The Song Dynasty in China (960-1279)

Vocabulary flashcards covering the political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of the Song Dynasty in China and its influence on neighboring countries.

Song Dynasty

A period in China from $960$ to $1279$ characterized by immense wealth, political stability, and significant artistic and intellectual achievements.

Imperial Bureaucracy

A vast organization in which appointed officials carried out the empire's policies, a system that had been a continuity in China since the Qin dynasty ($221$-$207$ B.C.E.).

Meritocracy

A system where positions are awarded based on ability and performance on civil service exams rather than social status; expanded by Emperor Song Taizu to include lower-class men.

Champa Rice

A fast-ripening and drought-resistant strain of rice from Vietnam that allowed for multiple harvests per year and greatly increased food production.

Proto-industrialization

A phase of development in which people in rural areas produced more goods than they could sell, focusing on products like silk and porcelain.

Scholar-gentry

The most influential social class in Song China, consisting of individuals well-educated in Confucian philosophy.

Foot binding

A practice among aristocratic families where a young girl's feet were wrapped so tightly that the bones did not grow naturally, symbolizing social status and the subservience of women.

Woodblock printing

A system of printing invented by the Chinese that made it possible to produce multiple copies of art or written texts, increasing the accessibility of literature.

Chan (Zen) Buddhism

A syncretic faith that fused Buddhist doctrines with Daoist principles, emphasizing direct experience and meditation over formal learning.

Neo-Confucianism

A philosophy that emerged during the Song Dynasty emphasizing moral values and social harmony, serving as a support for the government.

Daimyo

Powerful land-owning aristocrats in feudal Japan who battled for control of land, representing a more decentralized system than the Chinese bureaucracy.

Grand Canal

A major waterway system that supported vibrant internal trade and helped China become the world's most commercialized society.

Song Dynasty Population Growth

Due to agricultural advancements, China's population increased from about $25\%$ of the world's population to nearly $40\%$.