Emperor Zhao Kuangyin
2 min readEarly Life
Emperor Taizu（927-976），born Zhao Kuangyin，was the founder of the Song Dynastyof China，reigning from 960 to 976.His family was of fairly modest origins and cannot be traced back with certainty further than the late Tang dynasty.Zhao Kuangyin had little interest in a Classical education and also joined the military eventually rising to be the commander of the Palace Army for the Second Zhou dynasty.It was this post that enabled him to rise to power.The last competent Second Zhou Emperor，Shizong（954-960）died leaving an infant boy on the throne.
Zhao Kuangyin，as the commander of the Emperor’s guard，allegedly reluctantly and only at theurging of his soldiers，took power in a coup detach.
Accomplishments
In 960，Song Taizu reunited China after years of fragmentation and rebellion after the fall of the Tang dynasty in 907 and established the Song dynasty.He was remembered for，but not limited to，his reform of the examination system whereby entry to the bureaucracy favoured individuals who demonstrated academic ability rather than by birth.He also created political institutions that allowed a great deal of freedom of discussion and thought，which facilitated the growth of scientific advance，economic reforms as well as achievements in arts and literature.
He is perhaps best known for weakening the military and sopreventing anyone else rising to power as he did.
Throne Transmission
He reigned for 16 years and died in 976 at the age of 49.Unexpectedly he was succeeded by his younger brother even though he had four living sons.In the traditional historical accounts his mother，the Dowager Empress Du，warned him that just as he rose to power because Zhou Shizong had left an infant on the throne，someone else might usurp power if he did not name an adult as his heir.In folk memory Song Taizong is said to have murdered his brother and invented his mother’s advice as justification.
His temple name means“Grand Forefather”.
Martial Arts
Emperor Taizu created a Shaolin-based fighting style known as Emperor Taizu long fist.It is the core style of modern day Long Fist and is widely practiced all over the world.
