Emperor Xiaozong of Song

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Emperor Xiaozong of Song 宋孝宗
Palace portrait on a hanging scroll, kept in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Emperor of the Song dynasty
Reign	24 July 1162 – 18 February 1189
Coronation	24 July 1162
Predecessor	Emperor Gaozong
Successor	Emperor Guangzong
Retired Emperor of the Song dynasty
Reign	18 February 1189 – 28 June 1194
Born	Zhao Bocong (1127–1133) Zhao Yuan (1133–1160) Zhao Wei (1160–1162) Zhao Shen (1162–1194) 27 November 1127 Jiaxing County, Xiuzhou, Song dynasty (modern Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China)
Died	28 June 1194(1194-06-28) (aged 66) Lin'an, Song dynasty (modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang)
Burial	Yongfu Mausoleum (永阜陵, in present-day Shaoxing, Zhejiang)
Consorts	Empress Chengmu ​ (died 1156)​ Empress Chenggong ​ (died 1167)​ Empress Chengsu ​ (before 1194)​
Issue	Zhao Qi Zhao Kai Emperor Guangzong Zhao Ke
Era dates Longxing (隆興; 1163–1164) Qiandao (乾道; 1165–1173) Chunxi (淳熙; 1174–1189) Posthumous name Emperor Shaotong Tongdao Guande Zhaogong Zhewen Shenwu Mingsheng Chengxiao (紹統同道冠德昭功哲文神武明聖成孝皇帝) (conferred in 1197) Temple name Xiaozong (孝宗)
House	Zhao
Dynasty	Song (Southern Song)
Father	Zhao Zicheng Emperor Gaozong (adoptive father)
Mother	Lady Zhang
Signature

Emperor Xiaozong of Song (27 November 1127 – 28 June 1194), personal name Zhao Shen, courtesy name Yuanyong, was the 11th emperor of the Song dynasty of China and the second emperor of the Southern Song dynasty. He started his reign in 1162 when his adoptive father and predecessor, Emperor Gaozong, abdicated and passed the throne to him. Even though Emperor Gaozong became a Taishang Huang ("Retired Emperor") after his abdication, he remained the de facto ruler, so Emperor Xiaozong only took full power in 1187 after Emperor Gaozong's death. After ruling for about a year, Emperor Xiaozong followed in his predecessor's footsteps and abdicated in favour of his third son Zhao Dun (Emperor Guangzong), while he became Taishang Huang and still remained in power until his death in 1194.

He was the first descendant of Emperor Taizu to become emperor and remembered as an effective ruler as the Song enjoyed prosperity during his reign.