After feeling forced to sign the costly and humiliating Treaty of Chanyuan with the Liao Dynasty to end the Liao-Song War, Emperor Zhenzong needs a pick-me-up to make himself feel better. He thinks that a ritual that hasn't been performed in 3 centuries might be the way... and that's when the text messages from Heaven start popping up in his inbox...

Time Period:

1004-1022 CE

Major Historical Figures

Emperor Zhenzong of Song (Zhao Heng)[r. 997 - 1022]

Wang Qinruo, Minister of Grand Ritual [c. 962 – 1025]

Chancellor Kou Zhun [c. 961 – 1023]

Du Hao, Imperial Antiquarian.

Minister Sun Shi, Grand Imperial Buzzkill.

Major Works Cited:

Cahill, Suzanne E. "Taoism at the Sung Court: The Heavenly Text Affair of 1008" in Bulletin of Sung and Yüan Studies, No. 16.

Choi, Mihwa. Death Rituals and Politics in Northern Song China.

Lau Nap-Yin and Huang K'uang-Chung. "Founding and Consolidation of the Sung Dynasty" in The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 5: The Sung Dynasty and Its Precursors, Part 1.

Li, Tao. Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian ("The Extended Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Government")

Sima, Guang. Sushui Jiwen ("Records of Rumors from Sushui").

Toqto'a and Alutu. Songshi ("The History of the Song").

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#139- N. Song 7: The Heavenly Text Affair 47:40 Share

The History of China

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#139- N. Song 7: The Heavenly Text Affair