Zhao Hongyin (899 – 3 September 956) was a Chinese general during the
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
After his death, his son
Zhao Kuangyin founded the
Song dynasty
The Song dynasty ( ) was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 960 to 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song, who usurped the throne of the Later Zhou dynasty and went on to conquer the rest of the Fiv ...
in 960. His other son
Zhao Kuangyi would also become a Song
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 ...
. For this reason, Zhao Hongyin is posthumously honored as "Emperor Xuanzu (宣祖) of Song". All emperors of the Song dynasty were his descendants via either Emperor Taizu (most emperors of the Southern Song) or Emperor Taizong (most emperors of the Northern Song).
Early life
Zhao Hongyin decided against a civil career and became a military officer instead under
Zhuangzong of Later Tang: he knew that in times of disunity it would be a military career that would lead to success.
The young Zhao Hongyin was a skilled
horse archer
Mounted archery is a form of archery that involves shooting arrows while on horseback. A horse archer is a person who does mounted archery. Archery has occasionally been used from the backs of other riding animals. In large open areas, mounted ...
. He originally served the warlord
Wang Rong for the
de facto independent
Zhao State, and was once ordered by Wang to lead 500 cavalries to assist their ally
Li Cunxu
Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (), personal name Li Cunxu (), nickname Yazi (), stage name Li Tianxia (), was the second ruling prince of the Former Jin dynasty (r. 908–923) who later became the founding emperor of the Later Tang dynasty ...
in battles, presumably against the
Later Liang. Impressed by his bravery, Li kept Zhao as part of his imperial army after the fall of Zhao in 921.
It was also around this period that he married Lady Du who was 3 years his junior.
[ mentions that the marriage took place when Lady Du, born around 902, was just entering adulthood.] According to popular rumour a few decades after his death, when Zhao Hongyin first came to the area by himself, he encountered a
snowstorm
A winter storm (also known as snow storm) is an event in which wind coincides with varieties of precipitation that only occur at freezing temperatures, such as snow, Rain and snow mixed, mixed snow and rain, or freezing rain. In Continental cl ...
and had to beg for food from servants in official Du Shuang's (杜爽) house. After a few days, the servants noticed that he was hardworking and persuaded Du to keep him in the house. A few months later, the family arranged for him to marry their eldest daughter.
Family
Parents
*Father: Zhao Jing (宋翼祖趙敬), honoured as Emperor Yizu
*Mother: Lady Liu (簡穆皇后劉氏), honoured as Empress Jianmu
Consorts and issue
*
Empress Dowager Zhaoxian, of the Du clan (; 902–961)
** ''Zhao Guangji, Prince Yong'' (), first son
** ''Princess Gongxian'' (), first daughter
**
Zhao Kuangyin, Taizu (; 927–976), second son
** Princess Gongyi (; d. 973), second daughter
*** Married
Gao Huaide
Gao Huaide (高懷德; 926 – 982) courtesy name Cangyong was a general in ancient China, first in the Later Zhou military and later in the Northern Song military.
Life
Gao Huaide's father Gao Xingzhou was a general in the Later Zhou militar ...
(; 926–982) in 960, and had issue (one daughter)
**
Zhao Jiong, Taizong (; 939–997), third son
** ''Zhao Guangzan, Prince Qi'' (), fifth son
* Lady, of the Geng clan ()
**
Zhao Tingmei, Prince Fudao (; 947–984), fourth son
Ancestry
References
*
*
Later Zhou people
Later Han (Five Dynasties) people
899 births
956 deaths
Year of birth unknown
{{China-bio-stub