Early life

Wulu was a grandson of Aguda (Emperor Taizu), the founding emperor of the Jin dynasty. His father was Eliduo (訛里朵; also known as Wanyan Zongyao 完顏宗堯), Aguda's third son and a famous general in the early Jin dynasty. As Eliduo died when Wulu was just 12 years old, the latter grew up under the influence of his mother, who had come from a sinicised Balhae gentry family from Liaoyang. After her husband's death, Wulu's mother preferred to become a nun instead of remarrying one of her husband's relatives, as was the Jurchen custom. Due to his mother and her relatives, Wulu received a Han Chinese-style education and acquired good knowledge of the Chinese classics.

Wulu is said to have also been greatly influenced by the wife he had before becoming emperor. She was from the Wulinda clan. She advised Wulu to be patient and to pretend to be loyal to his cousin, the emperor Digunai. Digunai admired Lady Wulinda so he summoned her to his inner court in 1151, but she committed suicide. Her death resulted in a deep enmity between Wulu and Digunai.

In 1161, when Digunai invaded the Southern Song dynasty to unify China under the Jin dynasty's rule, he also sent agents to assassinate many of his own relatives and thus to cement his power within the imperial clan. Wulu, who was on the hit list, started a rebellion against the emperor. The rebellion was supported by many Jurchen officers and aristocrats who were dissatisfied with Digunai's policy of cultural sinicisation and administrative centralisation, and the human cost of the emperor's southern adventure. The first military officer to support the rebellion was Wanyan Mouyan (完顏謀衍). Digunai lost the Battle of Caishi against the Song dynasty and was assassinated by his own disaffected officers. Wulu was able to become the new emperor without having to struggle against Digunai whose title he demoted down to Prince Yang of Hailing.

Reign

Once on the throne, Wulu – who is historically known as Emperor Shizong – abandoned his predecessor's plan for invading the Southern Song dynasty, and abolished his domestic sinicisation policies. Although conversant with Han Chinese culture himself, Emperor Shizong thought that the Jurchens' strength was in maintaining their "simple and sincere", culture, and would often attribute Digunai's defeat to the latter's wholesale abandonment of it. He was not opposed to Chinese culture per se – in fact, he once claimed that the "natural and honest" Jurchen way of life was much like what the ancient Chinese sages taught – but he thought that merely reading the Chinese classics without putting their ideas into practice was counterproductive.

During Emperor Shizong's reign, he confiscated large areas of unused land and land that had been grabbed by a few large Jurchen landowners, and redistributed it to the Jurchen settlers in northern China. Still, many Jurchens preferred not to work their land plots, but lease them to Han Chinese farmers, and engage in heavy drinking instead. The emperor criticised his people for losing their martial spirit and military skills, such as archery and riding. To give an example to his subjects, Emperor Shizong made hunting an annual royal activity in 1162, and until 1188 he went hunting almost every autumn and winter. He also enjoyed archery and ball games.

As part of his promotion of Jurchen culture and the Jurchen language, soon after ascending the throne, Emperor Shizong started a programme of translating Chinese classics into Jurchen. The Jurchen version of the Classic of History was the first to be published; by the end of the Dading era, many other Chinese classics had become available in Jurchen.

Early in his reign, Emperor Shizong chose 3,000 Jurchen men to study the Jurchen language. In 1173, the state started offering jinshi degrees in Jurchen, opened the Jurchen Imperial Academy in the capital and local schools in all the circuits of the empire. It is thought by modern scholars that the purpose of offering the jinshi examinations in Jurchen was more to promote Jurchen scholarship than to recruit more Jurchen for the state service, as most of the Jurchen jinshi degree holders ended up working as teachers of the Jurchen language and of the Chinese classics in Jurchen translation.

Emperor Shizong required that, when dealing with Jurchen speakers, government officials respond in Jurchen. In 1174, even the imperial guards were told to learn Jurchen, and not to speak in Chinese; in 1183, one thousand copies of the Jurchen edition of the Classic of Filial Piety were distributed to them for their edification.

Poor Jurchen families in the southern Routes (Daming and Shandong) Battalion and Company households tried to live the lifestyle of wealthy Jurchen families and avoid doing farming work by selling their own Jurchen daughters into slavery and renting their land to Han tenants. The Wealthy Jurchens feasted and drank and wore damask and silk. The History of Jin (Jinshi) says that Emperor Shizong of Jin took note and attempted to halt these things in 1181.

As one of the ways of restoring Jurchen traditions, Emperor Shizong prohibited servants and slaves from wearing silk, and in 1188 he prohibited Jurchens in general from wearing Han Chinese clothes.

Emperor Shizong and his successor, Emperor Zhangzong, were described as believers in both Buddhism and Taoism. In 1187, Emperor Shizong invited Wang Chuyi, a disciple of Wang Chongyang (the founder of the Quanzhen School of Taoism), to preach in his palace. According to some sources, another of Wang Chongyang's disciples, Qiu Chuji, was invited as well. The emperor requested the presence of Wang Chuyi at his deathbed.

