Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Zhao Bing

Zhao Bing (趙昺; 12 February 1272 – 19 March 1279), also known as Emperor Bing of Song (宋帝昺), was the eighteenth and last emperor of the Song dynasty. A child monarch who ascended the throne in 1278 following the death of his elder brother, Emperor Duanzong, amid the Mongol Yuan dynasty's relentless conquest of southern China, his brief reign symbolized the desperate final resistance of the Southern Song. The dynasty's collapse culminated in the naval Battle of Yamen in 1279, where, to evade capture by Yuan forces, Prime Minister Lu Xiufu carried the seven-year-old emperor into the sea, leading to their drowning and marking the effective end of over three centuries of Song rule. This tragic event underscored the Song's military and strategic failures against the superior Mongol hordes, despite earlier technological and economic advancements.

Early Life and Family Background

Birth and Parentage

Zhao Bing, the eighteenth and final emperor of the , was born on 12 February 1272 in (modern ), the capital of the Southern Song. He was the seventh son of (r. 1265–1274), whose personal name was Zhao Qi (趙禥). His mother was Consort Yu (俞修容 or Lady Yu), a concubine of relatively low rank in the imperial harem who bore several imperial offspring but did not rise to empress. As such, Zhao Bing was a younger half-brother to his immediate predecessors on the throne, Emperor Duanzong (Zhao Shi, r. 1276–1278) and Emperor Gongzong (Zhao Xian, r. 1274–1276), both sons of Duzong by other consorts. This parentage placed him within the extended Zhao imperial clan amid the dynasty's accelerating decline under Mongol pressure, though his early life remained secluded in the palace until the court's southward flight following the fall of the northern territories.

Upbringing Amid Dynastic Decline

Zhao Bing was born on 12 February 1272 in Lin'an, the capital of the Southern (present-day , province). As a member of the imperial Zhao family and son of (r. 1265–1274), his early life coincided with accelerating military and administrative failures that presaged the dynasty's collapse. Emperor Duzong's reign was marked by personal indulgence and neglect of defenses, exacerbating vulnerabilities to Mongol incursions led by Kublai Khan's forces, including the critical loss of in 1273, which breached the Han River defenses and facilitated advances toward the River basin. By the time Zhao Bing was four years old, in 1276, the Song capital of Lin'an fell to Yuan armies after a prolonged , prompting the surrender of Emperor Gongzong and the flight of surviving imperial kin southward. Accompanied by loyal officials and remnants of the court, the young prince joined the peripatetic resistance under his elder half-brother, (Zhao Shi, r. 1276–1278), relocating first to province and later to coastal enclaves in . This period of upheaval defined his upbringing, characterized by constant mobility to evade Yuan pursuit, reliance on naval remnants for protection, and the erosion of centralized authority amid factional intrigue and resource shortages. Deprived of stable or upbringing typical of Song princes, Zhao Bing's formative years unfolded in provisional camps and aboard ships, under the guardianship of figures like Chancellor Chen Yizhong and later , who prioritized dynastic continuity over personal welfare. The dynasty's decline manifested in repeated defeats, such as the capture of key southern ports, forcing the court into ever-diminishing refuges and underscoring the futility of resistance against superior Mongol logistics and . By age six, in 1278, following Duanzong's death from illness during flight, Zhao Bing's sheltered yet precarious existence transitioned to nominal emperorship, embodying the Song's desperate final stand.

