Early life

Born in Luoyang to military commander Zhao Hongyin, Zhao Kuangyin grew up excelling in mounted archery. Once, riding an untamed horse without a bridle, he knocked his forehead on the wall above the city gate and fell off, but got right back up and chased the horse, eventually subduing it while going unharmed. In the mid-940s, he married Lady He on his father's arrangement. After wandering around for a few years, in 949 he joined the army of Guo Wei, a jiedushi (military governor) of the Later Han dynasty, and helped Guo quell Li Shouzhen's rebellion.

Career under Later Zhou

In 951, Guo Wei rebelled and created the Later Zhou dynasty. Because of his brilliant combat skills, Zhao Kuangyin was promoted to a palace guard commander. Chai Rong (Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou) frequently met Guo Wei and noticed Zhao Kuangyin's potential. Under his command, Zhao Kuangyin was made into a commander of the cavalry units. Under Chai Rong, Zhao Kuangyin's rise to power had begun.

Zhao Kuangyin's career started at the Battle of Gaoping, against the alliance of the Northern Han and Liao dynasties.

This rivalry started when Chai Rong ascended the throne and Liu Chong decided to work with the Liao dynasty. In the initial confrontation, the army's right flank, led by Fan Aineng and He Hui (何徽), was defeated. Looking at the situation, Zhao Kuangyin and Zhang Yongde led 4000 elite Palace troops to counter the Liao army. Zhao Kuangyin's exhortation for the loyalty to the emperor quickly strengthened morale. The small force held off the larger Liao army until reinforcements arrived. In the end, the successful counter repelled the Northern Han back to Taiyuan.

The victory raised Zhao Kuangyin up to the post of the grand commander of the palace guards, as well as reorganising and training them. More importantly, he developed the relations with other generals and officials related to the Chief of Palace, including Shi Shouxin, Wang Shenqi (王审琦), Yang Guangyi, Wang Zhengzhong (王政忠), Liu Qingyi, Liu Shouzhong, Liu Yanrang, Mi Xin (米信), Tian Chongjin (田重进), Pan Mei, his brother Zhao Kuangyi, Shen Yilun (沈义伦), Lu Xuqing, Zhao Pu, Chu Zhaofu (楚昭辅). Within a few years, Zhao Kuangyin completely controlled the palace guards and even developed a set of officials under him with the people mentioned above.

Soon, he was promoted to a jiedushi (military governor), controlling most of the military power under Chai Rong. Nevertheless, he still had two rivals – Zhang Yongde (Guo Wei's son-in-law) and Li Chongjin (Guo Wei's nephew). In 959, after a trap set by Zhao Kuangyin, Zhang Yongde was demoted. After the death of Chai Rong, the Later Zhou throne was left to his seven-year-old son Guo Zongxun, and the second rival, Li Chongjin, soon found himself lacking the political backing. As a result, Zhao Kuangyin was able to use his influence to transfer Li Chongjin to Yang Prefecture as a jiedushi.

Coup at Chen Bridge

In 960, word reached the chancellor Fan Zhi that Northern Han and Liao dynasties were once again allied to invade them again. Without verifying the reliability of the hearsay, Fan Zhi sent Zhao Kuangyin to combat the alliance. After traveling 40 li, there was a clamour that a "prophet" saw two suns fighting, and that this meant the transfer of the Mandate of Heaven to Zhao Kuangyin. The story effectively spread around the army: there came discontent of the "command" of the young emperor and a shift of loyalty to Zhao Kuangyin. A few days later, when Zhao Kuangyin was drunk in his tent, all the troops had not slept the whole night; they got their weapons and started yelling. Zhao Pu and Zhang Kuangyi, who were guarding the tent, saw the situation and went into the tent to wake up Zhao Kuangyin. When Zhao Kuangyin came out, all the troops yelled, "The army is without a master, we are willing to make the general the new emperor." Allegedly, Zhao Kuangyin took the power reluctantly, only under the urging of his soldiers. The midnight mutiny of officers forcibly urged Zhao Kuangyin to the throne; but, when the officers presented him to the troops as their new commander-in-chief he refused the imperial nomination until they swore unconditional obedience to him as leader. News of the rebellion soon reached the court and chaos erupted. The only person who thought about a resistance was Han Tong, but he was killed by one of Zhao Kuangyin's generals when he reached home.

Upon entering the capital to take his seat on the throne, Zhao Kuangyin made an executive order prohibiting the troops from looting the city or otherwise violating the rights of the population.

With the gates opened for Zhao Kuangyin, he became emperor with no resistance. Before the chancellor Fan Zhi could say anything, one of Zhao Kuangyin's generals pointed a sword at him and said, "We are without masters. Today, we must have an emperor." After the officials looked at each other and knew it was hopeless to resist; they all bowed down. With the court under control, Zhao Kuangyin was officially proclaimed emperor. The new dynasty's name, Song, was inspired by the army Zhao Kuangyin commanded in Song Prefecture.

After the declaration, Zhao Kuangyin sent the dethroned young emperor Guo Zongxun with his mother to the Western Capital (西京). He personally ordered the Zhao family to receive the Chai family into their family's care for generations.

As Emperor of the Song dynasty

In 960, Zhao Kuangyin (known now as Emperor Taizu) helped reunite most of China after the fragmentation and rebellion between the fall of the Tang dynasty in 907 and the establishment of the Song dynasty. The plan set during Chai Rong's reign was to first conquer the north, then the south. During Emperor Taizu's reign, there was a change in strategy. He would conquer all the smaller states such as Later Shu, Southern Han and Southern Tang. The exception was the strong Northern Han in the north at Taiyuan supported by the Khitans of the Liao dynasty. Emperor Taizu's strategy was to first take the southern territories because the south was weaker than the north as the Liao dynasty supported Northern Han.

In 968, Emperor Taizu personally led the army against the Northern Han. At first, his forces tore through the defences and placed Taiyuan under siege, but was ultimately forced to retreat after he struck against the defences of the Northern Han with the Liao cavalry coming in to support.

