Han Tuozhou

Who was Han Tuozhou?

Han Tuozhou was a powerful Chinese statesman of the Southern Song dynasty, chancellor to Emperor Ningzong.

He was responsible for Southern Song efforts to recover territories lost in northern China to the Jurchen Jin dynasty in their 1142 peace settlement that ended the Jin–Song war. In his efforts to begin a military build-up, he had Yue Fei posthumously promoted and Qin Hui demoted. These efforts were unsuccessful, and the ensuing war was devastating to southern China, resulting in further territorial losses and terrible inflation. In consequence, Han was executed by the Song regime, and his head offered to the Jurchens as a peace offering.

Han Tuozhou is also famous for his opposition to daoxue which was banned on his order during the years 1195-99. His antagonizing policies were reversed by his successor in office, Shi Miyuan.

Han was assassinated by bludgeoning in 1207,on his way to the imperial palace, he was arrested and sent under imperial guards to the garden of Yujin where he was executed. an exceptional affair in the generally tolerant political atmosphere of Song. Yuan dynasty historiographers assigned the blame of assassination on Shi Miyuan. However, such judgement is presently questioned. More plausibly, his extermination was ordered by Empress Yang who succeeded the deceased niece of Han Tuozhou, Empress Huo