Ascension and Regency

Circumstances of Succession

Following the death of (Zhao Shi) on May 8, 1278, from illness contracted during the Song court's southward flight from pursuing forces, his seventh younger brother, Zhao Bing—aged approximately six—was hastily proclaimed the 18th and final emperor of the to preserve imperial legitimacy amid collapse. The young ruler, born on February 12, 1272, had been among the imperial entourage sheltered on the fragmented , which had evaded Mongol advances by retreating to coastal enclaves after the fall of key strongholds like in 1276. The enthronement ceremony occurred shortly thereafter, around , in on (modern-day region), where the remnants of the court had temporarily anchored following Duanzong's near-drowning in a prior mishap off the coast. Key loyalist ministers, including Prime Minister and admiral Zhang Shijie, orchestrated the succession to rally remaining forces and officials, emphasizing the Zhao family's unbroken lineage despite the dynasty's territorial losses and the capture of prior emperors like Gongzong in 1276. This act of continuity reflected the court's desperate strategy of mobile resistance via sea, but it underscored the precariousness of rule: Zhao Bing held no fixed capital, governing nominally from ships and isolated shores as Yuan admiral Zhang Hongfan closed in. No formal or extensive rituals marked the event, given the exigencies of evasion; instead, it served as a symbolic affirmation of sovereignty against Mongol conquest, with reportedly bearing the child on his back during the to evoke resolve among demoralized troops. The succession bypassed other potential heirs, prioritizing the closest available imperial kin to avoid factional disputes in the refugee-like court, though it yielded scant strategic advantage as Song naval power dwindled to under 200 vessels by mid-1278.

Key Advisors and Regency Structure

Lu Xiufu, a veteran Song official who had served in various administrative capacities during the dynasty's decline, emerged as the primary regent figure following Zhao Bing's enthronement on May 10, 1278, after Emperor Duanzong's death on April 3 of that year. As Grand Chancellor (shouzai), Lu directed civilian affairs, policy decisions, and the symbolic continuity of imperial authority from the makeshift court aboard ships and temporary island bases, such as Meiwei in Gangzhou (modern Mui Wo, Lantau Island). His role encompassed guardianship of the seven-year-old emperor, issuance of edicts under the Jingyan era name, and coordination of loyalist efforts amid the Yuan pursuit, reflecting an informal regency adapted to exile rather than the elaborate Song bureaucratic norms. Complementing Lu's leadership, Zhang Shijie commanded the military dimension as admiral of the Southern Song fleet, which comprised over 1,000 vessels by late 1278 and formed the core of the regency's defensive strategy. Zhang focused on naval maneuvers, fortifications like chained ships at anchorages, and skirmishes to evade Mongol encirclement, allowing the court mobility across coastal waters from Guangdong southward. This division—Lu on governance and Zhang on warfare—constituted the regency's bifurcated structure, with limited subordinate officials due to attrition from prior defeats and desertions. The arrangement operated without a formalized or hierarchical titles beyond these two pillars, as the court's fragmentation precluded restoring pre-invasion institutions like the Zhongshu Sheng secretariat; instead, ad hoc consultations among surviving elites, including figures like for ceremonial roles, sustained operations until the in March 1279. This pragmatic setup prioritized immediate resistance over administrative orthodoxy, enabling 313 days of nominal rule despite the loss of mainland territories.

Reign and Final Resistance

Initial Flight and Naval Campaigns

Following the capitulation of Lin'an to Yuan forces on 4 February 1276, remnants of the Southern court, including ministers and Zhang Shijie, evacuated the young princes Zhao Shi and Zhao Bing southward by sea to evade capture. The group initially sought refuge in , province, where Zhao Shi was enthroned as later that year. Yuan armies under generals like Zhang Hongfan pressed southward, capturing key coastal positions and compelling the Song entourage to relocate repeatedly along the and seaboard. Duanzong's fleet encountered a storm en route from to Leizhou, , in early 1278, during which his vessel capsized; though rescued, he succumbed to illness on 8 May 1278 at Gangzhou (modern-day near ). With the dynasty's survival at stake, and Zhang Shijie proclaimed the six-year-old Zhao Bing as on 10 May 1278 aboard a at Meiwei in Gangzhou, present-day on . This improvised enthronement symbolized the court's desperate pivot to maritime mobility, as land routes were dominated by Yuan and . Under Zhang Shijie's command, the assembled a formidable naval armada exceeding 200 warships, leveraging advanced technologies such as paddle-wheel vessels, trebuchets for launching incendiaries, and chained formations for defensive stability. Initial engagements in mid-1278 along the coast saw forces repel probes, inflicting losses through fire ships and ambushes, though these victories proved temporary as shipbuilding and tactics adapted under Kublai Khan's directives. By late 1278, relentless pressure forced the fleet into Yamen Bay, where supply lines strained and desertions mounted amid the 's numerical superiority but logistical vulnerabilities. These campaigns underscored the 's causal reliance on naval superiority for prolonging resistance, yet highlighted the ' strategic exploitation of wind patterns and fire countermeasures to erode that edge.