Emperor Taizu established the core Song Ancestor Rules and Policy for the later Song emperors. He was remembered for his expansion of the imperial examination system such that most of the civil service were recruited through the exams (in contrast to the Tang where less than 10% of the civil servants came through exams). He also created academies that allowed a great deal of freedom of discussion and thought, which facilitated the growth of scientific advance, economic reforms as well as achievements in arts and literature.

Emperor Taizu is well known for bringing the power of the military under control, ending the era of the warlords, and so preventing anyone else rising to power as he did. Upon becoming emperor, he invited the general officers to a lavish banquet, where he convinced them all to retire as military leaders, in favour of enjoying extensive estates and generous retirement funds and benefits which he then offered them. At a certain point during the feast, the new emperor made a speech to the military officers assembled there, which he began by expressing his deep gratitude to each and all of them for placing him on the throne, and that now that he had the power to do so, he wished to reward them to the utmost of his ability; then he went on to say that he thought the present company would all understand that he could not feel at ease on his new throne, with them continuing in command of their various armies of troops: and, he said, that if they duly considered the ramifications of the matter, neither would they. He then sincerely promised that they and their families would live in happiness and harmony, if they accepted his offer to retire with the stated benefits: eventually, none of the generals refused his terms, and thus began a period of relative internal peace within the realm for the duration of the Song dynasty which he thus founded, also better securing the military forces for involvement with the rival surrounding empires.

Many Song and later sources record the story of the "Taizu's Oath", which forbade his successors from killing scholar-officials. However, this story might be a later construct.

Death and succession dispute

Emperor Taizu reigned for seventeen years and died in 976 at the age of 49. Curiously, he was succeeded by his younger brother, Zhao Kuangyi (Emperor Taizong), even though he had two grown sons – Zhao Dezhao, the Prince of Yan (951–979), and Zhao Defang, the Prince of Qin (959–981). The traditional historical accounts place emphasis on the role Zhao Kuangyin's mother played in the decision which was made shortly after the Song dynasty was proclaimed (around 961). So for nearly his entire reign, it was known and accepted that Zhao Kuangyi would succeed him.

In folklore, the story known as "shadows by the candle and sounds from an axe" is very popular and suggests that Emperor Taizu was murdered by his brother, who was after the throne. After his death, Taizu was interred at the Yongchang Mausoleum, near Gongyi.

After Emperor Taizong, the line of succession passed on to his son and descendants rather than those of Emperor Taizu. However, when Emperor Gaozong (1127–1161) failed to produce an heir, he selected a descendant of Emperor Taizu to be his adopted heir to succeed him in 1161. After 1161, all the subsequent Song emperors were descended from Emperor Taizu through his two sons, Zhao Dezhao and Zhao Defang.

Family

Zhao Kuangyin's family was of fairly modest origins and cannot be traced back with any certainty further than the Later Tang. His great great grandfather Zhao Tiao was an official who served in Zhuozhou in Hebei Province near where the family lived. His descendants Zhao Ting and Zhao Jing also served as local officials in Hebei Province. Zhao Jing's son Zhao Hongyin decided against a civil career and became a military officer instead under Zhuangzong of Later Tang: he knew that in times of disunity it would be a military career that would lead to success.

----

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Xiaohui, of the He clan (孝惠皇后 贺氏; 929–958)

　• Zhao Dexiu, Prince Teng (滕王 赵德秀), first son

　• Zhao Dezhao, Prince Yanyi (燕懿王 赵德昭; 951–979), second son

　• Zhao Delin, Prince Shu (舒王 赵德林), third son

　• Princess Xiansu (贤肃帝姬; d. 1008), first daughter

　　• Married Wang Chengyan (王承衍) in 970

　• Princess Xianjing (贤靖帝姬; d. 1009), second daughter

　　• Married Shi Baoji (石保吉) in 972

• Empress Xiaoming, of the Wang clan (孝明皇后 王氏; 942–964)

　• Zhao Defang, Prince Qinkanghui (秦康惠王 赵德芳; 959–981), fourth son

　• Unnamed daughter

　• Unnamed daughter

• Empress Xiaozhang, of the Song clan (孝章皇后 宋氏; 952–995)

• Unknown

　• Princess Xianhui (贤惠帝姬; d. 999)

　　• Married Wei Xianxin (魏咸信) in 972

　• Princess Anhui (安惠帝姬)

　• Princess Xianhui (显惠帝姬)

　• Princess Xuanhui (宣惠帝姬)

Ancestry

In popular culture

Religion

The Great Ancestor of the Song sometimes appears as a door god in Chinese and Taoist temples in partnership with Yang Gun.

Literature

The late 16th century novel by Xiong Damu (熊大木) called Records of the Two Songs, South and North (南北两宋志传) is a historical novel about imperial China from roughly 926 to 1022. The first 50 chapters detail the fall of Later Tang and the rise and fall of Later Jin, Later Han and Later Zhou, with a focus on the legends of Zhao Kuangyin. The last 50 chapters focus on the Generals of the Yang Family legends. As a result, the book is in later publications usually split in two separate parts under various different names.

A 1797 novel written by Wu Xuan called Legends of the Flying Dragon (飞龙传) proved to be very popular in his time. He expanded the stories on Zhao Kuangyin in Xiong Damu's book and added a wuxia twist to it. Another novel Emperor Taizu of Song Thrice Sets off for Southern Tang, Trapped in Shouzhou City (宋太祖三下南唐被困寿州城) was written by an "Antiquarian Master" (好古主人) in 1858.

While these stories mostly use historical figures as supporting characters, a number of fictional characters became famously associated with Zhao Kuangyin:

• Zhao Jingniang, a beautiful teenage girl whom Zhao Kuangyin saved from kidnappers and protected during her journey home. She developed strong romantic feelings about Zhao Kuangyin, but he only regarded her as a younger sister. She eventually committed suicide when a misunderstanding occurred.

• Zheng En, courtesy name Ziming (子明), the third sworn brother of Zhao Kuangyin and Chai Rong in the stories. He is portrayed as dark-skinned, strong and loyal, with a simple temperament. He was accidentally killed by a drunk Zhao Kuangyin.

