Emperor Taizu of Song China
Birth and death:	Mar. 21, 927–Nov. 14, 976
Family name:	Zhao (趙)
Given name:	Kuangyin (匡胤)
Courtesy name (字):	Yuanlang (元朗)
Dates of reign:	Feb. 4, 960¹–Nov. 14, 976
Dynasty:	Song (宋)
Temple name:	Taizu (太祖)
Posthumous name: (short)	Never used short
Posthumous name: (full)	Emperor Qiyun Liji Yingwu Ruiwen Shende Shenggong Zhiming Daxiao² 啓運立極英武睿文神德聖功 至明大孝皇帝
General note: Dates given here are in the Julian calendar. They are not in the proleptic Gregorian calendar. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Events Hubaekje sacks the Silla capital of Gyeongju and places King Gyeongsun on the throne. ... Events January 10 - Basil II becomes Eastern Roman Emperor, see Byzantine Emperors. ... Personal names in Chinese culture follow a number of conventions different from those of personal names in Western culture. ... Chinese given names (Chinese: 名字; pinyin: míngzì) are made up of one or two characters. ... Cha can also refer to a Latin American dance, also called the Cha-cha-cha. ... Events Edgar the Peaceable crowned King of England. ... Events January 10 - Basil II becomes Eastern Roman Emperor, see Byzantine Emperors. ... // For other uses, see Dynasty (disambiguation). ... The Song Dynasty (Chinese: 宋朝) was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279. ... Temple names (Traditional Chinese: 廟號 Simplified Chinese: 庙号 Pinyin: miào hào;), are commonly used when naming most Chinese, Vietnamese (such dynasties as Tran,Anterior Lê and Nguyen Dynasty) and most Korean rulers of the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties. ... A posthumous name (Traditional Chinese: 諡號/謚號 Simplified Chinese: 谥号; Pinyin: shì hào; Romaji: shigō/tsuigō; Revised Romanization of Korean: siho) is a honorary name given to royalty in some cultures posthumously, that is, after the persons death. ... A posthumous name (Traditional Chinese: 諡號/謚號 Simplified Chinese: 谥号; Pinyin: shì hào; Romaji: shigō/tsuigō; Revised Romanization of Korean: siho) is a honorary name given to royalty in some cultures posthumously, that is, after the persons death. ... The Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC by Julius Caesar and took force in 45 BC (709 ab urbe condita). ... The proleptic Gregorian calendar is produced by extending the Gregorian Calendar to dates preceding its official introduction in 1582. ...
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1. In control of only Northern China at first, was in control of most of Southern China only in 975. 2. Final version of the posthumous name given in 1017. Events Coronation of King Edward the Martyr Births Deaths July 8 Edgar of England Categories: 975 ... Events Canute the Great is acclaimed king of England. ...

Emperor Taizu (March 21, 927 - November 14, 976, Chinese 太祖), born Zhao Kuangyin (Chinese 趙匡胤), was the founder of the Song Dynasty of 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. His ancestor Zhao Ting (828-874) was an official who served in Zhuozhou, in Hebei near to where the family lived. His second son Zhao Ting (851-928) and his son Zhao Jing (872-933) also served as local officials in Hebei. Zhao Jing's son Zhao Hongyin (899-956) decided against a civil career and became a military officer instead. 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 (r. 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 the urging of his soldiers, took power in a coup d'etat. March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... Events Hubaekje sacks the Silla capital of Gyeongju and places King Gyeongsun on the throne. ... November 14 is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 47 days remaining. ... Events January 10 - Basil II becomes Eastern Roman Emperor, see Byzantine Emperors. ... The Song Dynasty (Chinese: 宋朝) was a ruling dynasty in China from 960-1279. ... Events Edgar the Peaceable crowned King of England. ... Events January 10 - Basil II becomes Eastern Roman Emperor, see Byzantine Emperors. ... For the band, see Tang Dynasty (band). ... Hebei (Chinese: 河北; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ho-pei; Postal System Pinyin: Hopeh) is a northern province of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Wu Zetian (武則天 pinyin : WÇ” Zétiān) (625 - December 16, 705), personal name Wu Zhao (武曌), was the only female emperor in the history of China, founding her own dynasty, the Zhou (周), and ruling under the name Emperor Shengshen (聖神皇帝) from 690 to 705. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ...

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 so preventing anyone else rising to power as he did. Events Edgar the Peaceable crowned King of England. ... Events Oleg leads Kievan Rus in a campaign against Constantinople Yelü Abaoji establishes Liao (Khitan) dynasty Births Deaths Categories: 907 ...

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 China's folk memory Song Taizong is said to have murdered his brother and invented his mother's advice as justification. Events January 10 - Basil II becomes Eastern Roman Emperor, see Byzantine Emperors. ...

His temple name means "Grand Forefather". Temple names (Traditional Chinese: 廟號 Simplified Chinese: 庙号 Pinyin: miào hào;), are commonly used when naming most Chinese, Vietnamese (such dynasties as Tran,Anterior Lê and Nguyen Dynasty) and most Korean rulers of the Goryeo and Joseon Dynasties. ...