Battle of Yamen

The , also known as the Battle of Yashan, occurred on 19 March 1279 in the Yamen estuary of the , present-day province, China, marking the final major engagement of the Mongol conquest of the . The Song forces, under admiral Zhang Shijie, comprised over 1,000 ships—predominantly transports laden with court officials, servants, and refugees—carrying approximately 200,000 individuals, including the seven-year-old Zhao Bing and his regents. Opposing them was a Yuan fleet of several hundred warships commanded by general Zhang Hongfan, supported by 20,000 to 30,000 troops, significantly fewer in number but better organized and equipped for naval combat. Facing starvation after weeks of blockade and supply , Zhang Shijie had anchored his chained-together fleet in a defensive line across the narrow bay to protect the imperial entourage, prioritizing preservation over offensive maneuver despite the 's numerical advantage. On the battle's outset, forces launched ships against the , but a sudden reversal in wind direction drove the flames back onto their own vessels, igniting chaos and allowing troops to breach the formation with boarding parties. warriors, leveraging superior discipline and close-combat tactics, overwhelmed the demoralized and encumbered defenders, resulting in the fleet's near-total destruction and an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 deaths from , , or slaughter. As Yuan victory became certain, Song minister , recognizing capture's implications, strapped Emperor Zhao Bing to his back and leapt from a seaside cliff, both to deny the Yuan a living symbol of legitimacy. This suicide, alongside those of other officials and the empress dowager, extinguished the Song imperial line and formalized the dynasty's unification of under , ending over three centuries of Song rule.

Death and Fall of the Song Dynasty

Following the decisive Song defeat in the Battle of Yamen on February 25–March 19, 1279, the surviving imperial fleet fragmented amid Yuan naval encirclement led by Zhang Hongfan, leaving the child emperor Zhao Bing and his regents with no viable escape. In the final moments off Mount Ya (modern Yamen, Guangdong), Prime Minister Lu Xiufu, one of the last loyal holdouts, rejected surrender and urged collective suicide among officials and concubines to deny the Yuan captors symbols of legitimacy. Carrying the seven-year-old Zhao Bing—born February 12, 1272—on his back, Lu leapt from a cliff into the sea on March 19, 1279, drowning both to prevent the emperor's humiliation or puppetry under Mongol rule. No trace of Zhao Bing's body was recovered, precluding any ritual burial or rival claims to the , which cemented the act as the dynasty's . With Zhao Bing as the final reigning emperor of the Zhao imperial house—succeeding his drowned brother Zhao Shi in 1278—the Song's 319-year span (960–1279) concluded, yielding China's unification under Kublai Khan's after decades of protracted southern resistance involving over 200 major battles and sieges. The fall dismantled Song institutions, including its advanced bureaucracy and maritime economy, while Yuan policies initially favored Mongol-Turkic elites over , though administrative continuity in taxation and Confucian scholarship persisted to stabilize rule. Scattered Song loyalist uprisings, such as the brief in 1279–1280, fizzled without imperial figurehead, affirming the dynasty's irreversible collapse.

