Jingkang incident

Quick Facts: Who was Jingkang incident?

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Jingkang incident

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The catastrophic 1127 invasion that ended the Northern Song Dynasty.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Jingkang Incident (Chinese: 靖康事变; pinyin: Jìngkāng Shìbiàn), also known as the Humiliation of Jingkang (靖康之耻; Jìngkāng Zhīchǐ) and the Disorders of the Jingkang Era (靖康之乱; Jìngkāng Zhīluàn), was an episode of invasions and atrocities that took place in 1127 during the Jin–Song wars when the troops of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty besieged and sacked Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the capital of the Han-led Northern Song dynasty. The Jin forces captured the Song ruler, Emperor Qinzong, along with his father, the retired Emperor Huizong, assorted members of the imperial family from Emperor Taizong's bloodline, aristocrats, and numerous officials of the Song imperial court. The lives of ordinary civilians living in Bianjing's non-imperial quarters were generally spared, but they were forced to hand over enormous amounts of valuables and violence was not uncommon. This event marked the collapse of the Northern Song dynasty that originally controlled most of China proper. Some members of the Song imperial family, most notably Zhao Gou (later Emperor Gaozong), managed to escape to southern China, where they reestablished the Song dynasty (known in historiography as the Southern Song dynasty), with the new capital in Lin'an (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang).

Career & Major Achievements

The event also greatly contributed to the return of the descendants of Emperor Taizu to the line of succession, as most of Emperor Taizong's descendants were abducted and Emperor Gaozong failed to produce an heir. Because it took place during the Jingkang era of Emperor Qinzong's reign, it became known as the "Jingkang Incident". In 1120, under the Alliance Conducted at Sea, the Jin and Song dynasties agreed to form a military alliance against the Liao dynasty and, if victorious, divide up the Liao territories. The Jin would get a large portion of the northern region and the Song would get a smaller portion in the southern area known as the Sixteen Prefectures. Led by Tong Guan, the Song army marched to the Song–Liao border and was stopped by the defensive forest that the Song had maintained since the reign of Emperor Taizu.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In order to pass through, Tong Guan ordered the soldiers to clear the forest and continued the expedition into the Liao. The Jin army sacked the Liao capital of Shangjing (present-day Bairin Left Banner, Inner Mongolia) and ended the Liao dynasty. The Song army in the south, however, could not even penetrate Liao's defensive positions and the army was defeated by the remaining Liao troops afterwards. This exposed the limitations of the Song army as well as the corruption and inefficiency in the Song imperial court. In the end, the Jin took control of all former Liao territories.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1120: 1120 Milestone — In 1120, under the Alliance Conducted at Sea, the Jin and Song dynasties agreed to form a military alliance against the Liao dynasty and, if victorious, divide up the Liao territories.
2. 1127: 1127 Milestone — The Jingkang Incident (Chinese: 靖康事变; pinyin: Jìngkāng Shìbiàn), also known as the Humiliation of Jingkang (靖康之耻; Jìngkāng Zhīchǐ) and the Disorders of the Jingkang Era (靖康之乱; Jìngkāng Zhīluàn), was an episode of invasions and atrocities that took place in 1127 during the Jin–Song wars when the troops of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty besieged and sacked Bianjing (present-day Kaifeng, Henan), the capital of the Han-led Northern Song dynasty.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Jingkang incident

True or False: “Did the Jingkang Incident immediately cause the complete collapse of all Song power?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While it ended the Northern Song Dynasty, some members of the imperial family escaped to the south and reestablished a successor state known as the Southern Song dynasty.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Emperor Go-Shirakawa — Historical peer (Born in 1127) (1127): Powerful, yet politically constrained emperor who maintained influence through the insei system.
• Minamoto no Yoshimitsu — Historical peer (Died in 1127) (1127): Samurai lord and progenitor of Daitō-ryū, a master of martial arts.
• Gerard Sasso — Historical peer (Died in 1120) (1120): Founder of the Knights Hospitaller, a pivotal figure in medieval military and charitable orders.
• Louis VII of France — Historical peer (Born in 1120) (1120): King of France (1137–1180), known for his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Second Crusade.

Frequently Asked Questions about Jingkang incident