Zhou Huaizheng Explained

Zhou Huaizheng (周懷政)
Occupation:Eunuch
Birth Date:970s
Birth Place:likely Taiyuan, Northern Han
Death Date:August 16, 1020
Death Place:Kaifeng, Song Empire
Blank1:Adoptive father
Data1:Zhou Shaozhong (周紹忠)

Zhou Huaizheng (died 16 August 1020) was a powerful Song dynasty palace eunuch during Emperor Zhenzong's reign. After Emperor Zhenzong's illness in 1019 made him incapable of ruling, state power gradually fell to the hands of his wife Empress Liu and chancellor Ding Wei. Zhou plotted to assassinate Ding so that Kou Zhun could return to chancellorship, but his coup failed. He was arrested by Lei Yungong and executed.

Early life

During the Conquest of Northern Han by Song in 979, eunuch Zhou Shaozhong followed Emperor Taizong of Song and the Song dynasty army to Northern Han's capital Taiyuan. He found a young boy among the dead bodies and adopted him as a son, naming him Zhou Huaizheng. Thus Zhou Huaizheng was able to grow up in the imperial palace as a young eunuch in the Song capital Kaifeng.

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