We're going to begin a new series that will look at political, social and cultural life in the late Northern Song.  The second the the last emperor Huizong will serve as our vehicle to examine this period in late 11th and early 12th century China.  University of Washington professor Dr. Patricia Buckley Ebrey has recently published a book entitled Emperor Huizong.  I'm going to use this as one of the main sources.  The Song Dynasty was another one of those times when China was the most advanced and economically powerful civilizations on earth.  The period which Huizong reigned was one of the high points of the dynasty.  But in 1127 the emperor's world will come crashing down with invasions from the north.  Today we begin our look at this emperor.   TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE Huizong 徽宗 Song Dynasty emperor who reigned 1100-1127 Ouyang Xiu 欧阳修 Featured in CHP-071, China's answer to Leonardo da Vinci.  Once a reformer, later conservative. Zhao Kuangyin赵匡胤 Song dynasty founder, also known by his temple name Taizu 太祖。 Han 汉 Han Dynasty Jin 晋 Jin Dynasty Sui 隋 Sui Dynasty Tang 唐 Tang Dynasty Kaifeng 开封 in Henan, Capital of the Northern Song Lin'an 临安 Near Hangzhou Yuan 元朝 The Mongol Yuan Dynasty Taizu 太祖 Temple name of Zhao Kuangyin, Song founder Taizong  太宗 2nd Song emperor Zhenzong  真宗 3rd Song emperor Renzong 仁宗 4th Song emperor Yingzong 英宗 5th Song emperor Shenzong 神宗 6th Song emperor, father of Huizong Zhezong 哲宗 7th Song emperor, older brother of Huizong Wujing Zongyao 武警总要 Collection of the Most Important Military Techniques, written 1044, explained gunpowder for the 1st time Wang Anshi  王安石 Reformer during Shenzong emperor Fan Zhongyan  范仲淹 Early Reformer of the Song Su Dongpo  苏东坡 Also known as 苏轼, great politician and local Hangzhou hometown hero. Empress Dowager Gao 高太后 Empress to the Yingzong emperor Sima Guang 司马光 Song historian and politician known for his conservative bent Empress Dowager Xiang 向太后 Empress of Emperor Shenzong   Consort Chen 陈皇后 Consort of Shenzong, birth mother of Huizong Zhao Xu 赵頊 The Shenzong emperor given name (1st tone Xu) Zhao Xu 赵煦 The Zhezong emperor given name (4th tone Xu) Zhao Ji 赵佶 Huizong's given name Chang'an 长安 Near modern day Xian, ancient capital of the Tang Bian River 卞河 River in Kaifeng Qianlong  乾隆 Qing dynasty emperor who took several tours of China Li Jie 李誡 China's greatest architect of ancient time, author of the 营造法式 Yingzao Fashi Sunzi 孙子 Wrote the Art of War Yingzao Fashi 营造法式 The Song work: Treatise on Architectural Methods. Also known as the State Building Standards. Prince of Duan  端王 Title of Huizong prior to becoming emperor Wang Shen 王诜 Considered one of China's greatest landscape painters. Had early influence on young Huizong's love of art and lit. Consort Liu 刘皇后 Consort of Zhezong Prince of Shen 申王 9th son of Shenzong, also known as Bi, the one with weak eyes. Bi 赵佖 Older brother of Huizong, the one who had bad eyes Cai Jing 蔡京 Northern Song official, later to play a major role in Huizong's reign.  One of the greatest calligraphers of his day. Brother of Cai Bian. Cai Bian 蔡卞 Younger brother of Cai Jing. Also a chancellor and famed calligrapher. Wu 赵俣 Zhao Wu, younger brother to Huizong Si 赵似 Zhao Si, younger brother to Huizong Ssi 赵偲 Zhao Ssi, younger brother to Huizong (spelled with 2 "s" to differentiate from Zhao Si) Cixi 慈禧 Cixi Taihou, a.k.a. Empress Dowager Tzu-Hsi Zeng Bu 曾布 Junior Chief Councillor and trusted advisor to Huizong as soon as he became emperor. Zhang Dun 章惇 Chancellor before Cai Jing Liang Congzheng 梁从政 The chief eunuch when Huizong ascended the throne. Gong County 巩县 Former name of Gongyi, where the Song tombs are Gongyi 巩义 City where the ancient Song tombs are located Han Zhongyan 韩忠彦 Senior chancellor during Huizong's reign Liu Hunkang 劉混康  Great Daoist master. b. 1035, d. 1108 Gaige Kaifang 改革开放 Reform and opening up to the world, a policy instituted by Deng Xiaoping in the 80's.