Emperor Huizong

The 8th emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty (reigned 1100-1125). His name was Ji. He was the 11th son of the 6th emperor, Shenzong, but he became emperor after his brother, the 7th emperor Cheolzong, died because he had no children. At first, Empress Dowager Xiang became regent and implemented a policy that combined the new and old laws, but when she died the following year and he took control himself, he inherited the new laws and thoroughly suppressed the old law party bureaucrats. However, he was not very enthusiastic about politics, and lived a luxurious life following the advice of Prime Minister Cai Jing, and imposed heavy taxes on the people to cover the cost of entertainment. In particular, he requisitioned strange stones and rare trees from Jiangnan and had them transported to the capital, which was known as the Flower Stone Gang, and caused suffering for the people of Jiangnan, leading to the Fang La Rebellion (1120-1121). In the Shandong region, Song Jiang, famous for his role in the novel "Suikoden," rebelled. At that time, the Jurchen people in the northeastern region broke out of the control of the Liao Dynasty and established the Jin Dynasty. They invaded the south and destroyed the Liao Dynasty (1125), and then moved further south to the capital of Kaifang. He then handed over the throne to his son, Qinzong, and took the title of Daojun Emperor. The following year, in 1126, the Jin army invaded again and Kaifang fell (the Jingkang Incident). He was captured along with Qinzong and sent north, where he died in exile in Wuguocheng. Although he had no talent for politics, he was skilled in poetry and prose, and in calligraphy he created a unique style of calligraphy called Soukintai. He was also a master of the Yuan style of painting, and his flower and bird paintings were loved by Japanese feudal lords. He also put a lot of effort into protecting culture by collecting calligraphy, paintings, and antiques from all over the country, fostering a trend for the study of ancient artefacts, and establishing a school of calligraphy and painting at the imperial court to train artists, creating a golden age of art known as the Xuanhe period.

[Masaaki Chikusa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、北宋(ほくそう)の第8代皇帝（在位1100～1125）。名は佶(きつ)。第6代神宗の第11子であるが、兄の第7代哲宗に子がなかったので、哲宗の死後、帝位についた。初め向(しょう)太后が摂政となり、新法と旧法とを折衷する政治を行ったが、翌年太后が亡くなって親政すると、新法を継承して、旧法党の官僚を徹底的に弾圧した。しかし政治にはあまり熱心でなく、宰相蔡京(さいけい)の勧めに従って豪奢(ごうしゃ)な生活を送り、遊興の費用を賄うために人民に重税を課した。なかでも、江南から奇石珍木を徴発して都に運ばせた、いわゆる花石綱(かせきこう)は江南の民衆を苦しめ、方臘(ほうろう)の乱（1120～1121）を引き起こす原因になった。また山東一帯では、『水滸伝(すいこでん)』で有名な宋江(そうこう)らの反乱が起こった。そのころ東北地方にいた女真(じょしん)族が遼(りょう)の支配を脱して独立、金(きん)を建国し、南に侵入して遼を滅ぼし（1125）、さらに南下して都の開封(かいほう)に迫った。そこで位を子の欽宗(きんそう)に譲り、教主道君皇帝と号した。翌1126年、再度の金軍の侵攻を受けて開封は陥落（靖康(せいこう)の変）、彼は欽宗とともに捕虜となって北に送られ、五国城の配所で没した。政治の才能はなかったが、詩文をよくし、書では痩金体(そうきんたい)とよばれる独特の書体を創始し、画でも院体画の大家であって、その花鳥画は日本の大名たちにも愛された。また全国から書画、骨董(こっとう)を収集して、古器物研究の風を興し、宮廷に書画学を設けて芸術家の養成に努めるなど、文化の保護に力を入れたので、宣和(せんな)時代とよばれる美術の黄金時代がつくられた。

［竺沙雅章］

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