In Chinese history, both the Song and Ming dynasties were new dynasties established after a tumultuous social change. However, the fates of the two dynasties were very different. The Southern Song Dynasty was able to last for a century and a half, while the Southern Ming Dynasty only lasted for forty years. Why is that? This article will try to explore this from multiple angles.
Let's take a look at the external environment faced by these two dynasties. During the Southern Song Dynasty, China was at war with the Jin Kingdom in the north for a long time, and the country's economy was greatly damaged. However, under these circumstances, the Southern Song Dynasty government adopted a series of measures, such as reforming the financial system and promoting maritime trade, which gradually restored the country and made great cultural development. In contrast, Nanming is facing a more dire situation. After the Qing army entered the customs, the southern region continued to fight, economic development was hindered, and social order was chaotic. Against this backdrop, the Nanming government did not respond effectively to these issues, resulting in its inability to stabilize the regime.
We also need to take into account the political system. The imperial court in the Southern Song Dynasty was relatively enlightened and attached great importance to the development of the imperial examination system, which allowed talents to be selected to serve the imperial court. At the same time, the emperor also paid more attention to listening to the opinions of his subordinates, which contributed to the correctness of decision-making. On the contrary, the concentration of imperial power in the Southern Ming Dynasty was relatively high, and it was difficult for officials to play a role. Moreover, because the rulers were too much of a military force, they often neglected cultural construction and social management, which also led to the decline of the state.
We need to think about military-strategic issues. During the Southern Song Dynasty, due to the development of maritime transportation, the maritime defense line was well protected. Therefore, the Southern Song army could gain an advantage by deploying troops by sea. On land, the Southern Song Dynasty also actively defended and built strong cities. In contrast, the Southern Ming Dynasty lacked an effective national defense strategy, especially against the Qing army's relatively weak resistance. In addition, the Manchu soldiers of the Qing Dynasty were well-trained and had strong combat effectiveness, which was also an important reason for the defeat of the Southern Ming.
We also need to be mindful of the changing mindset of society. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the people had great expectations for the new dynasty, and at the same time were willing to fight to protect their own rights and interests. In contrast, the people of the Southern Ming Dynasty were accustomed to war-torn life, and they were more inclined to escape from reality than to actively participate in state affairs. This situation has undoubtedly increased the difficulty of Nanming's governance.
The reason why the Southern Song Dynasty was able to hold on for a century and a half was that it successfully coped with external pressures, established a good political system, developed a wise military strategy, and stimulated the enthusiasm of the general public. Nanming, on the other hand, fell into a predicament for various reasons and could only survive for a short period of four years. This shows that in order to maintain long-term political stability, it is necessary not only to properly handle internal and external relations, but also to have a correct policy orientation and development strategy.