Song Dynasty

Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong

Chinese coins are not an area where I have many coins to offer. Today's coin is from an emperor who was derided with the title Duke of Confused or Clouded Virtue.

Emperor Huizong (宋徽宗, personal name: Zhao Ji, 1082-1135) was the eighth and penultimate ruler of the Northern Song dynasty. His reign goes from unparalleled cultural splendor to dynastic catastrophe.

Northern Song Dynasty. Emperor Hui Zong. 1101-1125. AE 2 cash (30mm, 7.3g) / Smooth. Hartill 16.393; Schjoth 614.

After the death of his elder brother Emperor Zhezong without an heir, Zhao Ji ascended the throne at when he was about 18 years old. A gifted painter, calligrapher, poet, musician, Huizong transformed the palace into the foremost artistic center of East Asia. Huizong delegated statecraft to a set of powerful ministers. By exploiting the treasury, silencing dissenting officials, and committing disastrous diplomatic and military blunders, Huizong’s chief ministers left the empire bankrupt, friendless, and militarily exposed.

An alliance with the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty, Alliance Conducted at Sea (海上之盟) was his downfall. According to the alliance, the Song would supply money and men; the Jin would crush their mutual enemy, the Khitan Liao. After defeating Liao, the Jin grew impatient with the Northern Song and decided it was easier to conquer than to partner.

Jingkang Catastrophe: faced with the Jin invasion, Huizong abdicated to his son Emperor Qinzong in January 1126, hoping to shield the throne as the Jin invaded. In March/April 1127 Jin forces sacked Bianjing (Kaifeng), looted the imperial collections, and deported both emperors and thousands of courtiers northward.

Captivity and death: Reduced to the humiliating title 昏德公 (Hunde Gong) in 1128.昏德公 (Hunde Gong) translates literally as 昏 (hun) meaning "dark, muddled, or besotted"; 德 (de) is "virtue"; 公 (gong) is the noble rank of "duke". The title is variously translated as "Duke Hunde", "Muddle-headed Duke" or "Duke of Confused Virtue". Huizong spent eight years confined in Manchuria, dying on 4 June 1135 at age 53.

Aftermath: His reign’s collapse ended the Song dynasty with one notable exception. Contemporary sources record 33 sons for Emperor Huizong - 31 born during the Northern Song court years and two (Zhao Wanshi and Zhao Tieshi) born later in Jurchen captivity—of whom only the ninth son, Zhao Gou (Emperor Gaozong), ultimately survived the Jingkang calamity. After fleeing Kaifeng the court re-establish itself in Hangzhou and created a de facto southern successor state where Emperor Gaozong reigned until 1187 when he died without an heir.

"The Painting of Listening to the Qin", Huizhong playing the qin detail from a larger work via Wikipedia. "the painting depicts Emperor Huizong, after being declared the "supreme Emperor of the Daoist Church" in April of the seventh year of the Zhenghe era (1117 AD), receiving court officials, playing the qin, discussing Daoism, and conveying subtle messages through art." ... "the melody of the qin representing the moral guidance of the monarch being received and followed by his subjects." (Source: here)

This instrument, named (The Idea of) Stones among the Pine Trees (松石間意 Songshi Jianyi), was auctioned in 2010 as from the collection of Huizhong and is said to have sold for $20M. (see: https://silkqin.com/09hist/qinshixu/huizong.htm)