Cultural and Historical Legacy

Symbolic Role in Han Resistance Narratives

In Southern Song loyalist traditions, Zhao Bing's brief reign and tragic death epitomized the unyielding commitment to dynastic legitimacy amid existential threats from Mongol forces. On March 19, 1279, following the decisive defeat at the , Prime Minister , bearing the seven-year-old emperor on his back, leapt from a cliff into the sea to evade capture, an act witnessed by surviving courtiers and soldiers. This self-sacrifice, involving Zhao Bing as the final imperial scion, underscored Confucian ideals of loyalty prioritizing death over subjugation to foreign conquerors. Historiographical accounts frame this episode as the culminating symbol of elites' resistance against non-Han invaders, marking the termination of indigenous dynastic rule in the south after over three centuries of governance. Yuan chroniclers derogatorily termed Zhao Bing and his predecessor as the "two " (erwang), reflecting the regime's recognition of their persistent defiance despite military collapse. remnants and later literati invoked the Yashan catastrophe—where thousands perished rather than yield—as a paradigm of moral fortitude, contrasting with narratives of accommodation under Mongol . The narrative's endurance in cultural memory positions Zhao Bing less as a ruling figure and more as an emblem of perished sovereignty, influencing motifs of ethnic perseverance in subsequent eras of foreign domination. Neo-Confucian interpretations elevated the event to affirm the primacy of ethical resistance, with Lu Xiufu's gesture embodying the emperor's symbolic inviolability as the locus of Han legitimacy. Such depictions, preserved in poetry and memorials, reinforced a causal link between uncompromised defiance and the moral vindication of Han identity against nomadic incursions.

Development and Significance of Patriotic Soup

During the final months of the in 1278, as Mongol forces under closed in on the remnants of the imperial court, Emperor Zhao Bing (r. 1278–1279) and his entourage sought refuge in a in the region of eastern province._%E5%AE%8B%E6%9C%9D%E7%9A%84%E2%80%9C%E8%AD%B7%E5%9C%8B%E8%8F%9C%E2%80%9D%EF%BC%88%E5%9C%A8%E5%8A%A0%E5%88%A9%E7%A6%8F%E5%B0%BC%E4%BA%9E%E5%85%8B%E6%B4%9B%E7%B6%AD%E6%96%AF%E5%B8%82%E8%A3%BD%E5%82%99%EF%BC%89%E3%80%82.jpg) Amid severe shortages caused by the ongoing flight and naval retreats, local monks improvised a simple vegetable soup using foraged greens such as Chinese toon buds ( sprouts), wild , and other available herbs boiled in a basic broth. This dish, prepared hastily without meat or luxury ingredients, was served to the seven-year-old emperor, who reportedly enjoyed its flavor and nutritional simplicity. In a of morale-boosting during the dynasty's desperate , Zhao Bing named the hùguó cài ("protect the country "), reflecting its origins in resourcefulness under existential and invoking patriotic to safeguard the realm against foreign conquest. The name later evolved in () dialect and cuisine into a shorthand for national loyalty, with English translations rendering it as "patriotic ." According to regional traditions preserved in folklore, the 's green hue from the vegetables evoked renewal and endurance, qualities idealized in narratives of loyalism. The 's significance extends beyond its culinary improvisation, embedding it in cultural as a tribute to the Dynasty's collapse and Zhao Bing's tragic reign. Following the emperor's death by drowning in the on March 19, 1279, which marked the definitive end of rule, preparation of the ritualized remembrance of imperial perseverance and the futile yet resolute stand against Mongol domination. In communities, both in and diaspora populations, it symbolizes ethnic resilience and anti-invasion sentiment, often served during festivals or commemorations to honor the last emperor's brief tenure amid dynastic . Modern recipes maintain elements like toon sprouts and variations, adapting the original scarcity-driven formula while preserving its historical narrative, though the account relies on oral traditions rather than contemporary . This enduring role underscores how everyday sustenance transformed into a marker of collective identity in post- culinary heritage.

Memorials, Legends, and Modern Interpretations

The tomb of Zhao Bing, located in Chiwan, Nanshan District, , serves as a primary memorial site, housing what is claimed to be his remains and maintained as a modest rediscovered in 1960. In , the rock carving in commemorates the temporary refuge of Southern imperial remnants, including Zhao Bing and his brother, during their flight from Mongol forces in the 1270s. Legends surrounding Zhao Bing's death center on the in 1279, where, following defeat, the regent reportedly carried the seven-year-old emperor on his back and leapt from a cliff into the sea to evade capture by Mongol forces led by Zhang Hongfan. This act of collective drowning, involving thousands of loyalists, has been romanticized in historical narratives as the ultimate symbol of defiance, though some local traditions in areas like or propose alternative accounts of his survival or relocation. In modern interpretations, Zhao Bing embodies the tragic close of the Southern Song, emphasizing themes of loyalty and resistance to foreign conquest in and . sites such as the tomb continue to function as educational landmarks, drawing visitors to reflect on the dynasty's fall on February 6, 1279 ( equivalent to the lunar date of the battle). These commemorations underscore a of imperial perseverance amid overwhelming odds, distinct from broader academic debates on Song administrative or technological legacies.