Martial arts

According to martial arts traditional lore, Emperor Taizu created a Shaolin-based fighting style known as Taizu Changquan (太祖长拳; literally "Taizu Long Fist"). It is the core style of the present-day Long Fist style. Whether he really did invent this style or if it even dates from this time is not actually known.

Films

A Chinese 4D film tentatively titled Unifying the Country (一统江山) is planned to be directed by Academy Award–winning Danish director Bille August. The film is said to center on Zhao Kuangyin as well as Li Yu (last ruler of Southern Tang) and Qian Chu (last ruler of Wuyue).

Television series

• Military Control (兵权), a 1988 Hong Kong series starring Gordon Liu as Zhao Kuangyin.

• Zhao Kuangyin, a 1995 Chinese series starring Zhao Xiguang as Zhao Kuangyin.

• The Preordained Emperor (真命天子), a 1998 Taiwanese series starring Lin You-hsing as Zhao Kuangyin.

• Zhao Kuangyin, a 2013 Chinese series starring Chen Jianbin as Zhao Kuangyin.

Three independent television series focused on the complex relationships between Zhao Kuangyin, Li Houzhu (Li Congjia) and the many women in their lives. They are:

• The Sword and the Song (绝代双雄), a 1986 Singaporean series starring Lin Mingzhe as Zhao Kuangyin and Li Wenhai as Li Congjia

• Love, Sword, Mountain & River, a 1996 Taiwanese series starring Wu Hsing-kuo as Zhao Kuangyin and Chin Feng as Li Congjia

• Li Houzhu and Zhao Kuangyin, a 2006 Chinese series starring Huang Wen-hao as Zhao Kuangyin and Nicky Wu as Li Congjia

早年生涯

出身与从戎

唐明宗天成二年二月十六日（927年3月21日），赵匡胤诞生于洛阳夹马营（今河南省洛阳市瀍河回族区东关爽明街北段），是赵弘殷次子，母亲杜氏。依《宋史·太祖本纪》记载，赵匡胤为「涿郡人」，然而此处应是依涿郡赵氏的郡望所指，实则属籍保州（今河北省保定市清苑区）。年长后离家游历，投奔复州防御使王彦超，不被接纳。继而往依随州刺史董宗本，却遭其子董遵诲凭势欺侮，赵匡胤于是辞别北上。948年，赵匡胤投奔后汉枢密使郭威帐下，随军征讨李守贞。951年，郭威称帝，国号「周」，是为「周太祖，赵匡胤得补任东西班行首，加拜滑州（今河南省安阳市）副指挥使。953年，郭威养子柴荣担任开封府尹，调赵匡胤至京师（今河南省开封市）任开封府马直军使。

崛起

高平之战

954年初，周太祖逝世，外戚柴荣继位为周世宗，赵匡胤调任中央禁军。北汉及契丹随即趁丧入侵，边报频仍，世宗决定亲征，赵匡胤任侍卫将领随行护驾。4月，周军与北汉军大战于高平（今山西省晋城市高平市），赵匡胤率二千人参与战斗，并身先士卒，亲自冲锋，北汉军披靡，七千馀人投降。时正刮南风，周军因风奋击，北汉军大败，周军趁胜围攻河东城，焚烧城门，赵匡胤于战斗中遭流矢射中左臂。高平之战后，世宗拔擢赵匡胤为殿前司都虞候，领严州（今浙江省湖州市德清县）刺史，并命赵匡胤整顿禁军，汰羸除弱，更招募天下壮士至京师，设立殿前诸班，由赵匡胤选择精锐将士充之，后周军队自始独霸。

南征北讨

956年初，周世宗亲征南唐，大军围攻寿城（今安徽省六安市寿县），南唐驻扎一万兵马于涂山（今安徽省蚌埠市）下，停泊舟舰于淮河，世宗命赵匡胤往攻。3月，赵匡胤伏军涡口（今安徽省蚌埠市怀远县东北），派遣一百馀名骑兵袭击南唐军营，交战后佯败逃遁，南唐军追击，至涡口而后周伏兵四起，南唐军大败，斩唐将何延锡，夺得五十馀艘战舰。南唐另有十五万援军驻扎清流关（今安徽省滁州市），赵匡胤受命征讨，攻克清流关、滁州城，并生擒唐将皇甫晖。5月，南唐军攻扬州，赵匡胤屯兵六合支援。扬州守将韩令坤惧而欲退，赵匡胤下令军中：「扬州士兵过六合者，砍断双腿！」韩令坤才决心固守。南唐又遣齐王李景达率兵支援，距离六合二十里处驻扎。诸将请主动攻击，赵匡胤却以逸待劳，俟南唐军发动攻击，方才领兵迎击，南唐军大败，斩杀五千馀人，投江溺毙的不计其数。战后赵匡胤因功受封殿前都指挥使，不久又加封定国军节度使。

957年初，世宗再度亲征南唐，4月，驻扎紫金山，命赵匡胤率领禁军歼灭寿州外围南唐援军，赵匡胤连拔数寨，斩获三千馀人，并切断南唐援军通道，寿州因此无援，于是投降。还京后，赵匡胤因功加拜义成军节度、检校太保，仍担任殿前司都指挥使。年底，柴荣三征南唐，进攻濠州，城外有水滩环绕，南唐军在其上设立栅栏防守，世宗遂命将士骑骆驼渡河，赵匡胤则领兵骑马而渡，率先攻破南唐水寨，焚烧南唐战舰七十馀艘，斩杀两千馀人，攻陷濠州。其后陆续攻陷泗州（今安徽省宿州市泗县）、楚州（今江苏省淮安市淮阴区），南唐江北之地尽为周有。隔年5月，赵匡胤改封忠武军节度使。

959年3月，世宗北征契丹，赵匡胤任水陆都部署，先期抵达瓦桥关（今河北省保定市雄县），守将姚内斌投降。6月，世宗染病不适，命车驾回京。7月23日，世宗任命赵匡胤为殿前司都点检，为殿前禁军最高统帅。27日，世宗因病驾崩，年仅七岁的梁王柴宗训继位为周恭帝，改归德军节度使，检校太尉。

