Tang-Song (Sung) Transition?

Society and Economy

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

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)

5 Dynasties (907-60)

2) Development of large estates

Tenant farmers and laborers under late Tang

Bound "serfs" under Song

40% of population

Mobilization of labor

Rice paddies

Irrigation canals

3) Early ripening rice varieties

Double cropping

4) Water transportation network of south

Grand Canal, 605-10

Sui Emperor Yangdi (r. 605-17)

Consequences of Grain Surplus

Population growth

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

Urbanization

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

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

20 times Tang maximum

Initially backed by 29% cash reserve

Status of Women

Tang-Song transition? North-South continuity?

"Peace Reigns over the River" or "The Spring Festival Along the River"

Lack of women in public at N. Song, Kaifeng?

20 of 500 figures are female S. Song vs. Jin

Domestic life

Female Ideal

“Wenji's Return,” Ebrey 151-2

S. Song version, mid-12th c.

Jin court version, 1196

Footbinding

Elite households

Perpetuation

Old view

Male domination

New view

Marriageability

Female enforcement

Hansen thesis: Commodification of marriage