NING TSUNG

born 1168, Hangchow, Chekiang Province, China died 1224, Hangchow Pinyin Ning Zong (temple name), personal name Chao K'uo 13th emperor of the Sung dynasty, whose reign (1194/951224/25) is noted as a period of intellectual and cultural achievement; Chu Hsi, the great Neo-Confucian philosopher, wrote some of his most famous works during this time. The government, however, was plagued by rising inflation, and the emperor came under the domination of the minister Han T'o-chou, who attempted to recover the Sung territory in North China that had been lost to the Juchen several generations earlier. The war was disastrous, and more territory was lost to the Juchen, who demanded a huge annual indemnity. During the negotiations with the Juchen, Han was assassinated, and a peace treaty was finally signed in 1208.