Names

Zhao Shen's birth name was Zhao Bocong (赵伯琮). In March 1133, after Zhao Bocong entered the imperial palace, his name was changed to Zhao Yuan (赵瑗). In April 1160, after Zhao Yuan was adopted by Emperor Gaozong, his name was changed to Zhao Wei (赵玮). In July 1162, when Zhao Wei became crown prince, his name was changed again to Zhao Shen (赵眘).

Zhao Shen was given the courtesy name Yuangui (元瑰) in May 1160. In July 1162, when he became crown prince, his courtesy name was changed to Yuanyong (元永).

Early life

Zhao Shen was a seventh-generation descendant of Emperor Taizu, the founder and first emperor of the Song dynasty. He was the second son of Zhao Zicheng (赵子偁; died 1143), a sixth cousin of Emperor Gaozong, the 10th Song emperor. After the Jingkang Incident in 1127, Emperor Gaozong's father, eldest brother and most of his close relatives were taken prisoner by the Jurchen-led Jin Empire. As Emperor Gaozong's only son, Zhao Fu (赵旉), died prematurely around the age of two, the emperor ordered his officials to start searching for other living descendants of the imperial family. Zhao Shen was discovered and adopted by Emperor Gaozong in April 1160 as a son. Another relative, Zhao Qu was also adopted. In July 1162, Emperor Gaozong officially designated Zhao Shen as his crown prince and heir apparent. One of the main reasons Gaozong chose Shen over Qu was of Shen's virtue. It is said that Gaozong gave ten maids to Shen and Qu. In the end, Qu had touched every maid but Shen had not even touched one winning Gaozong's favor over Qu.

In 24 July 1162, Emperor Gaozong abdicated in favor of Emperor Xiaozong who became emperor although Emperor Gaozong retained power as Taishang Huang.

Reign

During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong, the Chinese increased the number of trade missions that would dock at ports throughout the Indian Ocean, where Arab and Hindu influence was once predominant. Xiaozong also was responsible for Yue Fei's posthumous rehabilitation, clearing out the remnants of Qin Hui's faction in court, and stabilizing the economy making his reign the most powerful era of the Southern Song Dynasty and it's said he was the best ruler of the Southern Song dynasty.

Archery and equestrianism were required for non-military officials at the Military College in 1162 during Emperor Xiaozong's reign.

In 1165, he reached peace with the Jin Dynasty.

In 1187, the impetus Emperor Gaozong died and Emperor Xiaozong was stricken with grief in which he retreated from the government, insisting on mourning Gaozong, and saying that would only rule for two years. Xiaozong turned all governmental affairs to his son Zhao Dun.

In 1189, Emperor Xiaozong abdicated in favour of his son, Zhao Dun who took the throne as Emperor Guangzong. He then granted himself the title Taishang Huang and remained as the de facto ruler.

As Retired Emperor

His daughter-in-law Empress Li reportedly attempted to keep Emperor Guangzong and his father (Xiaozong) separate, and often stopped the emperor from seeing his father. On one occasion, at the sickbed of the emperor, her father-in-law threatened to have her executed for not taking proper care of the monarch.

Retired Emperor Xiaozong fell ill in 1194 and was made worse when Emperor Guangzong refused to visit him. Xiaozong soon died. Emperor Guangzong refused to attend his funeral and as a result, was forced to give his throne to the deceased retired emperor's grandson Emperor Ningzong.

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Chengmu, of the Guo clan (成穆皇后 郭氏; 1126–1156)

　• Zhao Qi, Crown Prince Zhuangwen (庄文皇太子 赵愭; 1144–1167), first son

　• Zhao Kai, Prince Weihuixian (魏惠宪王 赵恺; 1146–1180), second son

　• Zhao Dun, Guangzong (光宗 赵敦; 1147–1200), third son

　• Zhao Ke, Prince Shaodaosu (邵悼肃王 赵恪), fourth son

• Empress Chenggong, of the Xia clan (成恭皇后 夏氏; d. 1167)

