigned to Consort Zhang for rearing (while rival candidate Zhao Bo Jiu went to Consort Wu), the young heir received elite education at the newly established Zishan Academy. His intellectual promise earned him the title Prince of Pu’an in 1142, but also attracted opposition from powerful chancellor Qin Hui, who favored Bo Jiu.
A revealing test occurred when Gaozong gifted each candidate ten palace maidens. Following advisor Shi Hao’s counsel, Bo Cong maintained propriety—later inspection proved all ten maidens untouched, unlike Bo Jiu’s. Such demonstrations of character gradually solidified Gaozong’s preference, though Empress Wu and Qin Hui continued advocating for Bo Jiu.
From Princely Candidate to Emperor Xiaozong
The final succession unfolded against the backdrop of Jin invasions. In 1160, as Jin forces threatened the Yangtze, Gaozong formally designated Bo Cong (now renamed Zhao Wei) as crown prince. Two years later, after repelling the Jin under Emperor Hailing’s disastrous campaign, Gaozong executed a rare peaceful abdication—the first voluntary imperial transition since Emperor Huizong’s abdication in 1125.
The 1162 ceremony brimmed with political theater: the reluctant heir repeatedly refused the throne before finally accepting. His first act as Emperor Xiaozong was visiting Gaozong at the retired emperor’s De Shou Palace, symbolizing continuity. Gaozong’s satisfaction—”I have entrusted the realm to the right person”—marked the successful conclusion of a three-decade succession crisis.
Legacy: Healing the Song Dynasty’s Founding Wound
Xiaozong’s reign (1162–1189) proved transformative. By restoring Taizu’s line, he healed the dynastic schism dating to 976, when Taizu mysteriously died during the “Candlelight Axe Incident,” allowing his brother Taizong to seize power. This political reconciliation strengthened imperial legitimacy during the Southern Song’s precarious existence.
Historically, Xiaozong’s era saw military reforms and the flourishing of Neo-Confucianism under Zhu Xi. The unusual stability of Gaozong’s retirement (25 years) and Xiaozong’s subsequent abdication to his son created a model of “retired government” that later dynasties would reference.
The story of Zhao Fu’s tragic death thus catalyzed one of Chinese history’s most significant imperial successions—a reminder of how personal tragedies could reshape dynastic destinies. The careful selection and mentorship of Zhao Shen demonstrated how crisis could foster institutional innovation, allowing the Southern Song to endure another century despite northern domination.