The Collapse of Northern Song and the Rise of a Puppet Kingdom

In the tumultuous year of 1127, the once-mighty Northern Song Dynasty faced its darkest hour. The Jurchen-led Jin Dynasty, having already sacked the Song capital of Kaifeng, sought a way to legitimize their control over the conquered territories without direct governance. Their solution? The creation of a puppet state—Chu—with a reluctant Song official, Zhang Bangchang, as its emperor.

Zhang Bangchang, though a proponent of peace with Jin, remained loyal to the Song Dynasty. His ascension to the throne was not by ambition but by coercion, as Jin generals forced him into the role. The very name “Chu” was dictated by the Jin, symbolizing their dominance over the new regime.

The Short-Lived Reign of Emperor Zhang

Zhang’s reign was marked by humiliation and internal conflict. He avoided wearing imperial robes except when meeting Jin officials, a stark reminder of his puppet status. His rule lasted a mere 32 days—a fleeting episode in Chinese history.

The abrupt end came when Jin forces withdrew from Henan, unable to maintain their occupation due to rebellions by the Khitan people, remnants of the fallen Liao Dynasty. The Khitan, inspired by the distant Western Liao state established by Yelü Dashi, repeatedly revolted, forcing Jin to redirect its military focus.

With Jin’s departure, Zhang Bangchang wasted no time abdicating, dissolving the short-lived Chu state. Yet, the question remained: Who would govern Henan’s people?

The Restoration of Song and the Fate of Zhang Bangchang

In the power vacuum left by Jin, Zhang turned to Empress Dowager Meng, the widowed wife of Emperor Zhezong, to oversee a regency government. She had escaped captivity because her name was omitted from imperial records—a bureaucratic oversight that spared her deportation.

Meanwhile, Prince Kang (later Emperor Gaozong of Southern Song) rallied forces in the south. Upon learning of his return, Zhang hurried to pledge loyalty, kneeling before him and begging for death, acknowledging his “treasonous” role as a puppet ruler. Surprisingly, Gaozong pardoned him, recognizing his coerced position and his efforts to protect Song’s ancestral tombs and civilians.

Political Turmoil and the Downfall of Zhang

Gaozong’s mercy was not universally accepted. Hardline officials, led by the hawkish Li Gang, condemned Zhang as a traitor. Pressure mounted, and despite Gaozong’s initial resistance, Zhang was eventually exiled to Tanzhou (modern Hunan).

Li Gang’s uncompromising stance led to Zhang’s execution—a move that backfired spectacularly. Jin, furious at the killing of their puppet ruler, used it as justification for another invasion, further destabilizing the fledgling Southern Song.

Legacy and Historical Reflections

The 32-day existence of Chu highlights the fragility of puppet regimes and the brutal geopolitics of the Jin-Song transition. Zhang Bangchang’s tragic fate underscores the impossible choices faced by officials caught between loyalty and survival.

Historians debate whether Southern Song truly continued the Song legacy or marked a new dynasty. Gaozong’s controversial decisions—pardoning Zhang, then yielding to hardliners—reveal the precarious balance of power in a fractured empire.

The episode also exposes the dangers of ideological rigidity. Li Gang’s idealism, while noble, ignored the human cost of his policies—Gaozong’s family remained Jin captives, and thousands suffered in renewed warfare.

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale of Power and Survival

The story of Chu is more than a footnote—it’s a microcosm of war, betrayal, and the perilous dance between conquerors and collaborators. Zhang Bangchang’s brief reign serves as a reminder that in times of upheaval, even the most reluctant actors can become pivotal—and ultimately, sacrificial—figures in history’s grand narrative.