A Chinese Biographical Dictionary/Chao Ping
177 Chao Ping 趙昺. A.D, 1271-1279. The youngest son of Chao Ch'i, and the ninth and last Emperor of the Southern Sung dynasty. On the death of Chao Shih in 1278, most of the officials wished to disperse and give up the hopeless struggle against the Mongols; but Lu Hsiu-fu induced them to proclaim this boy, and aided by Chang Shih-chieh, kept up some semblance of a Court. Being hard pressed at 碙洲 Kang-chou (see Chao Shih), the Sungs moved to the stronger position of Yai-shan, an islet in a bay some 30 miles south of the city of 新會 Hsin-hui in Kuangtung. They had still over 20,000 followers, and 1,000 vessels. Towards the end of 1278 Canton was abandoned, and Wên T'ien-hsiang, who had been heroically struggling in northern Kuangtung, was captured through the treachery of a subordinate. Early in 1279 the Mongols under Chang Hung-fan beleaguered the last stronghold of the Sungs by land and sea. Shut up in their ships, which they formed into a compact mass and fortified with towers and breastworks, the patriots, deprived of fresh water, harassed by attacks during the day and by fire-ships at night, maintained the unequal struggle for a month. But when, after a long day's fighting, Lu Hsiu-fu found himself left with only sixteen vessels, he fled up a creek. His retreat was cut off; and then at length despairing of his country, he bade his wife and children throw themselves overboard. He himself, taking the Emperor on his back, followed their example, and thus brought the great Sung dynasty to an end. Chao Ping is known in history as 帝昺, never having been canonised.