Centralisation
In 960 the army chief Zhao Kuangyin became emperor (Taizu). In the age before him, military governors had often removed rulers. He decided that power must stay with the emperor.
- Army: old generals were retired with rewards (the story of the "cup of wine", 961). The best troops stayed near the capital. The officer who trained the soldiers was not the one who led them in battle.
- Officials: governors were replaced by civil officials sent from the capital, who were moved from place to place. The exam was widened to find them.
- Taxes: a large share of taxes went to the capital, so regions had little money to rebel.
Result: no more strong warlords, and a long peace at home. But the army was large, costly and weak in leadership. A thinker called this a strong trunk and weak branches. In 1069 Wang Anshi tried reforms to fill the treasury and strengthen the army, but officials argued fiercely about them.
Wars with Liao, Xia, Jin
The Song never ruled the far north. Three neighbours grew strong:
- Liao (Khitan, north): after years of fighting, the Treaty of Chanyuan (1005) made the two states equals. Song paid 100,000 taels of silver and 200,000 bolts of silk each year.
- Xia (Tangut, north-west): the ruler declared himself emperor in 1038. In 1044 the Song agreed to send silver, silk and tea every year, and Xia kept its own rule.
- Jin (Jurchen, north-east): the Song joined the Jin against the Liao, and the Liao fell (1125). The Jin then attacked the Song and in 1127 took the capital Kaifeng and two emperors. A prince set up the Southern Song at Lin'an (Hangzhou). General Yue Fei won battles but was called back, and the 1141 treaty set the Huai river as the line, with yearly payments from Song to Jin.
The Southern Song lasted until the Mongols ended it in 1279.
Try it: pay the neighbour
1. In step 3 of the 3D, slide to 20 years and read the total silver.
2. Guess: could 20 years of silver pay for a big army? Think about what is cheaper.
3. At home: give three coins to three friends who are the "governors". Then take all the coins back to the "capital" and write what you gained and what you lost.
Key formulas and definitions
- Key terms: centralisation = power moves to the capital
- Song founded 960 (Zhao Kuangyin); Chanyuan 1005; Xia deal 1044
- Liao: 100,000 taels silver + 200,000 bolts silk per year
- Jin takes Kaifeng 1127; Southern Song capital Lin'an
- Treaty 1141: Huai river line; Song ends 1279
Worked examples
1. The Song paid Liao 100,000 taels of silver every year from 1005. How much silver in the first 8 years?
Step 1: one year = 100,000 taels. Step 2: 8 years = 8 x 100,000. Answer: 800,000 taels of silver. (Slide to 8 in the 3D to check.)
2. Why did the Song emperor send civil officials, not generals, to rule the areas?
Step 1: generals had armies and could rebel. Step 2: civil officials had no army and were moved often. Step 3: so they depended on the emperor and could not build their own power.
3. Put these in order: Chanyuan treaty, Kaifeng falls, Song founded, Xia deal.
Years: Song founded 960, Chanyuan 1005, Xia deal 1044, Kaifeng falls 1127. Order: Song founded, Chanyuan, Xia deal, Kaifeng falls.
Common mistakes
- Thinking the Song was weak in everything. It was rich, with great cities and science; it was weak in war.
- Mixing Northern and Southern Song. After 1127 the capital moved from Kaifeng to Lin'an.
- Calling the silver and silk a gift. It was a yearly payment made by treaty to keep peace.
- Mixing up Liao, Xia and Jin: Liao = Khitan, Xia = Tangut, Jin = Jurchen.