References

  1. [1]
    Zhao Bing Biography - Pantheon World
    Zhao Bing (12 February 1272 – 19 March 1279), also known as Emperor Bing of Song or Bing, Emperor of Song (宋帝昺), was the 18th and last emperor of the Song ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
  2. [2]
    Zhao Bing Facts for Kids
    Zhao Bing (born February 12, 1272 – died March 19, 1279) was the 18th and last emperor of the Song dynasty in China. He was also known as Emperor Bing of Song.
  3. [3]
  4. [4]
    The strange tale of the King of Lantau Island - Fridayeveryday
    Oct 4, 2022 · His brother Bing, then six, was enthroned in a ceremony in Mui Wo as new Emperor of the Song Dynasty. He was technically ruling all of China ...
  5. [5]
    How did Zhao Bing die? - Homework.Study.com
    Zhao Bing died by suicide or murder, depending on your perspective, on March 19, 1279. He ruled China when he was just six and seven years of age.
  6. [6]
    Zhao Bing (1272-1279) - Find a Grave Memorial
    Zhao Bing was executed in 1279 at the age of 7. Chinese Royalty. The last emperor of the Song dynasty in China, reigning from 1278 to 1279. He was a child ...
  7. [7]
    Emperor Bing of Song (Chinese: 宋帝昺) (1271 - Nouah's Ark
    Born Zhào Bǐng (趙昺) to Emperor Duzong of Song, he was the younger brother of his predecessor, Emperor Duanzong of Song. His mother was Consort Yu (俞修容), ...Missing: background | Show results with:background
  8. [8]
  9. [9]
    Emperor Duzong (1240-1274) - Find a Grave Memorial
    Emperor Duzong of Song (2 May 1240 – 12 August 1274), personal name Zhao Qi, was the 15th emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the sixth emperor of the ...
  10. [10]
    Imperial China: Culture and Power, 1st–2nd Millennia CE
    Corruption, mismanagement, and persistent threats from nomadic groups had weakened the dynasty. The Mongols, led by Kublai Khan, capitalized on the Song's ...
  11. [11]
  12. [12]
    宋端宗
    Emperor Duanzong of Song (10 July 1270 – 8 May 1278), personal name Zhao Shi, was the 17th emperor of the Song dynasty of China, and the eighth and ...
  13. [13]
    Paying respects to a boy emperor - Chinadaily.com.cn
    Dec 20, 2007 · The statue of Lu Xiufu who is carrying the 9-year-old emperor on his back. From the Nanshan Company bus stop, it is an enjoyable 10-minute walk ...
  14. [14]
    2.36. History of the Mongols: Mongol-Song War #3
    Nov 2, 2020 · In May of 1278, Zhao Shih, temple name Duanzong of Song, succumbed, not even 9 years old by the European reckoning. The fact the disillusioned ...
  15. [15]
    China Song Dynasty (960-1279): Emperors, Achievements
    Song Duanzong (Zhao Shi), Son of Emperor Duzong; His reign also lasted for two years till his death. 1276 - 1278. 18, Song Weiwang (Zhao Bing), Younger brother ...<|separator|>
  16. [16]
    Political History of the Song Period (www.chinaknowledge.de)
    Prince Zhao Bing 趙昺 (r. 1278-1279) was enthroned on an island in the South China Sea (Yaishan 崖山, near Xinhui 新會, Guangdong). In 1279 the Yuan took ...Missing: key | Show results with:key
  17. [17]
    Evidence of the Flight of Song Officials to Southeast Asia before the ...
    Aug 23, 2017 · ... Zhang Shijie fled to Yongjia. On the following day, Su Liuyi, Zhang Liangjie, and Zhang Quan fled with the two Song heirs and the Yang and ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  18. [18]