Modern evaluation

Modern scholars feel that Emperor Shizong's efforts to maintain and revive the Jurchen language and culture were not particularly efficacious. The language lacked native literature, and his translations of Chinese works into Jurchen were helping to bring Chinese ideas and values into Jurchens' minds. In fact, the emperor himself once said that the Jurchen language was "inferior to Chinese", and could not even match Khitan. Outside of the old Jurchen lands in Manchuria, people did not see the utility of speaking the "dying" and "inferior" language, and Emperor Shizong himself was wondering if his descendants would criticise him for his attempts to force people use it.

Emperor Shizong's attempts to preserve the Jurchens' identity as hunters, too, were conflicting with his drive to improve their livelihood by making them into good farmers. Nonetheless, people generally admired his love of peace, his promotion of learning and care of people's well-being; traditionally, his era was called a "miniature of Yao and Shun", referring to the legendary ancient sage kings.

Family

• Father: Eliduo (訛里朵), sinicised name Wanyan Zongyao (完顏宗堯), posthumously honoured as Emperor Ruizong (金睿宗)

• Mother: Lady Li (李氏), posthumously honoured as Empress Zhenyi (貞懿皇后)

• Spouse: Lady Wulinda, posthumously honoured as Empress Mingde (明德皇后), bore Hutuwa, Shunian, Xielu and the Princess of Yu

• Concubines:

　• Lady Zhang, Consort Yuan (元妃), bore Shilula and Songge

　• Lady Li (李氏), Consort Yuan (元妃), posthumously honoured as Empress Guangxian (光獻皇后), bore Yinzhuke, Wanyan Yongji, Echu and the Princess of Han

　• Lady Shimo (石抺氏), Consort Xian (賢妃)

　• Lady Tushan (徒單氏), Consort De (德妃)

　• Lady Da (大氏), Consort Rou (柔妃)

　• Lady Liang (梁氏), Zhaoyi (昭儀), bore Heye

　• Lady Shimo (石抹氏), Cairen (才人), bore Xiebuchu

• Sons:

　• Hutuwa (胡土瓦), sinicised name Wanyan Yungong (完顏允恭), posthumously honoured as Emperor Xianzong (金顯宗)

　• Shunian (孰輦), Prince of Zhao

　• Xielu (斜魯), Prince of Yue (越王)

　• Shilula (實魯剌), also known as Wanseng (萬僧), sinicised name Wanyan Yongzhong (完顏永中), posthumously honoured as Prince Li of Gao (鎬厲王)

　• Songge (宋葛), also known as Guangsun, sinicised name Wanyan Yonggong (完顏永功), posthumously honoured as Prince Zhongjian of Yue (越忠簡王)

　• Yinzhuke (銀朮可), also known as Shigou'er (石狗兒), sinicised name Wanyan Yongdao (完顏永蹈), posthumously honoured as Prince La of Zheng

　• Wanyan Yongji (完顏永濟), posthumously honoured as Prince Shao of Wei (衛紹王)

　• Echu (訛出), sinicised name Wanyan Yongde (完顏永德), Prince of Lu (潞王)

　• Heye (鶴野), also known as Loushi (婁室), sinicised name Wanyan Yongcheng (完顏永成), posthumously honoured as Prince Zhongxian of Yu (豫忠獻王)

　• Xiebuchu (斜不出), also known as Heshou (鶴壽), sinicised name Wanyan Yongsheng (完顏永升), Prince of Kui (夔王)

• Daughters:

　• Princess of Yu

　• Princess of Han, married Pusan Kui (僕散揆)

　• Princess Supreme of Lu, married Wugulun Yuanzhong

　• Princess Supreme of Yan, married Pucha Husha (蒲察胡沙)

　• Princess of Wu, married Tangkuo Gong (唐括貢)

　• Princess of Shu, married Tangkuo Ding (唐括鼎)

　• Princess of Wan, married Wulinda Fu

　• Princess of Xi, married Tushan Gongbi (徒單公弼)

　• Princess of Cao

　• Princess of Wei, married Pucha Pusulie (蒲察蒲速烈)

　• Daughter, name unknown, married Heshilie Zhushennu (紇石烈諸神奴)

　• Wanyan Changle, Princess of Ze, married Puladu (蒲剌睹)

