The Artist-Emperor & The Doomed Son: Why I Feel So Deeply for Huizong & Qinzong of Song




You ever look into history and see yourself? Like really see echoes of your soul in someone from a thousand years ago?


That’s what happened when I dove deep into the stories of Emperor Huizong and his son Qinzong, two tragic figures from the Northern Song Dynasty.

They weren’t just emperors—they were artists, dreamers, reluctant rulers. And damn if that doesn’t hit a little close to home.


Image: A man in luxurious blue and gold traditional Chinese robes sits indoors, holding a thin stick. Beside him stands a vibrant blue peacock, and a peacock painting is visible behind.

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🎨 Huizong: The Emperor Who Just Wanted to Paint



Forget war. Forget politics. Huizong wasn’t cut from the cloth of a typical emperor. The man was a painter, a calligrapher, a musician, a poet, a lover of sports and scholarly beauty.

He literally invented his own elegant script—Slender Gold—that still gets people hot under the brushstroke centuries later.


But here’s the kicker: he never wanted the throne.

Huizong wasn’t even supposed to rule. He got pulled into power through a domino chain of royal reshuffling. And honestly? That man just wanted to vibe with his guqin, maybe sip some tea and curate his art collection in peace.


So yeah, when he fumbled the empire and got himself (and eventually his son) captured by the invading Jurchens… it’s tragic, but not exactly shocking. He wasn’t built for war—he was built for wonder. And when things started to go south, he retired, dipped out, and dumped the whole burning palace in his son’s lap.


Image: A man in ornate traditional Chinese robes paints a vibrant peacock. He has glasses, a long beard, and sits in an elegant, classical room, concentrating intently on his detailed artwork.

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💔 Qinzong: The Crowned Sacrifice



And speaking of tragic, let’s talk about Qinzong, Huizong’s poor, panic-stricken son.


This guy got one of history’s worst hand-me-downs: a collapsing empire, an angry enemy army at the gates, and a father who peaced out mid-crisis. He had zero political chops, no war training, and absolutely no interest in ruling—but he had to take it anyway.


And just like that, he became the last emperor of the Northern Song.

The capital Kaifeng fell, he and Daddy Dearest got kidnapped, and they both ended up carted off to a foreign land—stripped of titles, power, and pride. Talk about a family trip from hell.


Emperor Huizong auspicious cranes handscroll



✨ Why I Relate to These Two So Damn Much



Let’s get real for a second:

Like Huizong, I’m a multifaceted artist—a tactile visual creator, musician, and martial artist. I wasn’t born to lead armies—I was born to express, to create, to fight dragons in my own damn way.


Like him, I wasn’t supposed to wear anyone’s crown. But life doesn’t care what you’re “supposed” to be, does it?


And like Qinzong, I know what it’s like to inherit someone else’s chaos.

I grew up in a rich family—until it all came crashing down thanks to my father’s gambling.

One day you’re surrounded by luxury, and the next, you’re learning how to survive in the wreckage.


Oh—and at least they didn’t have to do all this shit blind and half-deaf like I do. 😏

Then again… they did end up exiled in a foreign country like yours truly, didn’t they?


So yeah. Huizong painted birds while the palace burned.

Qinzong tried to stand on ashes wearing paper armor.

And me? I turned the rubble into rhythm. Into art. Into survival.


Huizong | Chinese Art, Calligraphy & Poetr    



💬 So What’s the Lesson?



Sometimes, life hands you a crown you never asked for.

Sometimes, you inherit a kingdom that’s already on fire.

But even then—you create, you fight, and you write your own damn legend.




Watch the video above to hear the full story of Huizong and Qinzong through my eyes—part historian, part survivor, full artist.


And if you’ve ever felt like you were thrown into a role you never signed up for, trust me: this one’s for you.




🔗 More from the Tiger’s Den:

👉 https://www.johnnytiger.com – for my documentary, podcast & life journey

👉 https://www.tigertactile.com – for my tactile art, my philosophy, and more creations born of fire and feeling



#JohnnyTiger #Huizong #Qinzong #SongDynasty #BlindAndBadass #AsianHistory #MultifacetedArtist #TactileArt #MartialArtistLife #DisabledVoices #TragicKings #CreativeSurvivor #ArtistKing #JingkangIncident #ReluctantRuler #LifeInExile #BlindWarriorPoet

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