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How developed was the economy of the Song Dynasty?
How prosperous was the economy of the Song Dynasty? Mr. Yan Fu, the pioneer of the Chinese democratic revolution, said: “The reason why China is what it is today, whether it is good or bad, is probably caused by the Song Dynasty.” The world-renowned economic historian Gonder Frank also believes: “In the 11th and 12th centuries During the Song Dynasty, China was undoubtedly the most economically advanced region in the world. Since the Song Dynasty in the 11th and 12th centuries, China’s economy has far surpassed the rest of the world in terms of industrialization, commercialization, monetization and urbanization.”
Social and political stability in the Northern Song Dynasty
The Northern Song Dynasty was established by Song Taizu Chen Qiao’s mutiny and the addition of Huangpao. He seized power from the Later Zhou Dynasty. Therefore, after Song Taizu founded the country, in order to prevent similar incidents from happening, he deprived the military power of the generals of the forbidden army through “a cup of wine to release the military power”, and eliminated the hidden danger of the generals of the forbidden army launching a mutiny to seize power.
Later, Taizu hosted a banquet for Jiedu envoys Wang Yanchao, Wu Xingde, Guo Congyi, Bai Chongzan and others to persuade the envoys to dismiss the town and change officials, so as to eliminate the hidden danger of the separatism of the feudal town. At the same time, the Northern Song Dynasty adopted an official system that emphasized civility over military affairs.
Therefore, after the establishment of the Northern Song Dynasty, the politics was stable, there was no turmoil, the social economy developed normally, and the high development of agricultural and handicraft industries provided a solid material foundation for the prosperity of commerce.
Although the territory of the Song Dynasty was not as vast as that of the Han and Tang dynasties, the areas with the most fertile land and the best climate conditions were always under the most direct jurisdiction of the central government. These areas are rich in resources and products, and the people can relatively easily achieve ample food and clothing, and contribute a large amount of surplus products to the government as taxes. The social conditions of Guotai Minan also reduce the social management costs of government expenditures.
Relatively loose economic policy
During the Northern Song Dynasty, the policy of emphasizing agriculture and restraining business was still pursued, but it was much looser than that of the previous dynasty. First, the government of the Song Dynasty adopted a land policy of “not suppressing mergers” and implemented “no establishment of land system” and “not suppressing mergers”. At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, in order to weaken the power of the military officials, they were induced to “choose a good land and house, and establish a permanent career for their descendants.
” Song Taizu issued an edict in the fourth year of Qiande: “The chief officials in the place told the people that those who can widely plant mulberry jujube, Those who reclaim wasteland will stop losing old rents; county magistrates and Zuoneng recruit persuasive classes, and those who increase their household registration and have no open land will be rewarded.” Publicly proposed that “the land system should not be established.”
The rulers in the early Song Dynasty were not very willing to restrict land annexation. They were only dissatisfied with the uneven tax burden caused by the inaccurate number of acres.
The policy of non-restriction and merger of land implemented in the Song Dynasty made the land transaction market grow stronger and promoted the development of the commodity economy. Coupled with the improvement of productivity level, a large number of agricultural population left agriculture to engage in industry and commerce, which promoted commercial prosperity.
The rulers of the Song Dynasty implemented an enlightened policy. The Song Dynasty was the only feudal dynasty in history that encouraged business. The political status of merchants was improved and they could sit on an equal footing with nobles. Before the Song Dynasty, business development and market operations were strictly restricted by time and place. Cities above the county level generally set up cities in specific locations for goods gathering and commodity trading, surrounded by walls and strictly separated from residential areas. The government sets up a city order or a mayor to strictly manage market transactions, open and close the market on time, and no trading is allowed after the market closes.
From the late Tang Dynasty, the system of strict separation of markets and squares was gradually broken. In the Song Dynasty, the government further relaxed the restrictions on commodity transactions. Shops can be opened anywhere, and the trading hours are also changed from the restrictions of the daytime to the market. They can be operated in the morning and evening. . During the time of Song Shenzong, there were 200,000 households in Kaifeng, there were many shops in the city, and goods from all over the world gathered here.
There are shops, restaurants, restaurants, pawnshops, and various handicraft workshops everywhere. In the evening, there is a night market until the third shift, and it opens again at the fifth shift. “Where to play around, know everything.” The loose industrial and commercial policies of the Song Dynasty encouraged the substantial development of commerce, and the government gradually relaxed restrictions on commodity transactions, which promoted the development of the commodity economy.
Hundred Years of Peaceful Environment
The Song Dynasty was invaded many times by the surrounding ethnic minorities in its more than 200 years of history. However, in the face of the invasion of the surrounding ethnic groups, the emperor of the Song Dynasty did not make great achievements like the Qin Emperor and Han Wu, and resorted to military force. Adopt a more peaceful negotiation policy for peripheral invasions. In the battle with the Liao Kingdom, the Song Dynasty had the upper hand, and signed the “Chanyuan Alliance” with the Liao Kingdom, and paid 300,000 old coins to the Liao Kingdom every year.
Some people say that this is the result of the weakness of the Song Dynasty, but it must be seen after the peace talks, Song and Liao have maintained peaceful coexistence for more than a hundred years. Although the Song Dynasty pays 300,000 yuan to Liao every year, the price is nothing compared to the military expenditure spent on wars every year. The peace in the Youyan area is conducive to the production and development of the border areas and the interior, especially the border trade has promoted the development of the commodity economy.
Civil Service and Technological Progress
The Song Dynasty was a dynasty that implemented “civilian politics”, so the number of intellectuals in the Song Dynasty was large, their status was high, and the academic environment was relaxed, which is unique in Chinese history. From one aspect, this ensures that the continuous innovation ability of science and technology and the governing and adaptability of government agencies can adapt to the requirements of rapid economic development. Various works on the purpose all originated in the Song Dynasty.
The invention and dissemination of gunpowder, and its application in war, is an important turning point in the history of human warfare. It provided a powerful force for the western bourgeoisie to defeat the feudal aristocracy, and at the same time improved the ability of human beings to use and create nature; interest. The emergence of movable type printing has reduced the cost of books, greatly promoted the dissemination and popularization of books and knowledge, and contributed to the development and communication of human civilization.
The invention of the compass has greatly improved the ability of human navigation and promoted the economic and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. Europeans discovered that the New World benefited from the compass. Technological progress in the field of production has greatly increased labor productivity and laid the foundation for economic prosperity.