• Empress Chengsu, of the Xie clan (成肃皇后 谢氏; 1132–1203), personal name Sufang (苏芳)

• Unknown

　• Princess Jia (嘉公主; d. 1162), first daughter

Ancestry

生平

建炎元年十月二十二日（1127年11月27日）生于秀州嘉兴青杉闸官舍。六世祖为太祖赵匡胤的四子秦康惠王赵德芳。父亲为远支宗亲赵子偁，时为嘉兴丞，后追封为秀安僖王。

由于高宗的唯一儿子元懿太子夭折后再没有嗣子，所以只好从宗室中选择继承人，有野史称宋高宗受宋太祖托梦，称「汝祖自摄谋，据我位久，至于天下寥落，是当还我位。」故高宗过继了太祖七世孙作为养子，并立为太子；《宋史》中也有相似的记载，但为孟太后受托梦。

宋高宗在苗刘兵变后，患上阳痿而不育。又受到民间多年传说宋太宗烛影斧声强夺宋太祖之位的影响，据传金太宗完颜吴乞买与宋太祖的画像神似，吴乞买是宋太祖投胎（一说金太祖完颜阿骨打是宋太祖投胎）要来报仇，灭了宋太宗一家，导致北宋亡国及失去半壁江山，阻止钦宗后代及其馀宋太宗后裔继承，加上见到金朝同样因太祖系及太宗系的皇位继承导致自相残杀。故高宗在有生之年将帝位传承给宋太祖的后代，以阻止相关情况发生。

绍兴二年（1132年）五月，高宗于太祖系宗室中选了赵伯琮养于宫中。三年（1133年）二月，特除和州防御使，赐名瑗，寻改贵州防御使。五年（1135年）五月，用尚书左仆射赵鼎议，在宫中设立书院教育他，建成后以书院为资善堂。孝宗读书强记，天资特异。诏授保庆军节度使，封建国公。因传言金朝欲在北宋旧都开封拥立钦宗太子赵谌为傀儡皇帝挑战高宗法统，大将岳飞密请高宗立赵瑗为皇太子以让金人的图谋落空，高宗也安排岳飞与赵瑗相见，岳飞感叹赵瑗是兴复宋室之主。

十二年（1142年）二月，诏外就第，授检校少保、进封普安郡王。十七年（1147年）六月，徒常德军节度使。此外，宋高宗另一位养子赵璩亦封恩平郡王、武康军节度使。两人官属礼制相同，号为东、西府。太子多年未定，内外颇以为疑。三十年（1160年）二月，立为皇子，赐名玮，授宁国军节度使、开府仪同三司、进封建王。三月，赵璩授开府仪同三司、判大宗正事、置司绍兴府，则称「皇侄」，两人名分终定。四月，赐字「元环」。

三十一年（1161年）十月，以明堂恩，授镇南军节度使。三十二年（1162年）五月，立为皇太子，赐名昚。六月，赐字「元永」，高宗禅位，即皇帝位，定年号隆兴，立志光复中原，收复河山，遂将岳飞平反并追封为鄂国公，肃清秦桧馀党，并且命令老将张浚北伐中原，但在符离遭遇金军突袭大败。接著金军趁胜追击，南宋军队损失惨重，此后双方互有胜负，但金无法越过长江，宋亦未能渡黄河。宋孝宗被迫于隆兴二年（1164年）和金国金世宗签订「隆兴和议」，次年改元「乾道」。

乾道年间，由于没有战事的干扰，加上高宗除对金和战外较少干政，孝宗专心理政，百姓富裕，五谷丰登，太平安乐，一改高宗朝时贪腐的局面。由于宋孝宗治国有方，南宋出现乾淳之治（乾道、淳熙）的小康局面。

宋孝宗有一批宠臣，如曾觌、龙大渊、张说等人，与宦官梁珂等「相与盘结」，「士大夫无耻者争附之」，被列入《佞幸传》。

淳熙十四年（1187年）十月，高宗死于德寿宫中，孝宗听闻后失声痛哭，两天不能进食，又表示要服丧三年。孝宗为了服丧，让太子赵敦参预政事。淳熙十六年二月初二（1189年2月18日）又禅让帝位予太子，太子即位，是为宋光宗。守孝三年后，孝宗退位，自称太上皇，闲居慈福宫，后改名重华殿，继续为高宗服丧。