建立宋朝

黄袍加身

960年正月初一（1月31日），北方边境镇州（今河北省石家庄市正定县）、定州（今河北省定州市）守将急报，称北汉与契丹合势，联兵入侵，周恭帝命赵匡胤率宿卫禁军北上迎敌。

初二（2月1日），京城流言四起，谣传大军出征之日将策立都点检做天子，士民不安，准备逃匿。

初三（2月2日），赵匡胤率大军自京城东北边的爱景门出城，士卒纪律严明，民心稍安。大军当晚驻扎于京城东北二十公里的陈桥驿（今河南省封丘县陈桥镇），将士们谋划拥立赵匡胤为天子，由都押衙李处耘转告供奉官都知赵光义，两人随即与归德军节度掌书记赵普商讨。谈论中，诸将突然闯入，众说纷纭，赵普及赵光义以理劝退，诸将稍稍引去，不久又复趋集，露白刃要胁，赵普于是同意，派人前往京城安排内应，将士们则环列于赵匡胤的大帐，等待天明。

初四（2月3日）清晨，赵匡胤因酒醉尚未清醒，将士于大营四周鼓噪喧哗，赵普及赵光义入帐禀告赵匡胤，赵匡胤惊起，披衣而出，将领们持兵器罗立于庭。赵匡胤不及说话，诸将士即将黄袍披在赵匡胤身上，纷纷下拜高呼万岁。赵匡胤坚拒，众将士不听，迫其上马南行回京。赵匡胤见势不可免，便揽辔对诸将说：「你们贪图富贵，立我为天子，就必须听从我的命令，不然，我不当这个皇帝。」众将皆下马跪地说：「唯命是从！」赵匡胤便下令不得侵扰后周皇帝、太后及群臣，也不得擅自掳掠及搜刮府库，违者族诛，众将应诺。赵匡胤率大军自仁和门入京城，下令将士解甲归营，赵匡胤则回殿前都点检公署，脱下黄袍。不久，众将逼拥司徒，同中书门下平章事，参知枢密院事范质、参知枢密院事，尚书省右仆射王溥、同中书门下平章事，刑部尚书魏仁浦至公署，迫其表态。范质等无可奈何，只得下拜，高呼万岁。赵匡胤于是登崇元殿行禅让礼，登基称帝，建国号「 大宋 」，改元建隆，大赦天下。

上述记载见于《宋史》、《续资治通鉴长编》、《涑水记闻》等史书及笔记中，皆言赵匡胤是为众所逼，被迫称帝，事前并不知情。然而现代史家依史料记载之疑点及矛盾推论，普遍认为「陈桥兵变」是赵匡胤及其亲信幕僚所预谋策划的军事政变。

平定叛乱

960年5月，昭义节度使李筠据潞州（今山西省长治市）叛变，攻陷泽州（今山西省晋城市），并与北汉合兵，率众南下。太祖遣侍卫亲军司马步军副都指挥使石守信、殿前司副都点检高怀德往讨，又派昭化军节度使慕容延钊、彰德军节度使王全斌前往合兵，于长平之战大败李筠，斩杀三千馀人。6月，太祖决定亲征，与石守信等将领会合，于泽州之南大败李筠及北汉的三万联军，三千馀名北汉援军投降，宋军将其全数坑杀。李筠退守泽州城，宋军随即攻破泽州，李筠自焚而死。7月，宋军兵围潞州，李筠长子李守节举城出降；同年（960年）10月，淮南节度使李重进据扬州叛变，太祖遣石守信、义成军节度使王审琦、宣徽北院使李处耘、保信节度使宋偓率军往讨。11月，太祖再度亲征，兵至大仪镇（今江苏省扬州市仪徵市），石守信遣使奏请太祖亲临观看扬州城破，太祖随即赶赴扬州城下，顷刻城破，李重进自焚而死，党羽亲信数百人皆搜捕斩杀。

中央集权

财政权

964年，太祖下诏令州、郡所收税赋，除地方日常行政经费外，其馀上缴中央，不得私留；置转运使，掌管地方财政权，并检查赋税情形，以供上缴朝廷及地方支用。转运使设通判官，到任时核对帐簿，并得查考民情、官吏违法情事上报朝廷，有审计、监察之权，以此削弱地方财政权；太祖并下诏全国之茶、酒、盐由国家专卖，官吏与百姓不得私自贩售，最重处死，国家因此收入大增；太祖派兵灭亡后蜀后，为储备钱财以应急之用，于宫中设置「封桩库」，中央政府年度财政盈馀全数纳入，并打算储积至三、五十万后，以这笔钱赎回遭后晋高祖石敬瑭献给契丹的燕云十六州，但不久即逝世，赎地一事无疾而终。

行政权

太祖于平定湖南后，下令于其地取消「支郡」，使原属藩镇节度使管辖之州、郡独立，直属中央，至宋太宗在位时，全国「支郡」全部废除；有鉴于唐至五代的藩镇之患，太祖以朝廷文臣出守地方，称「权知军州事」，执行州、郡之军事权及行政权，并置「通判」为其副官，地方的民政、财政、司法等事务由知州及通判共同签署始得施行，通判并得监察主官的不法及渎职情事，上报朝廷，以此分割守臣之权。

司法权

962年4月，太祖下诏各地死刑案件须上报中央，由刑部复审，以杜绝藩镇枉法杀人的恶习；963年1月，太祖下令每县设置一「县尉」，负责地方治安，剥夺原由镇将任命亲信任职之权，以此制衡镇将，使其势力仅限所驻城郭而已；973年8月，太祖下诏改各州「马步院」为「司寇院」，设司寇参军，选派新科及第进士与选人资序相当者担任，剥夺藩镇对地方一般案件的审判权，解决藩镇武将审理案件时有法不遵的现象。