生平

東京政變

1161年十月初八日，完顏亮率領大軍渡過淮水，進兵南宋廬州。東京遼陽府發生了政變。曹國公完顏雍時任東京留守，完顏秉德以謀立葛王完顏雍之罪被殺後，完顏雍從海路獻珍寶以表明他的忠誠。完顏亮命渤海人高存福為副留守，監視完顏雍的行動。契丹撒八等起義，完顏雍出兵阻擊括里。完顏亮命婆速路總管完顏謀衍（完顏婁室之子）領兵五千助戰。完顏亮自遼東徵調大批女真兵南下侵宋，女真兵多不願南下。行至山東時，南征萬戶、曷蘇館女真猛安完顏福壽等領一萬多人，中途叛變，逃回遼陽。完顏福壽與完顏謀衍等在遼陽發動政變，殺高存福，擁立完顏雍作皇帝，即金世宗。十月初八日，金世宗下詔廢黜完顏亮，改元大定。完顏謀衍為右副元帥，福壽為右監軍。十一月，在東京的政權，逐漸鞏固。中都留守阿瑣等起而響應金世宗。金世宗決定遷赴中都。十一月二十七日拂曉，完顏元宜率領將士襲擊完顏亮營帳，完顏亮被亂箭射死。

大定之治

金世宗即位後，首先對南宋的進攻保持守勢，著手平息契丹起義，待平息契丹起義後，開始對南宋採取強硬態度，擊退了南宋的隆興北伐，並在形勢占優時，在與宋孝宗和談時做出讓步，最終簽署了《隆興和議》，開啟了雙方四十餘年的和平局面。

金世宗在內政管理上，勵精圖治，革除了完顏亮統治時期的很多弊政。更值得稱道的是，金世宗十分樸素，不穿絲織龍袍，使金朝國庫充盈，農民也過上富裕的日子，天下小康，實現了「大定盛世」的繁榮鼎盛局面，金世宗也被稱為「小堯舜」。

金世宗統治時期，如移剌窩幹等各族人民紛紛起義，他為了維持統治，利用科舉、學校等制度，爭取漢人支持，又加強猛安謀克權力，擴大女真族占有的土地。同時多次發布有關保留女真人舊習、語言的詔令，甚或要求所有皇子必須有女真語名、所有女真官員必須通曉女真語，衛士不准講漢語。

他死後謚號是光天興運文德武功聖明仁孝皇帝，廟號是世宗。

家庭

父母

• 父：金睿宗

• 嫡母：欽慈皇后蒲察氏（女真人）

• 生母：貞懿皇后李氏（渤海人）

妻妾子女

• 明德皇后烏林荅氏

　• 完顏允恭，金章宗之父，追諡金顯宗

　• 趙王完顏孰輦

　• 越王完顏斜魯

　• 長女 魯國大長公主，即豫國公主，下嫁烏古論元忠（金太祖畢國公主和烏古論訛論之子）。

• 張元妃

　• 鎬厲王完顏永中

　• 越忠簡王完顏永功

• 李元妃

　• 鄭剌王完顏永蹈

　• 衛紹王完顏永濟

　• 潞王完顏永德

　• 韓國公主，永蹈妹，下嫁僕散揆。

• 石抺賢妃，僅知陪葬坤厚陵，與石抺才人是否為一人，無考

• 徒單德妃，僅知陪葬坤厚陵

• 大柔妃，僅知陪葬坤厚陵

• 梁昭儀

　• 豫忠獻王完顏永成

• 石抹才人

　• 夔王完顏永升

• 母不詳

　• 第三女 兗國大長公主 下嫁蒲察胡沙

　• 第四女 吳國公主 下嫁唐括貢（唐括阿里之子）

　• 第五女 蜀國公主 下嫁唐括鼎（金睿宗楚國公主和唐括德溫之子）

　• 第七女 宛國公主 下嫁烏林荅復

　• 息國公主 下嫁徒單公弼（金熙宗外孫）

　• 曹國公主

　• 衛國公主 下嫁蒲察蒲速烈（蒲察通之子）

　• 第十四女，嫁紇石烈諸神奴（紇石烈志寧之子）

　• 澤國公主完顏長樂，永蹈妹，生母是否李元妃，無考，下嫁蒲剌睹

評價

• 元朝官修正史《金史》脫脫等的評價是：「世宗之立，雖由勸進，然天命人心之所歸，雖古聖賢之君，亦不能辭也。蓋自太祖以來，海內用兵，寧歲無幾。重以海陵無道，賦役繁興，盜賊滿野，兵甲並起，萬姓盼盼，國內騷然，老無留養之丁，幼無顧複之愛，顛危愁困，待盡朝夕。世宗久典外郡，明禍亂之故，知吏治之得失。即位五載，而南北講好，與民休息。于是躬節儉，崇孝弟，信賞罰，重農桑，慎守令之選，嚴廉察之責，卻任得敬分國之請，拒趙位寵郡縣之獻，孳孳為治，夜以繼日，可謂得為君之道矣！當此之時，群臣守職，上下相安，家給人足，倉廩有餘，刑部歲斷死罪，或十七人，或二十人，號稱「小堯舜」，此其效驗也。然舉賢之急，求言之切，不絕于訓辭，而群臣偷安苟祿，不能將順其美，以底大順，惜哉！」

附註