光宗由于皇后李凤娘挑拨，与孝宗不睦，长期不去探望孝宗，孝宗为此闷闷不乐而起病。最终在绍熙五年六月初九（1194年6月28日），崩于临安府重华宫重华殿，年六十七。十月，上諡号曰『哲文神武成孝皇帝』（能官贤才曰哲 帝德广地运曰文 应变无方曰神 保大定功曰武 持盈守满曰成 慈惠爱亲曰孝）、庙号『孝宗』、寻诏庙乐名曰大伦之舞。十一月，葬于永阜陵。庆元三年（1197年）六月，加諡号曰『绍统同道冠德昭功哲文神武明圣成孝皇帝』。

宗室

祖先

• 嗣父：高宗宪孝皇帝赵构

• 嗣母：贤妃张氏

后妃

• 成穆皇后郭氏

• 成恭皇后夏氏

• 成肃皇后谢氏

• 蔡贵妃，初入宫为红霞帔，封和义郡夫人，晋婉容。淳熙十年冬，晋贵妃。十二年秋薨逝。父蔡滂，宜春观察使。

• 李贤妃，初入宫为典字，转通义郡夫人，晋婕妤。淳熙十年卒，追赠贤妃。

子

皆为成穆皇后郭氏所出

• 庄文太子赵愭（乾道三年薨）

• 魏惠宪王赵恺（淳熙七年薨）

• 宋光宗赵敦

• 邵悼肃王赵恪

女

• 嘉国公主，绍兴三十二年卒。

• 第二皇女，出生五个月夭折，未及册封。

其他亲人

• 曾祖赵世将：北宋名画家。

• 崇宪靖王赵伯圭：宋孝宗胞兄，赵孟俯的高祖父。

　• 秦国夫人宋氏：赵伯圭之妻，安德帝姬的女儿、宋高宗的外甥女。

宰相

• 张浚

• 汤思退

• 陈康伯

• 史浩

• 洪适

• 叶顒

• 虞允文

• 陈俊卿

• 梁克家

• 曾怀

• 王淮

• 赵雄

• 周必大

• 留正

评价

• 元朝官修正史《宋史》脱脱等的评价是：「高宗以公天下之心，择太祖之后而立之，乃得孝宗之贤，聪明英毅，卓然为南渡诸帝之称首，可谓难矣哉。即位之初，锐志恢复，符离邂逅失利，重违高宗之命，不轻出师，又值金世宗之立，金国平治，无衅可乘，然易表称书，改臣称侄，减去岁币，以定邻好，金人易宋之心，至是亦寝异于前日矣。故世宗每戒群臣积钱谷，谨边备，必曰：『吾恐宋人之和，终不可恃。』盖亦忌帝之将有为也。天厌南北之兵，欲休民生，故帝用兵之意弗遂而终焉。然自古人君起自外藩，入继大统，而能尽宫庭之孝，未有若帝。其间父子怡愉，同享高寿，亦无有及之者。终丧三年，又能却群臣之请而力行之。宋之庙号，若仁宗之为『仁』，孝宗之为『孝』，其无愧焉，其无愧焉！」

• 傅乐成《中国通史》：「孝宗也是南宋有数的贤君，他伐金虽然失败，但在外交上与金人力争，终于除去对金的臣属关系，不能说是毫无收获。约成之后，他仍主备御金人，无晏安之意，假若不是金世宗在位，金势极强，他必不甘于信守这个不平等条约。内政方面，也没有多大缺失。他以远支宗室，继承大统，对高宗能竭尽孝道，这一点也是值得称道的。」

注解

研究书目

• 余英时：《朱熹的历史世界：宋代士大夫政治文化的研究》（台北：允晨文化实业股份有限公司，2003）。