Emperor Xuanzong of Jin


Emperor Xuanzong of Jin, personal name Wudubu, sinicized names Wanyan Xun and Wanyan Congjia, was the eighth emperor of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty, which ruled northern China between the 12th and 13th centuries. He was the first Jin emperor to be defeated by the Mongols after they crossed the Great Wall in 1211 during their conquest of the Jin dynasty.

Life

Wudubu was a son of Wanyan Yungong, a son of Emperor Shizong. He was a nephew of Wanyan Yongji, his predecessor as emperor. His mother was Lady Liu, a concubine of Wanyan Yungong. In 1178, he was enfeoffed as the "Duke of Wen". In 1186, he chose for himself the sinicized name "Xun". In 1189, he was promoted to "Prince of Feng". In 1196, his princely title was changed to "Prince of Yi". In 1205, he changed his sinicized name to "Congjia". His princely titles were subsequently changed again, to "Prince of Xing" and then "Prince of Sheng".
In the eighth month of 1213, the general Heshilie Zhizhong rebelled against the emperor, Wanyan Yongji, and assassinated him. Hushahu then installed Wanyan Congjia on the throne to replace Wanyan Yongji. As Wanyan Congjia was stationed in Hebei at the time, Hushahu chose Wanyan Congjia's eldest son, Wanyan Shouzhong, to temporarily serve as jianguo in the capital, Zhongdu. In the ninth month, Wanyan Congjia returned to Zhongdu and was crowned emperor; he is thus historically known as Emperor Xuanzong of the Jin dynasty. He appointed Hushahu as Grand Tutor, Chief Imperial Secretary, and Marshal of the Capital, in addition to enfeoffing him as "Prince of Ze". Shortly after his ascension, Emperor Xuanzong adopted the regnal name "Zhenyou". He also changed his sinicised name back from "Congjia" to "Xun". In the tenth month, Hushahu was assassinated by Zhuhu Gaoqi, another general, due to political infighting. Emperor Xuanzong pardoned Zhuhu Gaoqi and appointed him as Left Deputy Marshal.
In the fall of 1213, the Mongols, under the leadership of Genghis Khan, split their forces into three groups to attack the Jin dynasty. They conquered nearly all the prefectures and counties in Hebei; only Zhongdu, Zhending Prefecture, Daming Prefecture, and 11 other cities did not fall to the Mongols.
In the third month of 1214, the Jin dynasty succeeded in negotiating for peace with the Mongols. However, on 27 June, Emperor Xuanzong left Zhongdu and moved the Jin capital southward to Bianjing ; the court reached Bianjing about two months later. The Mongols were angered, so they waged war against the Jin dynasty again. On 31 May 1215, Zhongdu fell to the Mongols. In the tenth month, the warlord Puxian Wannu rebelled against the Jin dynasty, and declared himself king of the Eastern Xia regime in Liaodong. In early 1220, Emperor Xuanzong had Zhuhu Gaoqi executed after Zhuhu Gaoqi's repeated failures to repel the Mongols, and also because Zhuhu Gaoqi eventually planned on rebelling.
Emperor Xuanzong's foreign policy towards the other states was a direct cause of the fall of the Jin dynasty. Firstly, he agreed to submit to Genghis Khan in return for peace between the Mongols and Jin dynasty. Secondly, he severed ties between the Jin dynasty and its ally, Western Xia. Thirdly, he ignored the advice of his chancellor, Tushan Yi, and other ministers, and moved his capital from Zhongdu to Bianjing. Fourthly, he waged war against the Southern Song dynasty. These actions resulted in the Jin dynasty having to fight wars on three different fronts. Furthermore, they resulted in domestic instability and rebellions, which contributed even more to the decay of the Jin dynasty.
Emperor Xuanzong died in 1224. He was succeeded by his second son, Wanyan Shouxu. He was posthumously honored with the temple name "Xuanzong," and was buried in the Deling Mausoleum in present-day Kaifeng, Henan Province.

Family