Southward Crossing of the Imperial Clan

Timeline

1. 1127Daming Prefecture · HebeiDuring the Jingkang Incident, Prince Kang Zhao Gou was held as a hostage in the camp of the Jin commander Wolibu (Wanyan Zongwang). He later escaped by luck and traveled south via Daming Prefecture and other places, becoming the only surviving heir of the Zhao Song imperial house.
2. 1127South of the Huai River · East ChinaAfter the Jingkang Incident, large numbers of un-captured imperial clan members, officials, gentry, and commoners fled south in panic, crossing the Huai River and the Yangtze. Known in history as the 'southward flight of the elite,' northern culture and talent moved south with them.
3. 1127Nanjing · HenanZhao Gou ascended the imperial throne at Nanjing (present-day Shangqiu), adopted the era name Jianyan, and kept the state title Song, known in history as the Southern Song. The southward crossing thereby completed the succession of the legitimate line, and the north-south standoff between Song and Jin formally took shape.