A Tragic Princess of the Song Dynasty and Her Controversial Counterfeit
Zhao Duofu (1112 — about 1142), respected as Princess Roufu or Roufu Diji, was a noble princess of the Song Dynasty.
She spent her childhood happily and elegantly in a fantastic palace and was supposed to marry a noble and talented man and spend an affluent, carefree life together.
However, the tragic Incident of Jingkang changed everything.
Princess Duofu and her entire family were captured, humiliated, and tortured cruelly by their enemy.
When she was suffering as a captive, however, another “con woman” stole Duofu’s identity and lived a luxurious life as a noble princess.
Noble Princess Roufu Amidst the Tragedy of War
Duofu was the daughter of Emperor Zhao Ji (or Emperor Huizong of Song) (1082 — 1135), an extremely talented artist, but was an incapable monarch.
In the year 1126, the Jurchen Jin Dynasty invaded Song. Zhao Ji immediately abdicated the throne to his oldest son Zhao Huan, Emperor Qinzong of Song (1100 — 1156), another incompetent monarch.
Under Zhao Ji and Zhao Huan’s absurd commands, brilliant generals and officials were abolished, while ridiculous suggestions were implemented.
About one year later, Song’s fabulous capital city was occupied, and countless treasures were taken away or burnt down.
The princess and her entire royal clan and innumerable civilians were captured.
Part of the Painting (Qingming Shang He Tu) Along the River During the Qingming Festival
Genre Painting of the Capital City (Bianjing or Kaifeng) of the Song Dynasty, by Artist Zhang Zeduan (1085 — 1145) — The Palace Museum
Duofu was the oldest (17 years old) unmarried princess, so she was offered to the King of Jin.
But the king didn’t like her much, so she was sent to do laundry for years after being humiliated several times.
Years later, she was enslaved by another powerful lord of the nomadic regime, who got tired of her and soon assigned her to marry an official of Song, who was also captured during that war.
Duofu and her husband lived in poverty since then.
A sachet of Song Dynasty — Nanjing Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Establishment of the Southern Song Dynasty
When the whole royal family was captured by Jin northward, Prince Zhao Gou was the only one who escaped.
Zhao Gou (1107 — 1187) was the ninth son of Emperor Zhao Ji, and he volunteered to be a hostage in the Jin Dynasty when Jin and Song signed their first truce pact.
Hence, Zhao Gou was in another city when Jin teared up the pact, occupied Song’s capital, and enslaved Song’s entire royal family and tens of thousands of civilians.
Hearing this tragedy, Zhao Gou escaped to southern China, summoned all of the Song’s forces, and established another empire named Song with a smaller territory.
Part of Painting Thousands Miles of Mountains and Rivers (Qian Li Jiang Shan Tu), By Emperor Zhao Ji’s Student Wang Ximeng (1096 — 1119) — The Palace Museum
Another Princess Roufu Emerged in the South
Three years after Zhao Gou, now Emperor Gaozong of Song, built the new empire, some soldiers reported finding a former princess.
This woman claimed that she was Zhao Duofu, the former Princess Roufu.
She knew all things and people from the royal family, and according to some former maids and eunuchs, she looked pretty like Duofu as well.
She told people that she escaped from the Jin Dynasty, suffered countless difficulties, was captured by some Song soldiers, and finally got to speak to the new emperor.
Unearthed Blue Glass Decorations (Die Sheng) of Southern Song Dynasty, Homophone of Wishing to Take Back the Two Captured Emperors and Lost Land — Quzhou Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Zhao Gou and Duofu had different birth mothers and used to live in different palaces, so they were not quite familiar with each other before.
But now, Duofu, if she was honest, was his only relative in the new empire.
After careful investigation, everyone believed this woman was the actual princess Duofu.
Soon, Duofu recovered her noble title, married a talented, noble husband, and lived a wealthy, comfortable life.
Flower Shaped Gold Cup (Zhan) of Southern Song Dynasty — Sichuan Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
The Empress Dowager's Return and Her Testimony
About a decade later, Zhao Gou executed great general Yue Fei and sued for peace with the Jin Dynasty after signing an unfair treaty.
Afterward, Jin sent back Zhao Gou’s birth mother and his father Zhao Ji’s coffin.
His birth mother Wei (? — 1090), respected as Empress Xianren after finally reuniting with her son Zhao Gou, pointed out that Princess Roufu was fake.
She told the emperor that the real Duofu had died in the Jin Dynasty.
Zhao Gou was furious and commanded to interrogate Duofu and those who proved she was the real princess.
Later, those former imperial maids and eunuchs who proved this Duofu was the actual princess changed their minds; they claimed that they were not very sure after such a long time.
This Duofu, in the end, admitted that her real name was Jing Shan (or Fa Jing), who had met with one of Duofu's former maids before.
The maid said that Jing looked like the former princess and told her many stories about the royal family.
Afterward, "Princess Roufu" and everyone involved were executed.
Ganoderma Shaped Crystal Hairpin (Zan) of Song Dynasty — Nanjing Museum (Photo by Dongmaiying)
Suspicions and Gossip Surrounding Empress Dowager Wei
Wei then spent a wealthy and comfortable life as the empress dowager until she died.
However, rumors circulated about her life in captivity under the Jin Dynasty. Speculations included her remarriage to a Jin lord, sharing the lord with Duofu, and even having children with him.
If the gossip were true, Duofu would be the only one who knew about Wei’s detailed history.
Hence, many people believed that the executed Duofu was real and that Wei needed her shameful history to be buried for good.
Bamboo Bird Painting (Zhu Qin Tu), By Emperor Zhao Ji — Metropolitan Museum of Art
The counterfeit Duofu had lived in the Southern Song for about 12 years.
During these 12 years, her talented, artsy brother Emperor Zhao Gou never found her inappropriate.
Her brilliant husband, other nobles, officials, and former imperial servants, no one ever doubted Duofu's authenticity.
A noble princess born and raised in the royal palace and a civilian-born woman, their behavior, manner, and speech should be pretty different.
But this Duofu made everyone believe that she was the daughter of artistic emperor Zhao Ji, the Song's honored princess, except for Empress Dowager Wei, who had also been captured and lived in the Jin Dynasty for a long time.
Died in the Jin Dynasty or was executed to protect Empress Dowager Wei's reputation, either way, Princess Duofu had always been a huge victim who could not control her fate.
Painting of Lady Guoguo (Sister of Yang Guifei of the Tang Dynasty) Spring Outing, By Emperor Zhao Ji — Liaoning Museum
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