Emperor Shizong of Jin facts for kids

Emperor Shizong of Jin (born 29 March 1123, died 20 January 1189) was a powerful ruler of the Jin dynasty in China. His personal name was Wulu, and his Chinese name was Wanyan Yong. He ruled from 1161 to 1189, and his time as emperor, known as the "Dading" era, was the longest and most stable for the Jin dynasty.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Wulu was the grandson of Aguda, who founded the Jin dynasty. His father, Eliduo (also known as Wanyan Zongyao), was a famous general. Wulu's father died when he was only 12 years old.

Wulu was greatly influenced by his mother, who came from a family that had adopted many Chinese customs. After her husband died, she chose to become a nun instead of remarrying, which was a common custom for Jurchen women. Because of his mother and her family, Wulu learned a lot about Chinese culture and read many important Chinese books.

Wulu was also influenced by his wife, Lady Wulinda. She told him to be patient and to pretend to be loyal to his cousin, Emperor Digunai. Digunai admired Lady Wulinda and called her to his palace in 1151, but she died. This created a strong dislike between Wulu and Digunai.

In 1161, Emperor Digunai tried to invade the Southern Song dynasty. He also tried to kill many of his own relatives to keep his power. Wulu was on this list, so he started a rebellion against the emperor. Many Jurchen officers and nobles supported Wulu. They were unhappy because Digunai was making the Jurchens too much like the Chinese and was fighting costly wars.

Digunai lost a big battle against the Song dynasty and was killed by his own officers. This allowed Wulu to become the new emperor without a long fight. He even lowered Digunai's title after his death.

Emperor Shizong's Reign

Once Wulu became Emperor Shizong, he stopped his predecessor's plans to invade the Southern Song dynasty. He also changed the policies that were making the Jurchens too Chinese. Even though he understood Chinese culture, Emperor Shizong believed that the Jurchens were strong because they kept their own "simple and sincere" culture. He thought Digunai failed because he gave up too much of the Jurchen way of life.

Emperor Shizong wasn't against Chinese culture completely. He even said that the Jurchen way of life was similar to what ancient Chinese wise men taught. However, he believed that just reading Chinese books wasn't enough; people needed to put those ideas into practice.

Land and Lifestyle Reforms

During his rule, Emperor Shizong took back large areas of unused land. He also took land that a few wealthy Jurchen landowners had unfairly taken. He then gave this land to Jurchen settlers in northern China. However, many Jurchens still preferred to rent their land to Chinese farmers instead of working it themselves.

The emperor was worried that his people were losing their fighting spirit and skills like archery and riding. To set an example, Emperor Shizong made hunting a yearly royal activity starting in 1162. He went hunting almost every autumn and winter until 1188. He also enjoyed archery and ball games.

Promoting Jurchen Culture and Language

To promote Jurchen culture and language, Emperor Shizong started translating Chinese books into Jurchen. The Jurchen version of the Classic of History was the first to be published. By the end of his reign, many other Chinese classics were available in Jurchen.

Early in his rule, Emperor Shizong chose 3,000 Jurchen men to study the Jurchen language. In 1173, the government began offering special degrees in Jurchen, similar to the jinshi degrees in Chinese. He also opened the Jurchen Imperial Academy in the capital and local schools across the empire. Scholars today believe that these Jurchen exams were more about promoting Jurchen learning than about finding new government workers. Most Jurchen degree holders became teachers of the Jurchen language and translated Chinese books.

Emperor Shizong also made rules about language. He required government officials to speak Jurchen when talking to Jurchen speakers. In 1174, even the imperial guards were told to learn Jurchen and not to speak Chinese. In 1183, a thousand copies of the Jurchen Classic of Filial Piety were given to them to help them learn.

Emperor Shizong also noticed that some poor Jurchen families were trying to live like rich ones. They would sell their daughters into slavery and rent their land to Chinese tenants to avoid farming. Wealthy Jurchens were feasting, drinking, and wearing fancy silk clothes. The emperor tried to stop these practices in 1181.

