Abstract: Amidst the turmoil of the early Southern Song Dynasty,marked by both internal strife and external threat,Emperor Gaozong made the pivotal decision to choose an heir from the lineage of Emperor Taizu and raise him within the imperial palace. This strategic move facilitated the transition of the imperial succession from the descendants of Emperor Taizong to those of Taizu. Understanding the rationale behind this decision is crucial for grasping the political dynamics of the early Southern Song period. It was not merely an expression of Gaozong's personal will but rather a collective decision influenced by Empress Dowager Meng and his court officials. On the one hand,the prophecy that “the successor of Taizu will one day rule the world anew”, which had been circulating since the early Northern Song Dynasty,had become a deeply ingrained belief. This belief was further reinforced by the Jingkang Incident,leading to a consensus that the throne should revert to Taizu's lineage as a way to atone for past calamities and to mitigate ongoing conflicts. Gaozong and his advisors viewed this as a necessary step to align with the divine will and to avert further calamities. On the other hand,Gaozong and his court crafted a narrative of innovation and revival to legitimize their new regime. The choice of Taizu's heir was seen as rekindling the public spirit embodied by Song Taizu who was known for his principle of “not favoring his kin for personal gain”. This principle was regarded as the moral cornerstone upon which the Southern Song Dynasty could hope to regain the “Mandate of Heaven”.

Key words: Emperor Gaozong of Song, heir selection, Emperor Taizu's offspring, collective belief, moral reconstruction