Why, some people are reluctant to admit that the Song Dynasty was a unified dynasty? Was the Song Dynasty that bad?
In the long river of history, each dynasty is like a bright star, each shining with a unique light. The Song Dynasty, as a highly influential dynasty in Chinese history, has caused many controversies on the historical label of "great unification". Why are some people always reluctant to recognize the Song Dynasty as a unified dynasty? Behind this, there are not only historical complexities, but also differences in concepts. This article will delve into this topic from multiple dimensions such as territory, culture, and politics, and strive to unravel this historical mystery through the interweaving of emotion and reason.
1. The regret of the territory: the unfinished dream of reunification
First of all, the biggest point of contention when it comes to mentioning that the Song dynasty is not considered a unified dynasty is the incompleteness of its territory. Since Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms and laid the foundation for the unification of China, later dynasties have all taken the unification of territories as an important criterion to measure the strength of the country. However, the Song Dynasty left a deep regret in its territory.
The Loss of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun: This is the most striking sign of the incompleteness of the Song Dynasty's territory. The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun, namely today's northern Shanxi and north-central Hebei, have fallen into the hands of the Liao State since the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. The loss of this region not only deprived the Song Dynasty of an important barrier to the north, but also greatly limited its strategic depth. Whenever the northern nomads invaded the south, the Song Dynasty could only passively defend, and it was difficult to carry out an effective counterattack. This kind of strategic passivity undoubtedly made it difficult for the Song Dynasty to meet the standard of great unification in terms of territory.
Coexistence of Western Xia and Dali: In addition to the sixteen states of Yanyun, the Song Dynasty also faced the juxtaposition of Western Xia and Dali regimes. The Western Xia occupied the Hetao region and the Hexi Corridor, posing a serious threat to the Song Dynasty's western security. Dali, on the other hand, was located on the southwestern border, and although it maintained certain political ties with the Song Dynasty, it was not fully incorporated into the rule of the Song Dynasty in terms of territory. The existence of these regimes made it impossible for the Song Dynasty to achieve true unity in its territory.
2. The prosperity of culture: the spiritual unity that transcends borders
However, it would undoubtedly be biased to judge whether the Song Dynasty was a unified dynasty from the perspective of territory alone. Because the great unification is not only reflected in the territory, but also in the unity and identity of the culture. In this regard, the Song Dynasty undoubtedly made brilliant achievements.
Cultural Prosperity: The Song Dynasty was one of the most culturally prosperous periods in Chinese history. Poetry and songs, calligraphy and painting arts, science and technology and other fields have made remarkable achievements. With its unique artistic charm, Song Ci has become a classic praised by later generations; Song Dynasty painting opened up a new realm of landscape painting and had a profound impact on later generations. More importantly, these cultural achievements not only belong to the Han nationality, but also influence the surrounding ethnic minority regimes, forming cultural exchanges and integration. This kind of cultural unity that transcends borders is undoubtedly another embodiment of the spirit of great unification of the Song Dynasty.
Revival of Confucianism: During the Song Dynasty, Confucianism underwent a transformation from Han and Tang classics to Song and Ming Dynasty science. The rise of Confucianism not only promoted the deepening and development of Confucianism, but also strengthened the orthodox position of Confucian culture. Thanks to the efforts of physicists, Confucianism has gradually penetrated into all levels of society and has become a spiritual bond that maintains national unity and national unity. This kind of cultural unity and identity is more profound and lasting than mere territorial unity.
3. Political Difficulties: The Contradiction Between Centralization and Decentralization
When discussing whether the Song Dynasty was a unified dynasty, we also need to pay attention to the particularities of its political system. The political system of the Song Dynasty oscillated between centralization and decentralization, which to a certain extent affected the realization of its great unification.
The national policy of advocating literature and suppressing martial arts: Zhao Kuangyin, the founding emperor of the Song Dynasty, adopted the national policy of advocating literature and suppressing military force in order to prevent the dictatorship of military generals and repeat the mistakes of the late Tang Dynasty. Although this policy strengthened the centralization of power and stabilized the foundation of political power, it also weakened the combat effectiveness of the army. In the face of the infestation of the northern nomads, the Song dynasty often appeared to be powerless. This military disadvantage undoubtedly affected the process of territorial unification of the Song Dynasty.
Disadvantages of redundant officials and redundant soldiers: In order to strengthen the centralization of power and consolidate the dominant position, the Song Dynasty also implemented a system of redundant officials and redundant soldiers. Although this system has alleviated internal contradictions and stabilized social order to a certain extent, it has also caused problems such as heavy financial burdens and low administrative efficiency. Under the condition of limited national strength, it was difficult for the Song Dynasty to achieve large-scale expansion and unification in the territory.
Fourth, the battle of ideas: the collision of history and reality
Finally, we also need to examine the question of whether the Song Dynasty was a unified dynasty from a conceptual perspective. Behind this controversy, there is actually a collision and blending of history and reality, tradition and modernity.
The Constraints of Historical Tradition: In the traditional Chinese concept of history, great unification is often closely linked to the unification of the territory. Therefore, in the eyes of many, the Song Dynasty could hardly be regarded as a unified dynasty due to its territorial incompleteness. However, this notion ignores the importance of cultural unity and national identity to a certain extent. In modern society, we are becoming more and more aware of the important role of cultural identity in national unity. Therefore, from this point of view, the cultural unity and identity of the Song Dynasty undoubtedly provided strong support for its unified status.
Driven by practical needs: With the development of the times and changes in the international situation, China's desire for national reunification and national rejuvenation is increasing. In this context, emphasizing the unifying status of the Song Dynasty undoubtedly helped to enhance national self-confidence and cohesion. Therefore, some people are reluctant to admit that the Song Dynasty was not a unified dynasty, which is actually a response and expression to the needs of reality.
To sum up, the question of whether the Song Dynasty was a unified dynasty is not simply black and white. It involves complex factors at multiple levels, such as territory, culture, and politics. When evaluating the historical status of the Song Dynasty, we should look at its achievements and shortcomings from a more comprehensive and objective perspective. In any case, the Song Dynasty was an indispensable and important period in Chinese history. With its unique cultural charm and historical contributions, it has left a deep imprint on the history of China and even the world. Let us transcend controversy, build brilliance together, and inherit and carry forward the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation with a more open and inclusive attitude.
Conclusion: Why are some people reluctant to admit that the Song Dynasty is a unified dynasty?