To bring back Jurchen traditions, Emperor Shizong banned servants and slaves from wearing silk. In 1188, he also stopped Jurchens in general from wearing Han Chinese clothes.

Religious Beliefs

Emperor Shizong and his successor, Emperor Zhangzong, were interested in both Buddhism and Taoism. In 1187, Emperor Shizong invited Wang Chuyi, a famous Taoist leader, to teach in his palace. The emperor even asked Wang Chuyi to be with him when he was dying.

Legacy and Evaluation

Modern experts believe that Emperor Shizong's efforts to keep the Jurchen language and culture alive were not very successful. The Jurchen language didn't have many original stories or poems. Even though he translated Chinese books, this actually brought more Chinese ideas into Jurchen minds. The emperor himself once said that the Jurchen language was "not as good as Chinese." Outside of the old Jurchen lands, people didn't see the point of speaking a language that was "dying." Emperor Shizong even wondered if his own descendants would criticize him for trying to force people to use it.

His attempts to keep Jurchens as hunters also conflicted with his goal of making them good farmers. Despite these challenges, people generally admired Emperor Shizong's desire for peace, his support for learning, and his care for his people's well-being. His time as emperor is often remembered as a period of great peace and good rule.

Family

Parents:

• Father: Eliduo (訛里朵), also known as Wanyan Zongyao (完顏宗堯)
• Mother: Lady Li (李氏)

Wives and Children

• Empress Mingde, of the Wulinda clan (明德皇后烏林荅氏, died 1152)
  • Wanyan Yungong, Emperor Xianzong (金顯宗 完顏允恭, 1146 – 1185), 1st son
  • Wanyan Shunian, Prince of Zhao (趙王 完顏孰輦), 2nd son
  • Wanyan Xielu, Prince of Yue (越王完顏斜魯), 3rd son
  • Princess of Yu (豫國公主), 1st daughter
• Empress Guangxian, of the Li clan (光獻皇后李氏, died 1181)
  • Wanyan Yongdao, Prince La of Zheng (鄭剌王 完顏永蹈, died 1193), 6th son
  • Wanyan Yongji, Prince Shao of Wei (衛紹王 完顏永濟, died 11 September 1213), 7th son
  • Wanyan Yongde, Prince of Lu (潞王 完顏永德), 8th son
  • Princess of Han (韓國公主), 2nd daughter
• First Consort, of the Zhang clan (元妃 張氏)
  • Wanyan Yongzhong, Prince Li of Gao (鎬厲王 完顏永中, died 1194), 4th son
  • Wanyan Yonggong, Prince Zhongjian of Yue (越忠簡王 完顏永功, 1154 – 1221), 5th son
• Worthy Consort, of the Shimo clan (石抺氏)
• Virtuous Consort, of the Tushan clan (德妃 徒單氏)
• Consort Rou, of the Da clan (柔妃 大氏)
• Zhaoyi, of the Liang clan (昭儀 梁氏)
  • Wanyan Yongcheng, Prince Zhongxian of Yu (豫忠獻王 完顏永成, died 1204), 9th son
• Cairen, of the Shimo clan (才人 石抹氏)
  • Wanyan Yongsheng, Prince of Kui (夔王 完顏永升, died 1213), 10th son
• Unknown:
  • Princess Supreme of Yan (兗國大長公主), 3rd daughter
  • Princess of Wu (吳國公主), 4th daughter
  • Princess of Shu (蜀國公主), 5th daughter
  • Princess of Wan (宛國公主), 7th daughter
  • Princess of Xi (息國公主)
  • Princess of Cao (曹國公主)
  • Princess of Wei (衛國公主)
  • Unnamed Princess, 14th daughter
  • Princess of Ze (澤國公主), personal name Changle (長樂)

Images for kids

• 

  Yan Zi Miao (顏子廟) tablet (right) in the Temple of Yan, Qufu, installed in the 24th year of the Dading era (1184)