军权收归中央

961年7月，太祖与石守信、王审琦等禁军将领宴饮，酒过数巡后，对他们说：「我如果没有你们，就没有今日的地位，所以对你们的恩德无日或忘。但当天子太过艰难，还不如做节度使来得快乐，因此我每夜都睡不安稳。」石守信等人问其故，太祖答说：「道理很简单，皇帝这个位置，谁不愿意坐呢？」众将听后十分惶恐，皆跪地磕头说：「陛下何出此言？如今天命已定，谁还敢有二心？」太祖说：「这话不对！你们虽然没有异心，但如果你们属下贪图富贵呢？一旦将黄袍加在你们身上，你们即使不想当皇帝，也不行了。」众将听后皆涕泣磕头说：「臣等愚昧无知，没想到这些，请陛下可怜我们，指示一条生路。」太祖说：「人生如同白驹过隙，晃眼即逝，所谓追求富贵之人，不过想多累积些金银财宝，尽情享乐，使子孙不再贫乏而已。你们何不放弃兵权，出守藩镇，买几块好地、几间好房，为子孙留下永久的产业；多收些歌儿舞女，每日与她们饮酒取乐，以终天年。我再与你们约定联姻，君臣之间，不相互猜疑，上下相安无事，这不是件好事吗！」众将皆下拜说：「陛下为臣等设想周到，是我们的再生父母。」隔日，石守信、高怀德、王审琦、张令铎等将领皆称病请辞禁军官职，太祖随即批准，使其出镇地方为节度使，所遗职缺不再补实。

969年12月，太祖在御花园与进京述职的地方藩臣宴饮，酒酣之际，从容说道：「你们都是国家的元勋宿将，长久在藩镇做官，公务繁忙，这不是朕优礼贤士的本意。」凤翔军节度使王彦超上前奏道：「臣本来就无功劳勋绩，却久受皇恩荣宠，十分惭愧。如今臣已衰老，乞求陛下赐臣退休，归老园田，这是臣最后的愿望。」安远军节度使武行德、护国军节度使郭从义、定国军节度使白重赞、保大军节度使杨廷璋等将领却仍竞相自陈往昔攻战之功劳及经历之艰辛，太祖便说：「这是前代的事了，还有什么好说的。」隔日，太祖下诏，免去其节度使职，授以「环卫官」虚衔，留任京师，改以朝臣出守诸郡，彻底避免自唐末、五代以来的藩镇割据问题。

太祖鉴于五代时期藩镇武将权力过重，以致国家混乱，建国后采取「重文抑武」政策，凡国家高阶实权职位均由文官担任，贬抑武官，以防籓镇专权。但有史家认为此政策使宋朝积贫积弱、军力不振。

统一大业

太祖初即帝位，便与宰相赵普「雪夜定策」，决定「先南后北」统一全国的顺序。

• 荆南 ：962年10月，武平（湖南）节度使周行逢病逝，传位予十一岁的儿子周保权，衡州刺史张文表不服叛变，攻陷潭州（今湖南省长沙市），周保权派杨师璠往讨，并求援于荆南及宋。963年2月3日，太祖趁机派遣山南东道节度使慕容延钊、枢密副使李处耘出兵湖南，讨伐张文表，同时借道荆南。3月，杨师璠击败张文表，将其斩首。而荆南节度使高继冲质疑宋军借道意图，便派人以犒师为名前往宋军大营探查虚实。李处耘对使人热情款待，却暗中派数千骑兵急驰江陵，趁高继冲出迎时占据江陵城，高继冲惧而投降，荆南割据政权灭亡。

• 湖南 ：张文表之乱虽平，宋军仍继续南下，武平节度使周保权派兵防御。宋军随即于三江口（今湖南省岳阳市）大败周保权军，攻陷岳州，获战船七百馀艘，斩杀四千馀人。4月，于澧州（今湖南省常德市澧县）以南击溃周保权部属张从富，都城朗州（今湖南省常德市）大惧，焚烧城池，居民逃亡山谷。4月6日，宋军攻入朗州，擒斩张从富，于寺院中俘获周保权，湖南割据政权灭亡。

• 后蜀 ：964年12月8日，太祖下诏兵分两路共六万大军讨伐后蜀，北路军命忠武节度使王全斌为主帅、武信节度使崔彦进为副官、枢密副使王仁赡为监官，东路军以宁江节度使刘光义为副官、枢密承旨曹彬为监官。后蜀皇帝孟昶则遣知枢密院事王昭远御敌。965年2月，刘光义于东路击杀蜀将南光海，兵临夔州（今重庆市奉节县东）。后蜀夔州守将高彦俦的部将武守谦违令出战，大败而逃，宋军趁乱入城，高彦俦力战不敌，自焚而死，夔州沦陷，万、施、开、忠、遂等五州相继投降；后蜀军主帅王昭远率兵于北路迎战王全斌，三战三败，退守剑门关（今四川省广元市剑阁县）。2月4日，王全斌攻入利州（今四川省广元市利州区），获军粮八十万斛，不久转往剑门关，大败后蜀军，俘虏蜀将王昭远、赵崇韬，攻陷剑州。孟昶闻之大惧，决定遣使请降。2月11日，孟昶派使者至宋军营前递降书，后蜀灭亡。然而蜀地虽已收复，征蜀大军却在主帅王全斌等人的纵容下，任意烧杀劫掠、为非作歹。而王全斌与崔彦进、王仁赡等将领只知日夜饮酒作乐，不理军务，以至军纪弛废，境内盗贼蜂起，蜀民苦不堪言。王全斌甚至克扣太祖下令给投降蜀军前往京城的路费，并多方骚扰，遂激成叛变，十万叛军推举文州刺史全师雄为帅，攻陷彭州（今四川省成都市彭州市），成都十县及邛、蜀、眉、陵等十七州响应叛乱，四川大乱，成都与汴梁断绝闻讯。直至967年初，蜀地之乱经历两年镇压后方才平定。

