Founder of the Song Dynasty, Zhao Kuang-yin (927-976) ended the practice of frequent military coups, which had exhausted China for more than half a century, and successfully re-established the "civilian empire."

Contributed by Xia-nan Deng, Associate Professor of History, Beijing University, Beijing, People's Republic of China

Name variations: Chao Kuang-yin; known as Song Tai Zu or Sung T'ai Tsu in Chinese history. Born in Lo-yang in 927; died in Kai Feng in 976; son of a general; married: Empress He, Empress Wang and Empress Song; children: four sons and six daughters. Descendants: Zhao Shen (Song Xiao Zong), the second emperor of Southern Song. Predecessor: Gong Di, last emperor of Hou Zhou Dynasty. Successor: Zhao Kuang-yi (Song Tai Zong).

Zhao Kuang- yin, known to history as Song Tai Zu (implying grand progenitor), was the first emperor (960-976) of the Song Dynasty, which was to last over 300 years. During this era of...