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Emperor Duanzong of Song

1268 – 1278

Emperor of the Song Dynasty

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About Emperor Duanzong of Song

Lived 1268 – 1278 (aged 9). Emperor Duanzong of Song was a Chinese monarch.

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 penultimate emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. He was the fifth son of Emperor Duzong and an elder brother of his predecessor, Emperor Gong and successor Zhao Bing.

Emperor Gong along with Grand Dowager Xie surrendered to the Yuan dynasty in 1276 after the fall of the Southern Song capital, Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou). Zhao Shi and his seventh brother, Zhao Bing, managed to escape southward to Fuzhou, where the new Song capital was established. On June 14, 1276, Zhao Shi was enthroned as the new Emperor Duanzong who ruled under the era name "Jingyan" (; literally: "bright flame"). However, in early 1278, Yuan forces broke through the Song dynasty's last lines of defence, forcing Zhao Shi to flee again. Accompanied by loyal ministers such as Lu Xiufu and Zhang Shijie, Zhao Shi boarded a ship and fled further south to Guangdong Province. In March 1278, while fleeing from Yuan forces led by Liu Shen, in a hurricane, Zhao Shi fell from a boat and almost drowned. Thereafter, he stayed temporarily in Hong Kong which at that time was a small fishing village. He died a few months later in Gangzhou (; present-day Jiangmen) due to illness. He was succeeded by his seventh brother, Zhao Bing, who was enthroned in Mui Wo, the same village where Zhao Shi nearly drowned and died. The body of Zhao Shi is buried in Yongfu Mausoleum . The actual area of the tomb is still unknown and undiscovered.

The historical relic Sung Wong Toi in present-day Hong Kong's Kowloon City commemorates Zhao Shi's escape to Hong Kong.

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Important facts

Birth century
Died
Occupation
Nationality
Positions held
Emperor of China
Also known as
Duanzong, Zhao Shi

Family & relationships

Parent
Emperor Duzong

People in Emperor Duanzong of Song's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Frequently asked questions

Who was Emperor Duanzong of Song?

emperor of the Song Dynasty

When was Emperor Duanzong of Song born?

Emperor Duanzong of Song was born on 10 July 1268 in Hangzhou.

When did Emperor Duanzong of Song die?

Emperor Duanzong of Song died on 8 May 1278.

What was Emperor Duanzong of Song's occupation?

Emperor Duanzong of Song was a monarch.

What nationality was Emperor Duanzong of Song?

Emperor Duanzong of Song was Chinese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Emperor Duanzong of Song

· Wikidata: Q7501

· DBpedia: Emperor Duanzong

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Emperor Duanzong of Song. https://biography.guide/emperor-duanzong-of-song/

MLA: "Emperor Duanzong of Song." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/emperor-duanzong-of-song/.

Chicago: "Emperor Duanzong of Song." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/emperor-duanzong-of-song/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-27 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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