Names

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

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 (趙子偁; 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 (趙旉), 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 (莊文皇太子 趙愭; 1144–1167), first son

　• Zhao Kai, Prince Weihuixian (魏惠憲王 趙愷; 1146–1180), second son

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

　• Zhao Ke, Prince Shaodaosu (邵悼肅王 趙恪), fourth son

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

• Empress Chengsu, of the Xie clan (成肅皇后 謝氏; 1132–1203), personal name Sufang (蘇芳)

• 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）生於秀州嘉興青杉閘官舍。六世祖為太祖趙匡胤的四子秦康惠王趙德芳。父親為遠支宗親趙子偁，時為嘉興丞，後追封為秀安僖王。

由於高宗的唯一兒子元懿太子夭折後再沒有嗣子，所以只好從宗室中選擇繼承人，有野史稱宋高宗受宋太祖託夢，稱「汝祖自攝謀，據我位久，至於天下寥落，是當還我位。」故高宗過繼了太祖七世孫作為養子，並立為太子；《宋史》中也有相似的記載，但為孟太后受託夢。

宋高宗在苗劉兵變後，患上陽痿而不育。又受到民間多年傳說宋太宗燭影斧聲強奪宋太祖之位的影響，據傳金太宗完顏吳乞買與宋太祖的畫像神似，吳乞買是宋太祖投胎（一說金太祖完顏阿骨打是宋太祖投胎）要來報仇，滅了宋太宗一家，導致北宋亡國及失去半壁江山，阻止欽宗後代及其餘宋太宗後裔繼承，加上見到金朝同樣因太祖系及太宗系的皇位繼承導致自相殘殺。故高宗在有生之年將帝位傳承給宋太祖的後代，以阻止相關情況發生。

紹興二年（1132年）五月，高宗于太祖系宗室中選了趙伯琮養于宮中。三年（1133年）二月，特除和州防禦使，賜名瑗，尋改貴州防禦使。五年（1135年）五月，用尚書左僕射趙鼎議，在宮中設立書院教育他，建成後以書院為資善堂。孝宗讀書強記，天資特異。詔授保慶軍節度使，封建國公。因傳言金朝欲在北宋舊都開封擁立欽宗太子趙諶為傀儡皇帝挑戰高宗法統，大將岳飛密請高宗立趙瑗為皇太子以讓金人的圖謀落空，高宗也安排岳飛與趙瑗相見，岳飛感嘆趙瑗是興複宋室之主。

十二年（1142年）二月，詔外就第，授檢校少保、進封普安郡王。十七年（1147年）六月，徒常德軍節度使。此外，宋高宗另一位養子趙璩亦封恩平郡王、武康軍節度使。兩人官屬禮制相同，號為東、西府。太子多年未定，內外頗以為疑。三十年（1160年）二月，立為皇子，賜名瑋，授寧國軍節度使、開府儀同三司、進封建王。三月，趙璩授開府儀同三司、判大宗正事、置司紹興府，則稱「皇侄」，兩人名分終定。四月，賜字「元環」。

三十一年（1161年）十月，以明堂恩，授鎮南軍節度使。三十二年（1162年）五月，立為皇太子，賜名昚。六月，賜字「元永」，高宗禪位，即皇帝位，定年號隆興，立志光複中原，收複河山，遂將岳飛平反並追封為鄂國公，肅清秦檜餘黨，並且命令老將張浚北伐中原，但在符離遭遇金軍突襲大敗。接著金軍趁勝追擊，南宋軍隊損失慘重，此後雙方互有勝負，但金無法越過長江，宋亦未能渡黃河。宋孝宗被迫于隆興二年（1164年）和金國金世宗簽訂「隆興和議」，次年改元「乾道」。

乾道年間，由于沒有戰事的幹擾，加上高宗除對金和戰外較少幹政，孝宗專心理政，百姓富裕，五穀豐登，太平安樂，一改高宗朝時貪腐的局面。由于宋孝宗治國有方，南宋出現乾淳之治（乾道、淳熙）的小康局面。

