Emperor Shenzong of Song

Who was Emperor Shenzong of Song?

Emperor Shenzong of Song was the sixth emperor of the Chinese Song dynasty. His personal name was Zhao Xu. He reigned from 1067 to 1085.

The era names of his reign are Xīníng 1068–1077, and Yuánfēng 1078–1085.

During his reign, Shenzong became interested in Wang Anshi's policies and appointed Wang as Chancellor. Wang implemented his famous reforms aimed at improving the situation for the peasantry and unemployed, which some have seen as a forerunner of the modern welfare state. These acts became the hallmark reform of Shenzong's reign.

Shenzong's other notable act as emperor was his attempt to weaken the formative nation of Western Xia by invading and expelling the Xia forces from Gansu. Shenzong's army was initially quite successful at these campaigns, but during the battle for the city of Yongle, in 1082, Shenzong's forces were defeated. As a result, Western Xia grew more powerful and subsequently continued to be a thorn in the side of the Song dynasty over the ensuing decades.

During Shenzong's reign Sima Guang, a minister interested in the history of the previous 1000 years, wrote a very influential history book: "A Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government".