The Political Landscape of Early Song Dynasty

The founding years of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) represented a pivotal transition in Chinese history, marking the end of the turbulent Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Emperor Taizu (Zhao Kuangyin), the dynasty’s founder, had risen to power through a military coup known as the “Chenqiao Mutiny” in 960, establishing a new centralized regime that would last for over three centuries. By 976, the Song state had consolidated much of China proper, though significant threats remained along its northern borders.

Taizu’s reign was characterized by pragmatic state-building measures. His famous “cup of wine” strategy had peacefully dissolved the military governors’ power, and his administration focused on creating a civilian-dominated bureaucracy. However, unresolved succession questions and unfinished military campaigns – particularly against the Northern Han – created tensions within the imperial court as the emperor approached his fiftieth year.

The Aborted Capital Move and Northern Campaigns

In the months preceding his death, Emperor Taizu had proposed relocating the imperial capital from Kaifeng to Luoyang, a plan met with fierce opposition from court officials. The historical records suggest multiple motivations for this proposal: strategic military considerations against northern threats, Luoyang’s historical prestige as a former capital, and possibly Taizu’s desire to escape the entrenched power networks in Kaifeng where his brother Zhao Guangyi (the future Emperor Taizong) had built considerable influence as the city’s administrator.

When the relocation plan failed, Taizu turned his attention back to military matters, launching what would be his third campaign against the Northern Han kingdom based in modern Shanxi province. The previous two expeditions (in 968 and 969) had ended in failure, and this new campaign appeared crucial for securing the dynasty’s northern frontiers. However, history would take an unexpected turn – the campaign was abruptly halted when the emperor mysteriously died on the night of October 20, 976 (20th day of the 10th month of Kaibao 9). His brother Zhao Guangyi assumed the throne the following day, becoming Emperor Taizong.

The “Axe and Candle Shadow” Mystery

The official historical record in the Song Shi (History of Song) provides only the barest details: “On the guichou evening, the emperor passed away in the Hall of Longevity at age fifty.” This terse account stands in stark contrast to the wealth of speculation that emerged in subsequent centuries about Taizu’s sudden death.

Two primary versions of events survive from Song dynasty private historical records (biji), each offering dramatically different narratives:

### The Mystical Account from Continued Records of Xiangshan

Recorded by the Buddhist monk Wenying, this version describes a prophetic encounter between Taizu and a Daoist mystic prior to his death. The mystic allegedly predicted the emperor would live twelve more years if the weather remained clear on October 20. When snow suddenly fell that night, Taizu summoned his brother for a private drinking session. Servants reported seeing shadowy movements through candlelit windows – Zhao Guangyi occasionally rising from his seat as if declining something. After their drinking concluded around midnight, witnesses saw Taizu using a ceremonial “pillar axe” to gesture at the snow while telling his brother “Do well, do well!” before retiring. Zhao Guangyi remained in the palace that night, and by dawn, Taizu was dead.

### The Political Account from Sima Guang’s Records

The renowned historian Sima Guang presents a more straightforward political narrative. Upon Taizu’s death at the fourth watch (1-3 AM), Empress Song sent the eunuch Wang Jien to summon Taizu’s fourth son Zhao Defang. However, Wang instead went to Zhao Guangyi’s residence, where he found the imperial physician Cheng Dexuan mysteriously waiting outside. After some hesitation, Zhao Guangyi proceeded to the palace where the surprised empress reportedly said: “The lives of our mother and son now rest with Your Majesty.” Zhao Guangyi assured their safety and assumed the throne.

Historical Analysis of the Succession Crisis

Several key points emerge from these accounts:

1. Taizu’s death was sudden and unexpected, with no clear succession arrangements in place. The “pillar axe” (柱斧) mentioned was likely a ceremonial object rather than a weapon, though it could theoretically cause injury.

2. Multiple claimants existed for the throne – both Taizu’s brother and his sons had legitimate claims, creating potential for conflict.

3. Zhao Guangyi’s actions suggest premeditation. His physician’s presence and the eunuch’s decision to bypass Taizu’s sons indicate an established network supporting his claim.

4. Contemporary records from the Liao Dynasty refer to Zhao Guangyi “self-ascending” to the throne, implying usurpation.

Possible Scenarios for Taizu’s Death

Historians have debated several theories about Taizu’s demise:

### The Murder Hypothesis

This view suggests Zhao Guangyi orchestrated his brother’s death to seize power. Supporting evidence includes:

– Zhao Guangyi’s established power base in Kaifeng as its administrator
– The suspicious presence of his physician Cheng Dexuan that night
– His subsequent elimination of potential rivals like the Later Shu ruler Meng Chang and Southern Tang poet-emperor Li Yu
– The convenient timing just as Taizu prepared another Northern Han campaign

### The Natural Causes Theory

Alternative explanations propose Taizu died from:

1. Acute alcohol-related illness after heavy drinking that night
2. A sudden cardiovascular event (heart attack or stroke)
3. Possible genetic predisposition, given other early deaths in the Zhao family

The Legacy of the Succession

The “Axe and Candle Shadow” incident cast a long shadow over the Song Dynasty:

1. It established the precedent of fraternal succession rather than father-to-son inheritance, creating future succession disputes.

2. Emperor Taizong’s reign (976-997) saw both significant territorial expansion and military failures like the 986 defeat against the Liao.

3. The mystery became a persistent theme in Chinese historiography, symbolizing the often opaque nature of imperial power transitions.

4. Later historians like Li Tao attempted to reconcile the conflicting accounts in his Extended Continuation of the Zizhi Tongjian, but many questions remain unanswered.

The enduring fascination with Taizu’s death stems from its perfect storm of elements – a founding emperor’s sudden demise, shadowy palace intrigue, competing historical narratives, and the profound consequences for one of China’s great dynasties. While definitive proof may never emerge, the event remains one of imperial China’s most compelling historical mysteries.