宋孝宗有一批寵臣，如曾覿、龍大淵、張說等人，與宦官梁珂等「相與盤結」，「士大夫無恥者爭附之」，被列入《佞幸傳》。

淳熙十四年（1187年）十月，高宗死於德壽宮中，孝宗聽聞後失聲痛哭，兩天不能進食，又表示要服喪三年。孝宗為了服喪，讓太子趙惇參預政事。淳熙十六年二月初二（1189年2月18日）又禪讓帝位予太子，太子即位，是為宋光宗。守孝三年後，孝宗退位，自稱太上皇，閒居慈福宮，後改名重華殿，繼續為高宗服喪。

光宗由於皇后李鳳娘挑撥，與孝宗不睦，長期不去探望孝宗，孝宗為此悶悶不樂而起病。最終在紹熙五年六月初九（1194年6月28日），崩于臨安府重華宮重華殿，年六十七。十月，上諡號曰『哲文神武成孝皇帝』（能官賢才曰哲 帝德廣地運曰文 應變無方曰神 保大定功曰武 持盈守滿曰成 慈惠愛親曰孝）、廟號『孝宗』、尋詔廟樂名曰大倫之舞。十一月，葬于永阜陵。慶元三年（1197年）六月，加諡號曰『紹統同道冠德昭功哲文神武明聖成孝皇帝』。

宗室

祖先

• 嗣父：高宗憲孝皇帝趙構

• 嗣母：賢妃張氏

后妃

• 成穆皇后郭氏

• 成恭皇后夏氏

• 成肅皇后謝氏

• 蔡貴妃，初入宮為紅霞帔，封和義郡夫人，晉婉容。淳熙十年冬，晉貴妃。十二年秋薨逝。父蔡滂，宜春觀察使。

• 李賢妃，初入宮為典字，轉通義郡夫人，晉婕妤。淳熙十年卒，追贈賢妃。

子

皆為成穆皇后郭氏所出

• 莊文太子趙愭（乾道三年薨）

• 魏惠憲王趙愷（淳熙七年薨）

• 宋光宗趙惇

• 邵悼肅王趙恪

女

• 嘉國公主，紹興三十二年卒。

• 第二皇女，出生五個月夭折，未及冊封。

其他親人

• 曾祖趙世將：北宋名畫家。

• 崇憲靖王趙伯圭：宋孝宗胞兄，趙孟頫的高祖父。

　• 秦國夫人宋氏：趙伯圭之妻，安德帝姬的女兒、宋高宗的外甥女。

宰相

• 張浚

• 湯思退

• 陳康伯

• 史浩

• 洪適

• 葉顒

• 虞允文

• 陳俊卿

• 梁克家

• 曾懷

• 王淮

• 趙雄

• 周必大

• 留正

評價

• 元朝官修正史《宋史》脫脫等的評價是：「高宗以公天下之心，擇太祖之後而立之，乃得孝宗之賢，聰明英毅，卓然為南渡諸帝之稱首，可謂難矣哉。即位之初，銳志恢復，符離邂逅失利，重違高宗之命，不輕出師，又值金世宗之立，金國平治，無釁可乘，然易表稱書，改臣稱侄，減去歲幣，以定鄰好，金人易宋之心，至是亦寢異于前日矣。故世宗每戒群臣積錢穀，謹邊備，必曰：『吾恐宋人之和，終不可恃。』蓋亦忌帝之將有為也。天厭南北之兵，欲休民生，故帝用兵之意弗遂而終焉。然自古人君起自外藩，入繼大統，而能盡宮庭之孝，未有若帝。其間父子怡愉，同享高壽，亦無有及之者。終喪三年，又能卻群臣之請而力行之。宋之廟號，若仁宗之為『仁』，孝宗之為『孝』，其無愧焉，其無愧焉！」

• 傅樂成《中國通史》：「孝宗也是南宋有數的賢君，他伐金雖然失敗，但在外交上與金人力爭，終於除去對金的臣屬關係，不能說是毫無收穫。約成之後，他仍主備禦金人，無晏安之意，假若不是金世宗在位，金勢極強，他必不甘於信守這個不平等條約。內政方面，也沒有多大缺失。他以遠支宗室，繼承大統，對高宗能竭盡孝道，這一點也是值得稱道的。」

註解

研究書目

• 余英時：《朱熹的歷史世界：宋代士大夫政治文化的研究》（臺北：允晨文化實業股份有限公司，2003）。