N. Song Dynasty: Economic Development

Political Background

Fall of the Tang

Huang Chao (d. 884) Rebellion, 874-84

Sacked Canton, 879
Held Chang’an, 880-83

Zhu Wen

Captured emperor, 904

Tang Aidi, 892-908, r. 904-7

Founded Later Liang, 907
Killed Aidi

The Five Dynasties 907-960

“Legitimate” dynasties in north

Later Liang 907-923

Later Tang (Shatuo Turks) 923-936

Later Jin 936-947

Later Han 947-950

Later Zhou 95l-960

Guo Wei (r. 951-54)

Later Han general

Guo Rong (r. 954-60)

Adopted son of Guo Wei

Military success and domestic popularity

7-year old son succeeds

*Song Dynasty

Zhao Kuangyin

Later Zhou general

*“Virtuous succession”

Emperor Taizu (r. 960-76)

Conquest of most of the south

Taizong (r. 976-997)

Younger brother

Solves succession problem

Unification completed

S. Tang, 976

N. Han (Shanxi), 979

Division into two periods

N. Song (960-1127)

Capital at Kaifeng

S. Song (1127-1279)

Capital at Hangzhou

Development of the South

Sui (ca. 600)

23% of population

Mid-Tang (ca. 750)

26 to 43% of population

N. Song (1080)

50% of the population

S. Song (1127-1279)

65% of population

Hansen dates this population shift even earlier (p. 263, n.1)

Factors Involved in Pop. Shift

1) Warfare in north

16 Kingdoms (311-386)

An Lushan rebellion (755-63)

Late Tang rebellions and civil war (874-907)

Conflict during 5 Dynasties (907-60)

2) Development of large estates

Tenant farmers and laborers under late Tang
Bound “serfs” under Song

40% of population

Allows greater mobilization of labor

3) Early ripening rice varieties

Double cropping

Consequences of Grain Surplus

Population growth

Tang high of 60 million
N. Song 100 million in 1100

Urbanization (grain and cheap water transport)

Tang

1 city with 1 million people (Chang’an)

N. Song

10 cities, 1+ million people

S. Song

Hangzhou, 4 million

Expansion of Money Economy

Government revenues in cash surpassed revenues in grain and silk for 1st time

Cash was 51.6% of revenue in 1065
Cash was 3.1% of revenue in 749

6 million strings of cash minted in 1073

20 times Tang maximum

Introduction of paper money, 1023

Initially backed by 29% cash reserve

Rise of the Scholar-Officials

Officials in Government Passing Civil Service Examinations

Entrance into civil service

Jinshi “presented scholar” highest degree

Yin "shadow" privilege persists

Change in content from Tang to Song

Less emphasis on literary ability

More emphasis on Confucian classics