Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD)

The short period unity was terminated with the establishment of the Song dynasty in 960 AD. It brought China to one of its heights in history economically, artistically, and intellectually. The Song dynasty is historically divided into two phases, Northern Song (960-1127) and Southern Song (1127-1279).

The first emperor of the Song dynasty adopted a centralized bureaucratic system employed scholar-officials. Consequently, the Song expanded the civil service examination system to provide a constant flow of talent into civil service positions. In time, civil bureaucrats dominating every aspect of Song government and society overcame the threat posed by generals with their own armies. This system led to a greater concentration of power in the emperor. The bureaucracy of this dynasty exceeded than it of the previous dynasties.

The Song dynasty witnessed agricultural and technological improvements. Advanced farming increased crop production dramatically. One of the great agricultural achievements was that peasants grew two or three crops annually on the same field with the invention of early-ripening rice in the 11th century. Cotton planting was widely spread during the 12th century. Ceramics making technology achieved its highest peak in the ancient China. The improvement of shipbuilding and the wide implementation of compass stipulated the flourished maritime trade with Asia and Middle East. The Song dynasty major exports were silk, porcelain and tea. The sea route later was called'Marine Silk Route'. With the development of economy, population began to increase and exceed over 1 million during that period. The cities, as the centers of both administrative and trade, industry, started to emerge.

The Song dynasty made remarkable culture achievements on painting, calligraphy and glazed porcelain. Painting is regarded as the greatest achievement of Song art. A royal painting academy was established. The emperors sponsored many great painters. Bird and flower, favorite pets and children were the main themes of the Song paintings. Song paintings of these subjects became the standards by which later works were judged. At the same time, calligraphy reached a high point of development. Some masterpieces of the Song calligraphy became the legacies of the country. Porcelain also reached the summit of perfection, with a very simple but attractive glazing in white, green-blue and gray. Song time porcelain has exerted a deep influence on Korean porcelain that still today shows the same colors like that of Song China.

As a philosophical stream during Song Dynasty, Neo-Confucianism came to play the dominant role in the intellectual life. The most influential philosopher of Neo-Confucianism was Zhu Xi whose teaching became the official imperial ideology from late Song times to the late nineteenth century. Neo-Confucianism also came to play the dominant role in the intellectual life of East Asia.

The Song dynasty military was not very powerful as the previous the Han and Tang dynasty. The Song frequently signed unfair treaties to end fighting. The temporary peace with nomads were achieved through paying tributes to the enemies they were fighting.

With the population growth came greater economic growth. The military was a large portion of the annual income due to border defenses. The Northern Sung fell apart due to differences in opinions by the civil bureaucrats. And also due to its military weakness, in the early 12th century, a group of nomads conquered the capital of the Song dynasty and captured the emperor. This marked the end of the Northern Song period.

In 1127, a Song prince fled across the Yangtze River and arrived at Hangzhou. With the assistance of the previous the Northern Song officials, the Southern dynasty was established there. Despite the precarious military situation, the Southern Song dynasty achieved a quite period of prosperity and creativity. The economic and intellectual achievements increased. The dynasty showed no internal sign of collapse, but it was captured and overthrown by Mongols until 1279l.