Emperor Xuanzong of Jin (18 April 1163 – 14 January 1224), personal name Wudubu, sinicized names Wanyan Xun and Wanyan Congjia, was the eighth

emperor The word ''emperor'' (from , via ) can mean the male ruler of an empire. ''Empress'', the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), mother/grandmother (empress dowager/grand empress dowager), or a woman who rules ...

of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty of China. He was the second Jin emperor to be defeated by the

Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire was the List of largest empires, largest contiguous empire in human history, history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Euro ...

, and the first after they crossed the

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in 1211 during the Jin campaign.

Life

Wudubu was a son of Wanyan Yungong (), a son of Emperor Shizong. He was a nephew of Wanyan Yongji, his predecessor as emperor. His mother was Lady Liu (), a concubine of Wanyan Yungong. In 1178, he was enfeoffed as the "Duke of Wen" (). In 1186, he chose for himself the sinicized name "Xun" (). In 1189, he was promoted to "Prince of Feng" (). In 1196, his princely title was changed to "Prince of Yi" (). In 1205, he changed his sinicized name to "Congjia" (). His princely titles were subsequently changed again, to "Prince of Xing" () and then "Prince of Sheng" (). In the eighth month of 1213, the general Heshilie Zhizhong (紇石烈執中; also known as Hushahu 胡沙虎) rebelled against the emperor, Wanyan Yongji, and assassinated him. Hushahu then installed Wanyan Congjia on the throne to replace Wanyan Yongji. As Wanyan Congjia was stationed in

Hebei Hebei is a Provinces of China, province in North China. It is China's List of Chinese administrative divisions by population, sixth-most populous province, with a population of over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. It bor ...

at the time, Hushahu chose Wanyan Congjia's eldest son, Wanyan Shouzhong (完顏守忠), to temporarily serve as ''jianguo'' (監國;

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

) in the capital, Zhongdu (中都; present-day Xicheng and Fengtai districts of

Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...

). In the ninth month, Wanyan Congjia returned to Zhongdu and was crowned emperor; he is thus historically known as Emperor Xuanzong of the Jin dynasty. He appointed Hushahu as Grand Tutor (太師), Chief Imperial Secretary (尙書令), and Marshal of the Capital (都元帥), in addition to enfeoffing him as "Prince of Ze" (澤王). Shortly after his ascension, Emperor Xuanzong adopted the regnal name "Zhenyou" (貞祐). He also changed his sinicised name back from "Congjia" to "Xun". In the tenth month, Hushahu was assassinated by Zhuhu Gaoqi (朮虎高琪), another general, due to political infighting. Emperor Xuanzong pardoned Zhuhu Gaoqi and appointed him as Left Deputy Marshal (左副元帥). In the fall of 1213, the

Mongols Mongols are an East Asian ethnic group native to Mongolia, China ( Inner Mongolia and other 11 autonomous territories), as well as the republics of Buryatia and Kalmykia in Russia. The Mongols are the principal member of the large family o ...

, under the leadership of

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...

, split their forces into three groups to attack the Jin dynasty. They conquered nearly all the prefectures and counties in

; only 11 cities, including Zhongdu, Zhending Prefecture (眞定府; around present-day Zhengding County, Hebei Province), Daming Prefecture (大名府; around present-day Daming County, Hebei Province) did not fall to the Mongols. In the third month of 1214, the Jin dynasty succeeded in negotiating for peace with the Mongols. However, on 27 June, Emperor Xuanzong left Zhongdu and moved the Jin capital southward to Bianjing (汴京; present-day

Kaifeng Kaifeng ( zh, s=开封, p=Kāifēng) is a prefecture-level city in east-Zhongyuan, central Henan province, China. It is one of the Historical capitals of China, Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and ...

, the old Song dynasty capital in

Henan Province Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Luo ...

); the court reached Bianjing about two months later. The Mongols were angered, so they waged war against the Jin dynasty again. On 31 May 1215, Zhongdu fell to the Mongols. In the tenth month, the warlord Puxian Wannu rebelled against the Jin dynasty, and declared himself king of the Eastern Xia regime in Liaodong. In early 1220, Emperor Xuanzong had Zhuhu Gaoqi executed after Zhuhu Gaoqi's repeated failures to repel the Mongols, and also because Zhuhu Gaoqi eventually planned on rebelling. Emperor Xuanzong's foreign policy towards the other states was a direct cause of the fall of the Jin dynasty. Firstly, he agreed to submit to Genghis Khan in return for peace between the Mongols and Jin dynasty. Secondly, he severed ties between the Jin dynasty and its ally, Western Xia. Thirdly, he ignored the advice of his

chancellor Chancellor () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...

, Tushan Yi (徒單鎰), and other ministers, and moved his capital from Zhongdu to Bianjing. Fourthly, he waged war against the Southern Song dynasty. These actions resulted in the Jin dynasty having to fight wars on three different fronts. Furthermore, they resulted in domestic instability and rebellions, which contributed even more to the decay of the Jin dynasty. Emperor Xuanzong died in 1224. He was succeeded by his second son, Wanyan Shouxu (Emperor Aizong). He was posthumously honored with the temple name "Xuanzong," and was buried in the Deling Mausoleum (德陵) in present-day

Family

Consort and issue(s): * Empress Rensheng, of the Wang clan (仁聖皇后王氏), sister of Empress Minghui *Empress Minghui, of the Wang clan (明惠皇后王氏, d. 1231), sister of Empress Rensheng **Wanyan Shouxu, Emperor Aizong (金哀宗完顏守緒, 25 September 1198 – 9 February 1234), 2nd son *Consort Li, of the Shi clan (麗妃史氏) ** Wanyan Xuanling, Prince of Zhi (至王完顏玄齡), 4rd son *Consort Zhen, of the Pang clan (真妃龐氏) ** Wanyan Shouchun, Prince of Jing (荊王完顏守純), 3rd son *Unknown ** Wanyan Shouzhong, Crown Prince Zhuangxian (莊獻太子完顏守忠, d. 1215), 1st son **Princess of the Wen State (溫國公主), 1st daughter

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Xuanzong of Jin, Emperor Jin dynasty (1115–1234) emperors 13th-century Chinese monarchs 1163 births 1224 deaths

Life

Family

See also

References