• 北汉 ：968年8月23日，北汉皇帝刘钧逝世，养子刘继恩继位。9月10日，太祖命客省使卢怀忠等二十二人领兵屯驻潞州，准备趁丧攻伐北汉，两天后，命义军节度使李继勋领兵进入汉境，于洞过河击败北汉军，斩杀二千馀人，获战马五百匹，进围北汉都城太原（今山西省太原市）。同时，北汉皇帝刘继恩因与权臣郭无为政争失败而遭弑杀，刘继恩胞弟刘继元继立皇帝，立即上表请求契丹出兵援救。11月，契丹援军抵达，宋军撤退，北汉军趁机侵入宋境，掳掠居民而回。首次讨伐北汉失利。969年2月26日，太祖命宣徽南院使曹彬、侍卫步军都指挥使党进等将领兵征伐北汉。3月1日，太祖下诏亲征。3月7日，御驾自京城出发，大军于十一天后到达潞州，因雨停驻。汉将刘继业、冯进珂屯兵于团柏谷，遣侦骑往来巡逻，遭宋军前锋部队击败，刘继业等退回太原，宋军遂包围太原城。4月4日，潞州雨停，太祖率军出发，六天后，抵达太原城下，下令于太原城外筑长城墙，藉以围困城池，绝其外援；又下令堵塞汾水，使之壅积，并于隔日决堤，水灌太原城，洪水从城门灌入城中，北汉派人紧急设置障碍填补，宋军则频射弓箭阻挠，使其无法施工，但不久即有成堆的草随洪水漂流至决口处，使宋军箭矢无法穿透，北汉便趁此堵住决口。宋军久攻太原不下，将领多有死伤，加上部队驻扎于甘草地上，正值盛暑大雨，疫疾横生，将士多染病腹泻，太常博士李光赞上奏建议退兵，赵普赞同，太祖便下令退兵。第二次讨伐北汉亦失利。

• 南汉 ：征北汉失利后，太祖重拾「先南后北」策略。970年10月3日，诏令潭州防御使潘美、朗州团练使尹崇珂、道州刺史王继勋等将率兵讨伐南汉，围攻贺州（今广西壮族自治区贺州市）。南汉皇帝刘鋹遣伍彦柔往援，遭宋军击溃，兵败身死，贺州投降。隔年（971年）1月，宋军进攻韶州（今广东省韶关市），击破汉将李承渥的大象阵，攻陷韶州，并相继攻克英州（今广东省清远市英德市）、雄州（今广东省韶关市南雄市），南汉韶州刺史辛延渥派人劝刘鋹投降，刘鋹不从，下令准备十多艘船装载金银财宝及妃嫔宫女，将出海逃亡，却遭宦官及卫士盗其船而开走，刘鋹大惧，遣使请降又不获准，只得坚守。3月3日，宋军击斩汉将植廷晓，并火烧位于马径（今广东省佛山市南海区西北）的南汉军营栅，南汉军大败，主帅郭崇岳战死。刘鋹听闻兵败，便纵火焚烧宫殿府库，成为灰烬。隔日，刘鋹素服出降，南汉灭亡。

• 南唐 ：974年10月9日，太祖命宣徽南院使曹彬等将率兵赴荆南，隔日又遣山南东道节度使潘美等将也赴荆南屯驻。11月4日，曹彬等将领兵出发荆南，直往南唐国都金陵（今江苏省南京市）。太祖同时命吴越王钱俶合击南唐，策应宋军。11月21日，曹彬攻陷池州（今安徽省池州市），并陆续攻下铜陵、当涂、芜湖，进逼采石矶（今安徽省马鞍山市西）。12月9日，宋军于采石矶击败南唐二万大军，俘获一千馀人、战马三百馀匹。太祖随即下令将先前已制成的浮桥自石牌（今安徽省安庆市怀宁县石牌镇）移至采石矶装缆，三日而成，宋军因此渡过长江。隔年（975年）3月2日，曹彬率军围攻金陵。南唐皇帝李煜下令戒严，并数次派遣使者徐铉、周惟简前往宋都汴梁请求暂缓进攻，太祖不许，徐铉便陈述南唐国主无罪，与太祖反覆辩论，太祖大怒说：「不用再说了，我也知道南唐无罪，但天下本归一家，卧榻之侧，怎能容许其他人鼾睡呢！」976年元旦，宋军攻陷金陵，李煜奉表请降，南唐灭亡。南唐昭武军节度留后卢绛退保宣州、杀歙州刺史龚慎仪，据歙州继续抵抗，被宋太祖劝降。南唐将领胡则据江州继续抗宋直至四月城破。

太祖逝世后，太宗逼迫吴越王钱俶、清源军节度使（闽南）陈洪进于978年纳土归降，并于隔年（979年）发兵灭亡北汉，宋朝至此统一除燕云十六州及河西走廊等地外的汉地。

历史评价

由元朝宰相脱脱所监修的《宋史‧太祖本纪》对宋太祖赵匡胤有极高评价：

「赞曰：昔者尧、舜以禅代，汤、武以征伐，皆南面而有天下。四圣人者往，世道升降，否泰推移。当斯民涂炭之秋，皇天眷求民主，亦惟责其济斯世而已。使其必得四圣人之才，而后以其行事畀之，则生民平治之期，殆无日也。五季乱极，宋太祖起介胄之中，践九五之位，原其得国，视晋、汉、周亦岂甚相绝哉？及其发号施令，名藩大将，俯首听命，四方列国，次第削平，此非人力所易致也。建隆以来，释藩镇兵权，绳赃吏重法，以塞浊乱之源。州郡司牧，下至令录、幕职，躬自引对；务农兴学，慎罚薄敛，与世休息，迄于丕平；治定功成，制礼作乐。在位十有七年之间，而三百馀载之基，传之子孙，世有典则。遂使三代而降，考论声明文物之治，道德仁义之风，宋于汉、唐，盖无让焉。呜呼，创业垂统之君，规模若是，亦可谓远也已矣！」

——《宋史·本纪第三·太祖本纪三》

明太祖朱元璋于1374年9月亲至南京历代帝王庙祭祀自三皇至元世祖等十七位历代帝王，并对其各有祝文，其中对宋太祖的祝文云：

「惟宋太祖皇帝顺天应人，统一海宇，祚延三百，天下文明。有君天下之德而安万世之功者也。」

——《明太祖高皇帝实录·卷九十二》

骤逝疑云

北宋开宝九年十月二十日（癸丑，976年11月14日），赵匡胤于皇宫万岁殿逝世，享年五十岁，在位十六年，予諡「 英武圣文神德皇帝 」，庙号「 太祖 」，三弟赵光义继位，即宋太宗。

