Zhao+Kuangyin

Ike Lanier Word Count: 492 In history, there are many great figures that often changed the world with their accomplishments. Some of these leader’s accomplishments are looked down upon today, while other accomplishments are praised today. For a leader, the definition of greatness should be short and simple. The definition of greatness in a leader would be the ability to make tough choices, even when the outcome is not clear, to stay cool and collected in tough situations, and to be able to take control of situations when know one else is willing to. Zhao Kuangyin was a great leader for the following reasons: he reunified China after a long period of instability, he created many reforms to benefit the people of China, and created a stable government in a dynasty that lasted for 319 years. Zhao Kuangyin was born into a military family. When Kuangyin was a young man, he was a general in the Chinese military and was involved in many military campaigns, including defending China from invasion.2 Eventually, he was the general of a special military group, the royal guard. The royal guard was a military group that defended the emperor and his palace if needed. 1 When Zhao Kuangyin took power, he created the Song Dynasty in China. During his rule, he was able to strengthen the central administration in the government and weaken the power of warlords. He made reforms such as making the examination system in China be based on how smart a person would be and not the status they were born into. He also made it harder to gain power of the government through the military. His government was civil based and the Song dynasty is often related with a early Chinese industrial revolution with many achievements in sciences, mathematics, and production of products like iron ore.1 Zhao Kuangyin promoted science, arts, and literature in dynasty and this led to his empire containing the most brilliant neo-Confucian thinkers at the time.3 These reforms, and many more, caused him to be able to reunify China after a period of instability. The Song dynasty lasted from 960-1279 C.E., all starting with Zhao Kuangyin’s rule.1 All of Zhao Kuangyin actions relate to the definition of greatness. It would not be human if a person, even a great leader like Zhao Kuangyin, to not make mistakes. One of Zhao Kuangyin greatest weaknesses was the way he took control of the Chinese throne. During his time as general, the second to last emperor of the Zhao Dynasty died, and his young son took throne. Zhao Kuangyin took advantage of this situation and advised the young emperor to do want he, himself, wanted to do. Eventually, Zhao Kuangyin took power for himself and created the Song Dynasty.1 Zhao Kuangyin was a great leader for the follwing reasons: he reunified China, he made many reforms to help China, and created a stable government which lasted for 319 years.1 Kuangyin was truly a great leader in history.

Sources:MediaWiki. "Zhao Kuangyin." Accessed April 8, 2012. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Zhao_Kuangyin_(Emperor_Taizu_of_China). WordPress. "Zhao Kuangyin." Accessed April 8, 2012. http://legacy1.net/zhao-kuang-yin/.Xiang, Ah. "Song Dynasty." Accessed April 8, 2012. http://imperialchina.org/Song_Dynasty.html.