Song dynasty (960-1279): Beginnings

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Song dynasty (960-1279) Beginnings

• Followed the chaos of the Five Dynasty Period
• General Zhao Kuangyin conquers middle Yangzi
  region of Chu and Kingdom of Shu in Sichuan and
  becomes Emperor Taizu (r 960-976).

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Accomplishments Commercial Growth (Pre-modern
economy) due to

• 1. Increased rice yields thru
• Introduction drought resistant and early ripening
  varieties from central Vietnam area.
• Improved methods of water control and irrigation.
  
• Increased supply of land through terracing so
  that rice could be grown on it.
• Published agricultural manuals to disseminate
  best rice cultivation techniques.

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Accomplishments Commercial Growth (Pre-modern
economy) due to

• Population Boom
• In 742, population was about 50 million, close to
  what it had been in 1 century CE, but by 1100,
  population was a 100 million. Chinese cities are
  largest and most sophisticated in the world then.

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Spring Festival Along the River by Zhang
Zeduan (1085-1145)
Northern Song capital boasted a million.
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Accomplishments Commercial Growth (Pre-modern
economy) by

• 3. Produced worlds first government-backed
  paper money in 1120.

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Accomplishments Commercial Growth (Pre-modern
economy) due to

• 4. Cash crops such as tea, sugar, oranges and
  charcoal increase.
• 5. Cottage industries such the production and
  simple weaving and dying of hemp, ramie, silk,
  and later cotton textiles bring market forces
  into more lives.

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Knickknack Peddler  by Li Song (active 12th
century)     
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Night Revels of Han Xizai, 12th century copy
after original by Gu Hongzhong (10th century)
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Accomplishments taxation and foreign policies
re-organized

• Replaced corvée labor with hired-labor financed
  by a graduated property tax levied on all
  families, not just peasants.
• Trained the militia and supplied thei armaments,
  strengthening the loyalty and quality of the army
• Paid Central Asians (Liao and Xia people) and
  others in silver, silks and other goods to buy
  off potential attacks instead of fielding an
  army.

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Accomplishments Maritime trade now exceeds
overland foreign trade
Ex Nanhai 1, Song dynasty ship uncovered in
1997, carried 50,000 ceramics and other goods.
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Jun ware, Song Dynasty

• Henan ware, Song Dynasty

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Accomplishments Industrial advances especially
in paper and iron production
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Accomplishments Increased literacy with printed
books

• Ku-liang Commentary on the Spring and Autumn
  Annals Revised by Yü Jen-chung ca. 1190-1127.

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Accomplishments Educated class grows

• Government schools open to any man of ability,
  allowing more a chance to gain office.
• Civil service recruited those who passed three
  levels of imperial exams. More than 60 of posts
  filled this way. Other filled because of
  privledge.

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Examination Hall of the Thorny Gates.
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Accomplishments Culture

• Literature Popularization of vernacular
  language, not just Confucian classics.
• Poetry Also used to spark political reform.
• Paintings Focused on landscapes, illustrating
  the relationship between humans and nature that
  was sought by rich urban merchants.

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• Poem of Farewell to Liu Man by Yelu Chucai
  (1190-1244)
• This is a plea for humanitarian rule,
  admonishing, "Despotic officials and shyster
  under-officials, may they feel ashamed!"

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Travelers Among Mountains and Streams by Fan Kuan
(ca. 1000)
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12 Views from a Thatched Hut by Xia Gui (early
13th century)
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Empire Shrinks

• Withdrew from areas of influence in Taiwan,
  Tibet, Vietnam and Korea.
• Left NE China to the Khitans.
• Allied with Jurchens (Jin dynasty) against
  Khitans, but Jin attack the Song, capture their
  capital in 1126 and rule north China.
• Chinese forces flee south of the Yangzi Southern
  Song Dynasty (1127-1279) established there with
  capital at Hangzhou.

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Collapse of Southern Song

• In 1215, Mongols replace Jin as rulers of
  northern China, only to plunder it and then let
  Central Asian Muslim merchants collect taxes for
  them.
• In 1271 adopted the name Yuan (primal) dynasty.
• In 1275, Mongol army including Central Asians,
  Chinese, etc. cross the Yangzi.
• In 1279, Chinese resistance ends, emperor commits
  suicide and Khubilai, grandson of Chinggis
  becomes emperor of China.

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Horses and Grooms by Ren Renfa (1254-1327)