977年5月15日，灵柩奉葬永昌陵。1008年9月3日，宋真宗赵恒加諡为「启运立极英武睿文神德圣功至明 大孝皇帝 」。

烛影斧声

依据北宋中期由文莹和尚所著《续湘山野录》的记载，赵匡胤发迹前曾与一名道士来往，常相约饮酒至醉。一次醉酒后，道士以吟唱预言赵匡胤将当皇帝，醒后却推说酒醉胡言。赵匡胤称帝后两人再也没相见。十六年后的开宝九年（976年）上巳节，赵匡胤至西沼行祓禊礼，道士坐于岸边树荫下，对赵匡胤说：「别来无恙。」赵匡胤大喜，即请至后宫饮酒欢续。赵匡胤说：「我想请你预测一事以久，无他事，我还有几年寿命？」道士说：「只要今年十月二十日夜晚天气晴朗，就可延续十二年；否则，即当从速安排后事。」当日夜，赵匡胤登太清阁观象，天气先晴朗而后转恶，骤下大雪。赵匡胤急忙下阁传令开皇宫端门，召晋王赵光义入宫，兄弟二人于内寝对坐饮酒，并屏去所有宦官、宫女。内侍们遥见寝室烛影下，赵光义时而起座离席，露出不可胜之情状。两人喝完已是午夜时分，室外积雪已达数寸，赵匡胤拿柱斧戳雪，一边回头对赵光义说：「好做，好做！」接著就宽衣就寝，鼾声如雷。当晚，赵光义留宿宫中。天将五更，寝室周围寂静无声，赵匡胤驾崩，享年四十九岁。赵光义受遗诏于柩前即位，是为宋太宗。

北宋史家司马光所著《涑水记闻》则记载赵匡胤逝世后，宋皇后急派宦官王继恩传召赵匡胤第四子、秦王赵德芳进宫，王继恩却迳至赵光义府邸通报赵匡胤死讯，并催其尽速进宫即位。赵光义犹豫不定，王继恩则说：「事情拖久就被他人抢先了。」于是赵光义趁夜踏雪入宫，进入寝殿。宋皇后听说王继恩已归，便问：「德芳来了吗？」王继恩却说：「晋王来了。」宋皇后见到赵光义，先是惊愕，随即说：「我们母子的性命，都托付给官家了。」赵光义则涕泣说：「共保富贵，不需担忧。」

南宋史家李焘所著《续资治通鉴长编》采信上述二说，只将赵匡胤语「好做，好做」改为「好为之」，道士则有姓名曰「张守真」，且言赵光义当晚并无于宫中留宿。李焘于书中引北宋史家蔡敦直的笔记，也有与《续湘山野录》相似的记载。

依据上述疑点，加上史书中其他记载（如赵匡胤之死已有人先行预料），便有赵匡胤是被赵光义谋杀之说。

金匮之盟

赵光义表示：961年母亲杜太后病危，召赵普入宫接受遗命。杜太后问赵匡胤：「你知道你为何能取得天下吗？」赵匡胤泣不能答。杜太后说：「我是老死，哭也没用，我正要跟你说大事，怎么只是一直哭呢？」于是再问一遍。赵匡胤说：「都是祖上和太后积德所致。」杜太后说：「不对。是因为柴家让孩童当皇帝，人心不服所致。如果后周有年长的君主，你能得到江山吗？你和赵光义都是我亲生的，你死后应将皇位传给弟弟。天下之大、事务繁重，能立一个年长的君主来治理，这是社稷之福啊。」赵匡胤叩头涕泣说：「一定遵照母后的教诲。」杜太后便对赵普说：「你将我刚才讲的话记下来，不可违背。」赵普即于太后床前写成誓书，并于末尾写上「臣普记」三字。赵匡胤将誓书藏于金匮之中，命谨慎的宫人保管。

上述记载如属实，则赵光义继任皇位即有合法性及正当性。然而有学者指出诸多疑点：如此誓为真，则何以不在赵光义即位之初公布，而是等到981年10月才由赵普以「密奏」的方式启奏赵光义，乃开金匮查验属实，前后竟隐瞒「太后遗诏」五年之久；记载内容所言皇位须「兄终弟及」是因杜太后担心赵匡胤诸子皆幼，不足以坐稳江山，但赵匡胤死时，其次子赵德昭二十六岁，四子赵德芳十八岁，皆非幼弱，遗诏前提不复存在；记载来源《太祖实录》经赵光义多次修改，已非原貌，而修改前的旧版则未有此记载，显有杜撰之嫌；据《涑水记闻》、《续资治通鉴长编》、《宋史》等书记载，杜太后本意为赵匡胤死后，皇位传给三弟赵光义，再传给四弟赵廷美，最终传回给赵匡胤次子赵德昭。然而修改后的新版《太祖实录》只有传位给赵光义的记载，且相关当事人竟于短时间内逐一逝世（979年，赵德昭自杀；981年，赵德芳猝死；984年，赵廷美遭贬，忧悸而死）。史学界即因前述疑点而有「金匮之盟」是赵普为取得赵光义信任、重得相位而杜撰「太后遗诏」的说法。加上赵光义不逾年而改元（开宝九年十二月甲寅，即977年1月14日改「开宝九年」为「太平兴国元年」），也有学者据此认为赵光义因弑兄夺位而心虚，不等过年即仓促改元，欲使其继位成为既定事实。

轶闻

• 史载赵匡胤生时，红光满室，有香气整夜不散，婴儿体呈金色，长达三日。年轻时学骑射，尝试驯服烈马不加鞍绳，马冲上城门斜坡道，致赵匡胤额头撞击城门门楣，目击者皆认为其头骨必定粉碎，赵匡胤却从容站起，徒步追上烈马腾骑而上，毫发无伤；赵匡胤儿时曾与玩伴韩令坤在土屋里玩耍，有群麻雀在室外聒噪互斗，赵匡胤遂与韩令坤出土屋欲捕麻雀，刚出房而土屋随即崩塌，二人幸免于难。