    A Clash of Fleets, A Dynasty's End | Naval History Magazine
    The fleet of the Southern Song admiral, Zhang Shijie, outnumbered that of the Mongols by ten to one. But despite his superior force, he fatally opted for a ...
  19. [19]
    Battle of Yamen | Military Wiki - Fandom
    took place on 19 March 1279 and is considered to be the last stand of the Song Dynasty against the invading Mongol-controlled Yuan Dynasty.Missing: campaigns | Show results with:campaigns
  20. [20]
    The Battle of Yamen. March 19, 1279. - This Week in History
    Mar 26, 2018 · The Song fleet immediately lost seven ships, along with a great number of troops in the process. The ill and weakened Song soldiers were no match for the Yuan ...
  21. [21]
    The Largest and Most Consequential Chinese Battles by Dynastic Era
    Oct 6, 2025 · Song: Zhang Shijie, Lu Xiufu; Yuan: Zhang Hongfan. Troop Estimates: Song: c. 200,000; Yuan: 20,000–30,000. Weapons and Armour Used: Fire lances ...
  22. [22]
    Spring Songs in Xinhui — The Yamen Fort of Qing Dynasty and the ...
    Feb 3, 2025 · A general bore the very young Emperor Di Bing and also plunged into the sea together, thus ending the Southern Song Dynasty's 152 years of ...Missing: details commanders outcome
  23. [23]
    A taste of Nanshan's culture and history
    Dec 26, 2022 · ... Zhao Bing, who had lost his empire and was in exile. The tombstone ... Lu Xiufu. Lu drowned himself with the emperor in the sea after ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  24. [24]
    Zhao Jiaming (1229-1279): The Last Defender of the Song Dynasty
    Zhào Jiāmíng's success in commanding armies and repelling invaders soon earned him the greatest honor of his entire family's military heritage.<|separator|>
  25. [25]
    [PDF] NEO-CONFUCIAN LOYALISM IN THE SONG | EA Journals
    peror Zhao Bing, the sole source of legitimacy for the Song loyal- ists. However, a large number of those who died, or maybe even the majority, perished at ...
  26. [26]
  27. [27]
    Song History in Kowloon and Loyalist Classical Poetry: Chen Botao ...
    Nov 1, 2016 · ... Emperor Duanzong) and Zhao Bing (Emperor Huaizong 懷宗). 23 ... Zhao was born in the Jiamaying 夾馬營area of Luoyang 洛陽. According to ...
  28. [28]
  29. [29]
    盘点古往今来,那些决定了历史进程的14场海战|战争|李舜臣|海战 ...
    在这场战斗前不久,小皇帝赵昺吃到了一种临时制作的深绿色肉汤,他赞许地将其称为“护国菜”,此后被简化为“爱国汤”,至今仍在使用。 对宋朝来说,不幸的是,爱国汤并不能 ...<|separator|>
  30. [30]
    Patriotic soup Facts for Kids
    Oct 17, 2025 · The story of Patriotic Soup is quite old. It began during the end of the Song Dynasty in China. The last emperor of the Song Dynasty, named Zhao ...
  31. [31]
    Reflections | Shenzhen is home to the tomb of the last emperor of ...
    Nov 7, 2019 · A modest mausoleum in the city's Chiwan District is the alleged resting place of Zhao Bing, who was still a child when his dynasty fell.
  32. [32]
    Sung Wong Toi | Hong Kong Tourism Board
    Discover the historic Sung Wong Toi, a remarkable memorial that commemorates the legendary refuge of Southern Song Dynasty emperors Zhao Shi and Zhao Bing.
  33. [33]
    Song Shao Di Mu, Tomb of the Last Song Emperor
    The tomb of Song Shao (also called Song Di Bing or Zhao Bing), last emperor of China's Southern Song Dynasty, who died in the Pearl River Delta in 1279.