 Many factors contributed to the Song 's repeated military blunders and subsequent loss of northern China to the Jurchens . Traditional accounts of Song history held the venality of Huizong 's imperial court responsible for the decline of the dynasty . These narratives condemned Huizong and his officials for their moral failures . Early Song emperors were eager to enact political reforms and revive the ethical framework of Confucianism , but the enthusiasm for reforms gradually died after the reformist Wang Anshi 's expulsion as chancellor in 1076 . Corruption marred the reign of Huizong , who was more skilled as a painter than as a ruler . Huizong was known for his extravagance , and funded the costly construction of gardens and temples while rebellions threatened the state 's grip on power . 
 Many factors contributed to the Song <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>repeated military blunders and subsequent loss of northern China to the Jurchens . Traditional accounts of Song history held the venality of Huizong <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>imperial court responsible for the decline of the dynasty . These narratives condemned Huizong and his officials for their moral failures . Early Song emperors <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> eager to enact political reforms and revive the ethical framework of Confucianism , but the enthusiasm for reforms gradually died after the reformist Wang Anshi <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>expulsion as chancellor in 1076 . Corruption marred the reign of Huizong , <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>who</mark></a>was more skilled as a painter than as a ruler . Huizong was known for his extravagance , and funded the costly construction of gardens and temples while rebellions threatened the state <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>grip on power . 
Many factors contributed to the Song  repeated military blunders and subsequent loss of northern China to da Jurchens . Traditional accounts of Song history held the venality of Huizong  imperial court responsible fir tdadecline of thdaynasty . dese narratives condemned Huizong and his officials for their moral failures . Early Song emperors was eager to enact political reforms and revive the ethical framework of Confucianism , but thedathusiasm fir reforms gradually died after the daormist Wang Anshi  expulsion as chancellor in 1076 . Corruption marred the reign of Huizong , was more skilled as a painter den as a ruler . Huizong was known for his extravagance , and funded the costly construction of gardens and temples while rebellions threatened the state  grip on power .