after a 16-year reign. He is succeeded by his brother Tai Zong as ruler of the Song Dynasty. During his rule the Yuelu Academy (located in Hunan Province) is founded, which becomes one of the renowned academies (Shūyuàn). Zhang Sixun, a Chinese astronomer and engineer, employs the use of liquid mercury, in order that the escapement mechanism of his astronomical clock can function, and metal parts will not rust by using hydraulics (water), or freeze in winter. Births February 5 – Sanjō, emperor of Japan (d. 1017) Izumi Shikibu, Japanese poet (approximate date) Deaths January 10 – John I Tzimiskes, Byzantine emperor May 11 – Henry I (the Bald), German nobleman June 13 – Mansur I, emir of the Samanid Empire June 14 Aron, Bulgarian nobleman David, Bulgarian nobleman Moses, Bulgarian nobleman June 29 – Gero, archbishop of Cologne October 8 – Helen of Zadar, queen of Croatia October 16 – Al-Hakam II, Umayyad caliph (b. 915) November 14 – Taizu, Chinese emperor (b. 927) Al-Mansur Yahya, Zaidi scholar and imam Isarn, bishop of Grenoble (approximate date) Kvirike II, Georgian prince and chorbishop Madame Huarui, Chinese concubine and poet Mathgamain mac Cennétig, king of Munster Pietro IV Candiano, doge of Venice Rukn al-Dawla, Buyid general and emir Sun Taizhen, queen of Wuyue (Ten Kingdoms) Theodoric I, German nobleman (approximate date) Ali ibn Muhammad al-Iyadi, Arabic poet. Phạm Thị Trân, Vietnamese opera singer and Mandarin (b. 926) References