Later depiction of Emperor Huizong of Song
Later depiction of Emperor Huizong of Song · 北宋A transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portraitUnknown artistSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Emperor Huizong of Song宋徽宗

Song CourtHistory × Fiction

Zhao Ji, Emperor of the Northern Song dynasty, revered Taoism and styled himself the Daoist Emperor. He later abdicated to Emperor Qinzong and was captured and taken north together with him.

DIRECT FIGURES
61
RELATION RECORDS
76
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Emperor Huizong of Song, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

3 figures · 3 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

28 figures · 36 records
20 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

1 figure · 1 record

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · History of Song

Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, was the eighth emperor of the Song dynasty, with the temple name Huizong. As a Song emperor, he was deified and sanctified, and established rites and music. As a Song emperor, he composed the 'Dasheng Yueji' and issued an edict to promulgate the new music.

In fiction · Water Margin · The Story of Yue Fei

The Song emperor, upon hearing the good news of victory, was overjoyed and rewarded. The Song emperor had an affair with Li Shishi; Emperor Huizong of Song secretly visited Li Shishi, but later fled in fright due to a fire.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Literature / legend

    Water Margin

    3 profile notes
    2 relations2 verified quotations
    • Song JiangsurrenderEmperor Huizong of Song
    • Emperor Huizong of SongrewardHuyan Zhuo
    Verified original text · 2
    1. 俺三个就此告一道招安赦书

      surrender · Water Margin, ch. 72

    2. 敕赏黄封御酒十瓶,锦袍一领。

      reward · Water Margin, ch. 55

    Open work page

  2. Literature / legend

    The Story of Yue Fei

    4 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Emperor Huizong of Songappoint officialYue Fei
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 权封为承信郎

      appoint official · The Story of Yue Fei, 第十四回

    Open work page

  3. Official history

    History of Song

    116 profile notes
    37 relations54 verified quotations
    • Emperor Gaozong of Songfather-sonEmperor Huizong of Song
    • Qin HuipolishEmperor Huizong of Song
    • Han Qiposthumous honorEmperor Huizong of Song
    • Cai Jingpromote officialEmperor Huizong of Song
    Verified original text · 54
    1. 高宗大恸。诏立重成服,谥显肃。

      father-son · History of Song, 后妃传下

    2. 建炎元年

      father-son · History of Song, 礼十五志

    52 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page

History vs. fiction

Rumors of Emperor Huizong's incognito visits to Li Shishi

  • Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, was indeed a romantic sovereign, and rumors of his favor toward the famed courtesan Li Shishi are widely found in Southern Song unofficial historical notes such as the "Waizhuan of Li Shishi" (《李师师外传》), but the official dynastic history "Songshi: Annals of Emperor Huizong" (《宋史·徽宗本纪》) makes no mention of this. In chapter 73 of the novel "Water Margin" (《水浒传》), Li Kui is quoted as saying that Song Jiang "went to the Eastern Capital to keep Li Shishi, which is a great example." As for the plot in the novel describing Song Jiang, Yan Qing, and others sneaking into Bianliang, the Eastern Capital, bribing Li Shishi heavily, and thereby meeting Emperor Huizong to submit a petition for amnesty, it is purely a figment of imagination. The real uprising was suppressed by Zhang Shuye, and there is absolutely no historical fact of seeking amnesty through the back door of a courtesan.

Relationship network

36 figures · 183 links
Emperor Huizong of SongEmperor Huizong of SongYue FeiYue FeiQin HuiQin HuiEmperor Gaozong of SongEmperor Gaozong of SongSong JiangSong JiangHan QiHan QiCai JingCai JingEmperor Qinzong of SongEmperor Qinzong of SongSima GuangSima GuangZhang DunZhang DunSu ShiSu ShiFan ChunrenWen YanboEmperor Shenzong of SongJade EmperorZhang ShangyingWang GuiLü GongzhuLü DafangZeng BuLiu ZhiLi GangHuyan ZhuoTong GuanSu SongCai BianLi QingchenChen GuanHan ZhongyanHuang LüCai YouShu DanZou HaoGuo YaoshiFeng JiZhong Shidao
historyliteraturedual
Open full atlas →

To keep this page fast, the 40 most important records are shown here.View all 76 relationships in the atlas →

Sources: History of Song, 乐九志; Water Margin, ch. 55; The Story of Yue Fei, 第一回; History of Song, 乐四志; Water Margin, ch. 72; The Story of Yue Fei, 第十三回; History of Song, 仪卫志三; The Story of Yue Fei, 第十八回

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.