Emperor Huizong of Western Xia (1060–1086), born Li Bingchang (), was the third

emperor An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

of the Tangut-led Chinese

Western Xia dynasty The Western Xia or the Xi Xia (), officially the Great Xia (), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as ''Mi-nyak''Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts and Tibetans, was a Tangut-led Buddhist imperial dynasty of China tha ...

, ruling from 1067 to 1086. After his father's sudden death, Huizong assumed the throne at the young age of six. His mother, Empress Dowager Liang (Chinese: 梁太后, Tangut: ), became the

regent A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state '' pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy ...

for the rest of Huizong's reign. In 1076, Huizong turned sixteen, and was supposed to assume direct control of the throne, but was stopped by the enormous influence of the Dowager. The two sparred over the cultural policy of the empire: the Emperor Huizong supported

sinicization Sinicization, sinofication, sinification, or sinonization (from the prefix , 'Chinese, relating to China') is the process by which non-Chinese societies come under the influence of Chinese culture, particularly the language, societal norms, cul ...

, while the Empress Dowager Liang supported Tangutization (ironic, considering Huizong was of paternal Tangut heritage, and Liang was of ethnic Han heritage). Empress Dowager Liang eventually had Huizong put under house arrest; as a result, Huizong requested the

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

for help. The Song Dynasty then invaded the Western Xia on the premise of freeing Huizong, but the invasion was repelled. Empress Dowager Liang then forced Huizong to marry her niece, who would also become a powerful empress dowager. Thus, the Western Xia had two different Empress Dowager Liang. He was depressed by the control of his mother, and Huizong later died at the young age of 26. Huizong was succeeded by his son, the Emperor Chongzong.

Family

Consortsand issues: *

Empress Zhaojian Empress (Dowager) Liang the Junior (小梁太后, died 1099), posthumously titled Empress Zhaojian Wenmu (昭簡文穆皇后), was an empress consort of the Western Xia. She was a member of the Liang clan, but her personal name is not known. She w ...

, of the Liang clan (昭簡皇后梁氏, d.1099) **

Emperor Chongzong of Western Xia Emperor Chongzong of Western Xia (1084–1139), born Li Qianshun (), was the fourth emperor of the Western Xia dynasty of China, ruling from 1086 to 1139. His reign began at the age of three, when his father Li Bingchang died. He remained under ...

, personal name Qianshun (乾順), furst son **Prince of Jin Chage (晉王差哥),second son

References

1060 births 1086 deaths Western Xia emperors 11th-century Chinese monarchs 11th-century Tangut rulers {{china-royal-stub