• 赵匡胤与胞弟赵光义幼时随母亲杜氏躲避战乱，杜氏便将兄弟二人放至箩筐担挑而走，为道士陈抟撞见，便叹道：「别说当今世上没有天子，都将天子用担挑著走。」；多年后赵匡胤称帝，陈抟闻之大笑，说：「天下从此安定了。」

• 959年，后周世宗柴荣亲征契丹，于征途中批阅文书，发现其中有一囊袋，内有三尺长的木牌，上有字：「点检作天子」。柴荣见后不悦，渐感身体不适，便命车驾返京。抵京后下诏撤殿前都点检张永德之职，改任赵匡胤。隔年初，赵匡胤登基为帝，遂应此谶。

• 宋初，宰相范质等人仍循前代惯例，上朝时设有座椅，坐著奏事。一日早朝，范质犹坐著，赵匡胤便说：「我眼睛昏花，看不清楚，你把文书拿给我看。」范质于是起身持文书进呈，赵匡胤却已密嘱侍者趁此将其座撤去，待范质欲返座而座椅已撤，只得站立。自此宰相与群臣般站著上朝，成为惯例。

• 赵匡胤称帝后第三年，秘密遣人镌刻一通石碑，藏于太庙的夹室内，称为「誓碑」，用黄金丝所镶嵌成的布幔遮盖，门禁森严。赵匡胤下令此后四时祭祀及新皇帝即位时，待拜完太庙，便须恭读誓词，由一个不识字的小太监持钥匙开夹室，然后焚香、点亮烛火并将幔揭开，其馀随臣须于远方庭中伫候。当朝皇帝于碑前跪拜并默诵誓词，再拜而出，群臣及近侍们皆不知誓词为何。北宋历代皇帝皆承袭故例，按时恭读，不敢泄漏。直到靖康之变爆发，皇宫大乱，太庙夹室门户洞开，人们才发现内里有一高约七、八尺，宽四尺馀的石碑，上面有三行誓词：第一、柴氏子孙有罪，不得加刑，纵犯谋逆，止于狱中赐尽，不得市曹刑戮，亦不得连坐支属；第二、不得杀士大夫及上书言事人；第三、子孙有渝此誓者，天必殛之。上述三誓史称「太祖誓约」。南宋皇帝则是由曹勋自金国南归时，向宋高宗转达宋徽宗之语方才得知誓词。

家族成员

祖先

后代子孙：孝宗之后的南宋皇帝

北宋除开国皇帝宋太祖赵匡胤外，历任皇帝皆为其三弟宋太宗赵光义与其后代；而南宋除首任皇帝宋高宗赵构为赵光义后代外，历任皇帝则均为赵匡胤的后代，其中属赵匡胤四子赵德芳后代的有宋孝宗赵昚、宋光宗赵敦、宋宁宗赵扩；属赵匡胤次子赵德昭后代的有宋理宗赵昀、宋度宗赵禥、宋恭帝赵㬎、宋端宗赵昰、宋少帝赵昺。

传说及衍生作品

• 至明代，赵匡胤千里送京娘的传说已经成型。传说中，赵匡胤被塑造成为一个义士的形象。明清时，多个剧种有以这个传说为素材演出的剧目。

• 赵匡胤本身为武术高手，太祖长拳正由赵匡胤所创，流入少林寺时，衍化为「长拳门」，又称「太祖门」，戚继光在纪效新书的拳经捷要篇有纪录「宋太祖有三十二式长拳」；作家金庸在小说天龙八部中就有形容「宋太祖赵匡胤以一对拳头，一条杆棒，打下了大宋锦绣江山。自来帝皇，从无如宋太祖之神勇者；一套太祖长拳和太祖棒，当时是武林中最为流行的武功，就算不会使的，看也看得熟了。」

电视剧/电影

注释与参考文献

参考史书

• 《宋史》

• 《资治通鉴》

• 《续资治通鉴长编》

• 司马光《涑水记闻》

• 《旧五代史》

演义故事

• 清、吴璇《飞龙全传》：三结义：柴荣、赵匡胤、郑恩(张琼)。

京剧

• 《打刀》：赵匡胤取刀从军。

• 《飞龙传》：苗训预言帝命，爱上韩素梅，柴赵郑三结义。

• 《困曹府》：匿曹彬家，割瘤讨封。

• 《洒金桥》：入设棚受苗训卜算未来十事。

• 《董家桥》：打董五虎。

• 《送京娘》：千里护行不受馈。

• 《龙凤缘》：符六女嫁光义。

• 《打瓜园》：陶三春嫁郑恩。

• 《打桃园》：洞房比武。

• 《高平关》：郭威登基，逼匡胤取高首，许封二子嗣爵，加联姻始自刎。

• 《花亭射妖》：柴荣投郭封爵，花园饮酒现鱼妖，匡胤射之。

• 《四红图》：赵刺刘化王未遂，曹仁代而反助刺，戡定燕京。

• 《千金全德》：高女桂英嫁武魁石守信。

• 《打龙棚》：柴荣登基，郑恩讨赦引荐高怀德。

• 《三打陶三春》：柴令赵为媒，撮合郑陶，高怀得三打陶遂成姻缘。

• 《打窦瑶》：南唐马瑶进妃与赵不合，郑逼柴救赵。

• 《南界关》：守将刘仁赡不屈死节，匡胤敬其忠命妻徐金花续守寿春城。

• 《小尧天》：陈桥驿黄袍加身，除韩通，杯酒释兵权。

• 《斩黄袍》：赵封素梅为妃，受舅韩龙灌酒谗言误斩郑恩，遂褪龙袍许郑妻三春斩之以泄恨。

• 《输华山》：陈抟与匡胤赌华山，陈胜得华山封地。

• 《雪夜访赵普》：登基谋治国。

外部链接

• 斧声烛影 中国纪录片「案藏玄机」。